Tropical Storm Tammy (2005)

The precursor to Tammy was a tropical wave that left the western coast of Africa on September 24. The wave moved across the Atlantic without any development until October 2, when it started to interact with a mid- to upper-level large trough north of the Lesser Antilles. The system produced an area of convection, or thunderstorms, which spawned a surface trough, although it failed to organize at first due to strong wind shear. The trough moved generally to the northwest, steered by a subtropical ridge over the central Atlantic. On October 4, the central pressure dropped as the trough approached the east coast of Florida, toward an area of lower wind shear. The storm was influenced by a developing extratropical cyclone over the eastern Gulf of Mexico, and the interaction caused an increase in convection. Based on observations from a reconnaissance flight, as well as two nearby ships, the NHC estimated that Tammy strengthened to attain peak winds of 50 mph (85 km) late on October 5. At 23:00 UTC that day, the storm made landfall in northeastern Florida near Atlantic Beach. Tammy soon after moved into the state of Georgia, weakening into a tropical depression and degenerating into a remnant low late on October 6. The low accelerated and turned southwestward, moving across southeastern Alabama and the Florida panhandle before reaching the Gulf of Mexico. On October 7, the remnants of Tammy were absorbed by an extratropical low over the eastern Gulf of Mexico, which was attached to a cold front that moved up the east coast of the United States over the next two days. On October 8, the cold front stalled over the Mid-Atlantic before moving off the coast the next day. ==Preparations==

Tropical Storm Tammy surprised forecasters when it formed on October 5. Despite the short warning, tourists and business travelers canceled flights as the storm neared landfall. Upon the storm developing, a tropical storm warning was immediately issued for the coast from Cocoa Beach, Florida to the Santee River, South Carolina. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's U.S. Coast Guard, 7th District issued an advisory to mariners, warning them to prepare for the storm and avoid the ocean if possible. In Georgia, the National Park Service evacuated the residents of Cumberland Island and closed the ferry which services it. The Glynn County Emergency Operations Agency monitored and prepared for Tropical Storm Tammy's landfall, however the poor warning hampered their efforts. Residents all over the state expressed frustration at the lack of time they had to prepare. When Tammy moved inland 12 hours later the southern end of the warning zone moved north to Altamaha Sound, Georgia before all warnings were discontinued on October 6. ==Impact==

Southeastern United States Tropical Storm Tammy caused minor damage. Its highest sustained winds were and its strongest recorded wind gust was . and delayed the Trysail College Regatta. Lightning produced by a thunderstorm in Broward County, Florida struck three teenagers during a football game in Coconut Creek, killing one and injuring the other two. To most areas in north Florida and southern Georgia, Tammy brought of rain, though some isolated areas received . In Georgia, flooding damaged over 30 homes in Brunswick. Several dirt and coastal roads were washed out, Two small pond dams burst, including a 173-year-old wooden dam, but new stone dams were constructed in place before the old ones failed. after a rainless September. Tammy's storm surge was approximately and caused salt-water flooding along the coast of northeastern Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. The surge damages boardwalks along the coast, and wave action causes over of beach erosion. Rated an F0 tornado, it touched down near Brunswick, Georgia where it snapped trees and caused moderate roof damage along its path. The storm's total damage was estimated at $30 million (2005 USD). and caused significant beach erosion. Winds along the coastline gusted up to , downing numerous trees. The worst damage occurred in Beaufort County where 30 trees were downed, one of which fell on a home. Rough seas undermined several beach homes and caused one to be condemned. Northeastern United States In the Mid-Atlantic, the rains from the remnants of Tammy led to nine deaths. A tree fall onto a vehicle in Rockville, killing the driver and injuring a passenger. In Pennsylvania, two drivers died – one in Milford Township who died after attempting to cross a flooded road, and the other in Lehigh County. The most significant damage occurred in New Hampshire, where the rains reached in Gilford in Belknap County. In Alstead, an embankment along the Cold River failed. The resulting floods destroyed 40 homes, washed out a bridge, and knocked down of power lines. Statewide, about 1,000 people evacuated due to the floods. Damage in New Hampshire totaled over $13 million. Governor John Lynch declared a state of emergency because of the floods. In Maine, the rains caused river flooding across the southern portion of the state. In Washington, D.C., a downed tree fell onto wires near Union Station, which delayed Amtrak service for two and a half hours. In Delaware, the rains caused crop damage and low-lying flooding. In northeastern Pennsylvania, the rains forced 31 houses to evacuate. Two boys in Allentown required rescued from firefighters after climbing a tree to escape floodwaters. The rains caused a landslide in Easton, closing a street. The Lehigh Valley International Airport recorded its wettest day ever on October 7 during the storm. The town of Highlands, New York declared a state of emergency after floodwaters covered parts of the town, including NY 293 and U.S. Route 9W. In Springfield, Massachusetts, the rains caused the roof of an apartment building to collapse. In Greenfield, a swollen river flooded a mobile home park, leaving 35 homes uninhabitable, and leaving 75 people homeless. The floodwaters were strong enough to move several mobile homes off their foundations. ==Aftermath==

A Red Cross shelter at Seldon Park, Brunswick, Georgia, opened for two days following the storm to temporarily house those whose houses were flooded. As a result of the flooding, the Federal Emergency Management Agency paid $44 million in losses. Shrimpers in the Carolinas blamed high fuel prices and the disruption of Tropical Storm Tammy for some of the troubles facing the shrimping industry in 2005. Rising fuel prices and dwindling demand has already created tough conditions that year, but the disruption of several days' fishing due to Tammy escalated the situation. Just days after the remnants of Tammy exited the east coast of the United States, the remnants of a subtropical depression brought additional rainfall to the region, with two people killed in Connecticut due to the floods. Much of the northeastern United States from Delaware to Maine had record rainfall in October 2005, partly because of the remnants of Tammy and later the remnants of Hurricane Wilma. The series of floods led to a presidential disaster declaration for portions of Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provided more than $13 million in funds to Massachusetts. The Federal Highway Administration provided $24 million to New England states following flood damage, most of which went to New Hampshire. Two years after the floods destroyed several mobile homes in Greenfield, Massachusetts, the city purchased the land and turned it into protected greenspace, using state and federal funds. In 2015, the town of Alstead, New Hampshire installed a plaque to commemorate the 10 year anniversary of the floods. ==See also==