Tropical Storm Allison

Template:Short description Template:About Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox weather event Template:Infobox weather event/NWS Template:Infobox weather event/Effects Template:Infobox weather event/Footer Tropical Storm Allison was a tropical cyclone that devastated southeast Texas in June 2001. An arguable example of the "brown ocean effect", Allison lasted unusually long for a June storm, remaining tropical and subtropical for 16 days, most of which was when the storm was over land dumping torrential rainfall. The storm developed from a tropical wave in the northern Gulf of Mexico on June 4, and struck the upper Texas coast shortly thereafter. It drifted northward through the state, turned back to the south, and re-entered the Gulf of Mexico. The storm continued to the east-northeast, made landfall on Louisiana, then moved across the southeast United States and Mid-Atlantic. Allison was the first storm since Tropical Storm Frances in 1998 to strike the northern Texas coastline.<ref name="ivey">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The storm dropped heavy rainfall along its path, peaking at over Template:Convert in Texas. The worst flooding occurred in Houston, where most of Allison's damage occurred: 30,000 became homeless after the storm flooded over 70,000 houses and destroyed 2,744 homes. Downtown Houston was inundated with flooding, causing severe damage to hospitals and businesses. Twenty-three people died in Texas. Along its entire path, Allison caused $9 billion (2001 USD, equivalent to $Template:Formatprice in Template:Inflation/year)Template:Inflation/fn in damage and 41 deaths. Aside from Texas, the places worst hit were Louisiana and southeastern Pennsylvania.

Following the storm, President George W. Bush designated 75 counties along Allison's path as disaster areas, which enabled the citizens affected to apply for aid. Then the fourth-costliest Atlantic tropical cyclone and still the costliest Atlantic tropical cyclone that was never a major hurricane, Allison was the first Atlantic tropical storm to have its name retired without ever having reached hurricane strength, and the only until Tropical Storm Erika in 2015.

Meteorological historyEdit

Template:Storm path A tropical wave moved off the coast of Africa on May 21, 2001. It moved westward across the Atlantic Ocean, retaining little convection on its way. After moving across South America and the southwestern Caribbean Sea, the wave entered the eastern North Pacific Ocean on June 1. A low-level circulation developed on June 2, while it was about Template:Cvt south-southeast of Salina Cruz, Mexico. Southerly flow forced the system northward, and the wave moved inland on June 3. The low-level circulation dissipated, though the mid-level circulation persisted. It emerged into the Gulf of Mexico on June 4, and developed deep convection on its eastern side.<ref name="TCR">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Early on June 5, satellite imagery suggested that a tropical depression was forming in the northwest Gulf of Mexico, which was furthered by reports of wind gusts as high as Template:Cvt just a few hundred feet above the surface, towards the east side of the system.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

File:Tropical Storm Allison- Eye.jpg

Subtropical Storm Allison with an eye-like feature over Mississippi

At 12:00 UTC on June 5, the disturbance developed a broad, low-level circulation, and was classified as Tropical Storm Allison, the first storm of the 2001 Atlantic hurricane season. Some intensification was projected, though it was expected to be hindered by cool offshore sea surface temperatures.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }} Template:Pd-notice</ref> Due to the cold-core nature of the center, Allison initially contained subtropical characteristics. Despite this, the storm quickly strengthened to attain peak sustained winds of Template:Cvt, with tropical storm-force winds extending up to Template:Cvt east of the center, and a minimum central pressure of Template:Cvt.<ref name="TCR"/> The storm initially moved very little, and the presence of several small vortices from within the deep convection caused difficulty in determining the exact center location.<ref name="disc2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Later in the day, several different track forecasts arose. One scenario had the cyclone tracking westward into Mexico. Another projected the storm moving east towards southern Louisiana. At the time, it was noted that little rain or wind persisted near the center, but rather to the north and east.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Under the steering currents of a subtropical ridge that extended in an east–west orientation across the southeast United States,<ref name="disc2"/> Allison weakened while nearing the Texas coastline, and struck near Freeport, Texas with Template:Cvt winds.<ref name="TCR"/> Inland, the storm rapidly weakened, and the National Hurricane Center discontinued advisories early on June 6.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Shortly after being downgraded to a tropical depression, surface observations showed an elongated circulation with a poorly defined center, which had reformed closer to the deep convection.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The depression drifted northward until reaching Lufkin, Texas, where it stalled due to a high pressure system to its north.<ref name="TCR"/> While stalling over Texas, the storm dropped excessive rainfall, peaking at just over Template:Convert in northwestern Jefferson County.<ref name="wpc">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }} Template:Pd-notice</ref> On June 7, the subtropical ridge off Florida weakened, while the ridge west of Texas intensified. This steered Tropical Depression Allison to make a clockwise loop, and the storm began drifting to the southwest. As the center reached Huntsville, Texas, a heavy rain band began to back build from Louisiana westward into Liberty County, Texas, which had caused additional flooding.<ref name="synoptic"/> At the time, the system had a minimum central pressure of about Template:Cvt and maximum sustained winds of about Template:Convert.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Late on June 9 and early on June 10, Allison's remnants reentered reached the Gulf of Mexico and emerged over open waters.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The low once again became nearly stationary about Template:Convert south of Galveston, Texas, and despite more favorable upper-level winds, it showed no signs of redevelopment.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Due to dry air and moderate westerly wind shear, the storm transformed into a subtropical cyclone. While the subtropical depression moved eastward, a new low level circulation redeveloped to the east, and Allison quickly made landfall on Morgan City, Louisiana on June 11.<ref name="TCR"/> At around the same time, the surface center reformed to the east-northeast of its previous location, aligning with the mid-level circulation.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Strong thunderstorms redeveloped over the circulation, and Allison strengthened into a subtropical storm over southeastern Louisiana.<ref name="TCR"/> The storm intensified further to attain sustained winds of Template:Cvt and a minimum barometric pressure of about Template:Cvt near Mclain, Mississippi, accompanied by a well-defined eye-like feature.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The storm was officially downgraded to a subtropical depression at 0000 UTC on June 12. Somewhat accelerating, the depression tracked to the east-northeast through Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina before becoming nearly stationary near Wilmington, North Carolina.<ref name="TCR"/> The depression drifted through North Carolina and sped to the northeast for a time in response to an approaching cold front.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Though satellite and radar imagery show the system was well-organized, the system slowed and moved erratically for a period of time,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> executing what appeared to be a small counterclockwise loop.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The storm began tracking in a generally northeasterly direction, and crossed into the southern Delmarva Peninsula on June 16.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The subtropical remnants reached the Atlantic on June 17, and while located east of Atlantic City, New Jersey, winds began to restrengthen, and heavy rains formed to the north of the circulation. The low was interacting with a frontal boundary, and started merging with it, as it accelerated to the northeast at Template:Convert.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The remnants of Allison briefly reintensified to a subtropical storm through baroclinic processes, though it became extratropical while south of Long Island.<ref name="TCR"/> By later on June 17, the low was situated off the coast of Rhode Island, spreading a swath of precipitation over New England.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The remnants of the tropical storm were then absorbed by the frontal boundary by June 18, and eventually passed south of Cape Race, Newfoundland on June 20, where the extratropical cyclone dissipated.<ref name="TCR"/>

PreparationsEdit

Shortly after the storm formed, officials in Galveston County, Texas issued a voluntary evacuation for the western end of Galveston Island, as the area was not protected by the Galveston Seawall.<ref name="TCR"/> The ferry from the island to the Bolivar Peninsula was closed, while voluntary evacuations were issued in Surfside in Brazoria County.<ref name="nws1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> When the National Hurricane Center issued the first advisory on Allison, officials issued Tropical Storm Warnings from Sargent, Texas to Morgan City, Louisiana.<ref name="disc1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> After the storm made landfall, flash flood watches and warnings were issued for numerous areas in eastern Texas.<ref name="nws3">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> During the flood event, the National Weather Service in Houston issued 99 flash flood warnings with an average lead time of 40 minutes. With an average lead time of 24 minutes, the National Weather Service in Lake Charles, Louisiana issued 47 flash flood warnings. With an average lead time of 39 minutes, the National Weather Service in New Orleans/Baton Rouge issued 87 flash flood warnings, of which 30 were not followed by a flash flood.<ref name="nws">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In Tallahassee, Florida, a shelter opened the day before Allison's movement northward through the area, seven staff members housing 12 people. Two other shelters were on standby. Teams informed citizens in the Florida Panhandle of flood dangers.<ref name="flalpre">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

ImpactEdit

**Death tolls by State**
Area	Deaths
Texas	23
Louisiana	Template:01
Mississippi	Template:01
Florida	Template:08
Virginia	Template:01
Pennsylvania	Template:07
Total	41

Tropical Storm Allison impacted much of the gulf and Atlantic coast of the United States, from Texas to New England. Most of the impacts were in the form of rainfall, although Allison also spawned at least 23 tornadoes.<ref name="tcr">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Nationwide, Allison caused approximately $8.5 billion in damage (2001 USD), making it the costliest American tropical storm.<ref>Template:Cite report</ref> Allison also killed 41 people throughout the country.<ref name="TCR"/>

TexasEdit

File:Allison Flood Houston.jpg

Buffalo Bayou and White Oak Bayou at Main Street after Tropical Storm Allison hit Houston

Throughout Texas, Allison left about $5.2 billion (2001 USD) in damage.<ref name="texasdamage">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The storm killed 23 people, including 12 deaths from driving, 6 from walking, 3 from electrocution, 1 in an elevator, and 1 drowning death in a ditch.<ref name="ivey"/><ref name="nws"/>

Allison made landfall with a storm surge of Template:Convert. Combined with waves on top, areas of Galveston Island experienced a wall of water Template:Convert in height, creating overwash along the coastline. The storm caused winds of up to Template:Convert at the Galveston Pier. While Allison was stalling over Texas, it dropped heavy rainfall across the state, including Template:Convert in Galveston, Template:Convert in Jamaica Beach, Texas, and other similar totals along the coast.<ref name="TCR"/> Minimal beach erosion was reported,<ref name="hogaprelim">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and impact was minimal near the coast.<ref name="sd06">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}Template:Dead link</ref> While moving northward through Texas as a minimal tropical depression, Allison produced minor wind gusts.<ref name="TCR"/> Shortly after making landfall, the storm spawned a tornado in Manvel of Brazoria County, causing damage to one home.<ref name="sd06"/> Within hours of making landfall, rainfall totals of Template:Convert were common in Galveston and Harris County. Flash flooding continued for days,<ref name="synoptic">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> with rainfall amounts across the state peaking at just over Template:Convert in northwestern Jefferson County. In the Port of Houston, a total of Template:Convert was reported.<ref name="hpc">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Houston experienced torrential rainfall in a short amount of time. The six-day rainfall in Houston amounted to Template:Convert.<ref name="rms">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Houston Hobby Airport received Template:Convert of rain from June 5 to 10, 2001, while Bush Intercontinental Airport received Template:Convert.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Two-thirds of the bayous and creeks in Harris County experienced 500-year flood events. Houston Intercontinental Airport, which typically receives Template:Convert of rain in a year, experienced 35.7% of its expected total in the first nine days of June.<ref name="ivey"/> The deluge flooded 95,000 automobiles and 73,000 houses throughout Harris County.<ref name="ivey"/> Tropical Storm Allison destroyed 2,744 homes, leaving 30,000 homeless with residential damages totaling to $1.76 billion (2001 USD). Residential neighborhoods inside and to the north of Interstate 610 were hardest hit.<ref name="rms"/> Additionally, five of the six bayou systems in downtown Houston were severely flooded.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Four of them broke 100-year high-water records, causing excessive surface run-off.<ref name="rms"/>

Several hospitals in the Texas Medical Center, the largest medical complex in the world, experienced severe damage from the storm, which hit quickly and with unexpected fury on a Friday evening. Hospital personnel were forced to evacuate thousands of patients in a major effort that included Coast Guard and Army helicopters. Many of the hospitals had lost all power, including back-up generators, meaning that patients had to be carried down dark stairwells by the staff in temperatures over Template:Convert. Patients who could not breathe on their own had to be continuously manually ventilated during the evacuation, which lasted hours. Most hospitals lost power and backup power when basements, the area where power and research data were kept, flooded. The Baylor College of Medicine experienced major damage, totaling $495 million (2001 USD). The medical school lost 90,000 research animals, 60,000 tumor samples, and 25 years of research data. The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, across the street, lost thousands of laboratory animals, including expensive genetic-specific mice. Decades of research was lost, including, for many scientists, their life's work. The UT-Houston gross anatomy lab, cyclotron, and other important facilities were completely destroyed. Throughout the Medical Center, damage totaled to over $2 billion (2001 USD). Most were reopened after a month, though it took much longer to become fully operational.<ref name="rms"/>

The storm flooded the lower level of the massive law library at the University of Houston Law Center with eight feet of water. An estimated 174,000 books and the microfiche collection were destroyed. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) gave $21.4 million to rebuild the law library collection.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}Template:Dead link</ref> The tunnel system, which connects most large office buildings in downtown Houston, was submerged, as were many streets and parking garages adjacent to Buffalo Bayou. In the Houston Theater District, also near Buffalo Bayou in the northern part of downtown, the Houston Ballet, Houston Symphony, Houston Grand Opera, and Alley Theater lost millions of dollars' worth of costumes, musical instruments, sheet music, archives, props, and other artifacts.<ref name="rms"/>

The tunnel system, which connects most large office buildings in downtown Houston, was submerged, as were many streets and parking garages adjacent to Buffalo Bayou. At the Houston Theater District, also in downtown, the Houston Symphony, Houston Grand Opera, and Alley Theater lost millions of dollars of costumes, musical instruments, sheet music, archives and other artifacts. By midnight on June 9 nearly every freeway and major road in the city was under several feet of water, forcing hundreds of motorists to abandon their vehicles for higher ground.<ref name="rms"/> Local television stations ran all-night coverage of the deluge from June 8 through the next day, including KHOU-TV 11, which was forced to transmit its broadcast to a satellite truck when floodwaters entered its production studio on the Allen Parkway near Studemont/Montrose, near downtown along the banks of Buffalo Bayou. By midnight on June 9 nearly every freeway and major road in the city was under several feet of water,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> forcing hundreds of motorists to abandon their vehicles for higher ground. Eighteen-wheeled trucks were filmed floating down major freeways and highways, swept along by floodwaters.<ref name="rms"/>

LouisianaEdit

File:TS Allison-LA.jpg

Flooding in Chackbay, Louisiana

While making its first landfall, Allison's large circulation dropped severe rains on southwest Louisiana.<ref name="nws2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Days later, Allison hit the state as a subtropical storm, dropping more heavy rains to the area. Rainfall totals peaked at Template:Convert in Thibodaux, the highest rainfall total in Louisiana from a tropical cyclone since another Tropical Storm Allison in 1989.<ref name="summary">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Most of the southeastern portion of the state experienced over 10 inches of rain (255 mm).<ref name="wpc"/> Winds were generally light, peaking at Template:Convert sustained in Lakefront with gusts to Template:Convert in Bay Gardene. The storm produced a storm surge of Template:Convert in Cameron as it was making landfall in Texas.<ref name="TCR"/> While moving northward through Texas, the outer bands of the storm produced an F1 tornado near Zachary, damaging several trees and a power line. A man was killed when a damaged power line hit his truck.<ref name="latorn">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

When Allison first made landfall, heavy rainfall flooded numerous houses and businesses. Minor wind gusts caused minor roof damage to 10 houses in Cameron Parish, while its storm surge flooded portions of Louisiana Highway 82.<ref name="ladam">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> When the system returned, more rainfall occurred, flooding over 1,000 houses in St. Tammany Parish,<ref name="ladam2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 80 houses in St. Bernard Parish,<ref name="ladam3">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and hundreds of houses elsewhere in the state. The flooding also forced 1,800 residents from their homes in East Baton Rouge Parish.<ref name="ladam4">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The deluge left numerous roads impassable, while runoff resulted in severe river flooding. The Bogue Falaya River in Covington crested past its peak twice to near-record levels.<ref name="ladam2"/> The Amite and Comite Rivers reached their highest levels since 1983. In addition, the levee along the Bayou Manchac broke, flooding roadways and more houses.<ref name="ladam4"/> Damage in Louisiana totaled to $65 million (2001 USD).<ref name="rms"/>

Southeast United StatesEdit

File:Allison 2001 rainfall.gif

Rainfall totals from Allison

In Mississippi, Allison produced heavy rainfall of over Template:Convert in one night,<ref name="msdam">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> while some areas in the southwestern portion of the state received over Template:Convert.<ref name="wpc"/> The flooding damaged numerous houses and flooded many roadways.<ref name="msdam"/> Thunderstorms from the storm produced four tornadoes,<ref name="TCR"/> including one in Gulfport, Mississippi that damaged 10 houses.<ref name="mstorn">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Severe thunderstorms in George County damaged 15 houses, destroyed 10, and injured 5 people.<ref name="msthun">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Damage in Mississippi totaled to over $1 million (2001 USD).<ref name="msdam"/><ref name="mstorn"/><ref name="msthun"/> Rainfall in Alabama was moderate, with areas near Mobile experiencing more than Template:Convert.<ref name="wpc"/> Heavy rainfall closed several roads in Crenshaw County.<ref name="aldam">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The storm, combined with a high pressure, produced coastal flooding in southern Alabama.<ref name="aldam2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Allison produced an F0 tornado in southwest Mobile County that caused minor roof damage and another F0 tornado in Covington County that caused minor damage to six homes and a church.<ref name="altorn2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The storm, combined with a high pressure system, produced a strong pressure gradient, resulting in strong rip currents off the coast of Florida. The currents prompted sirens, which are normally used for storm warnings, to be activated in Pensacola Beach.<ref name="flrip">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The rip currents killed 5 off the coast of Florida.<ref name="flrip2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Outer rain bands from the storm dropped heavy rainfall across the Florida Panhandle of over Template:Convert in one day. The Tallahassee Regional Airport recorded Template:Convert in 24 hours, breaking the old 24‑hour record set in 1969.<ref name="fldam">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Throughout the state, Allison destroyed 10 homes and damaged 599, 196 severely, primarily in Leon County.<ref name="fladam">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Including the deaths from rip currents, Allison killed eight people in Florida<ref name="TCR"/> and caused $20 million (2001 USD) in damage.<ref name="fldam"/>

Over Georgia, the storm dropped heavy rainfall of Template:Convert in 24 hours in various locations. The deluge caused rivers to crest past their banks, including the Oconee River at Milledgeville which peaked at Template:Convert. The rainfall, which was heaviest across the southwestern portion of the state, washed out several bridges and roads, and flooded many other roads. Georgia governor Roy Barnes declared a state of emergency for seven counties in the state.<ref name="gadam">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The storm also spawned two tornadoes.<ref name="TCR"/> In South Carolina, Allison's outer bands produced 10 tornadoes<ref name="TCR"/> and several funnel clouds, though most only caused minor damage limited to a damaged courthouse, snapped trees<ref name="sctorn">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and downed power lines.<ref name="sctorn2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Allison produced from Template:Convert of rainfall in North Carolina, closing nearly all roads in Martin County and damaging 25 homes.<ref name="ncdam">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The severe flooding washed out a bridge in eastern Halifax County<ref name="ncdam2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and flooded numerous cars.<ref name="summary"/> Wet roads caused nine traffic accidents throughout the state.<ref name="TCR"/>

Mid-Atlantic and Northeast United StatesEdit

In Virginia, Allison produced light rainfall, with the southeastern and south-central portions of the state experiencing over Template:Convert.<ref name="wpc"/> A tree in a saturated ground fell over and killed one person.<ref name="usa">Template:Cite news</ref> Allison also produced one tornado in the state.<ref name="TCR"/> Washington, D.C. experienced moderate rainfall from the storm, totaling Template:Convert in Georgetown.<ref name="dcrain">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In Maryland, rainfall from Tropical Depression Allison totaled to Template:Convert in Denton and peak wind gusts of Template:Convert were recorded in Salisbury.<ref name="TCR"/> In Delaware, the storm produced moderate rainfall, peaking at Template:Convert in Greenwood. No damage was reported.<ref name="delall">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Allison, in combination with an approaching frontal boundary, dropped heavy rainfall across southeastern Pennsylvania, peaking at Template:Convert in Chalfont in Bucks County and over Template:Convert in portions of Philadelphia. The rainfall caused rivers to rise, with the Neshaminy Creek in Langhorne peaking at Template:Convert. Several other rivers and creeks in southeastern Pennsylvania crested at over Template:Convert. The rainfall downed numerous weak trees and power lines, leaving 70,000 without power during the storm. The flooding washed out several roads and bridges, including a few SEPTA rail lines. In addition, the rainfall destroyed 241 homes and damaged 1,386 others. Flooding at a Dodge dealership totaled 150 vehicles. Hundreds of people were forced to be rescued from damaged buildings from flood waters. The flooding dislodged a clothes dryer in the basement of the "A" building of the Village Green Apartment Complex in Upper Moreland Township, breaking a natural gas line. The gas leak resulted in an explosion and an ensuing fire that killed six people. Firefighters were unable to render assistance as the building was completely surrounded by floodwaters. Additionally, one man drowned in his vehicle in a river.<ref name="penndam">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Damage in Pennsylvania totaled to $215 million (2001 USD).<ref name="rms"/>

In New Jersey, the storm produced heavy rainfall, peaking at Template:Convert in Tuckerton. The rains also caused river flooding, including the north branch of the Metedeconk River in Lakewood which crested at Template:Convert. The flooding, severe at places, closed several roads, including numerous state highways.<ref name="njdam">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Gusty winds of up to Template:Convert in Atlantic City downed weak trees and power lines, leaving over 13,000 without power. Several people had to be rescued from high waters, though no fatalities occurred in the state. Overall damage was minimal.<ref name="njdam2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Tropical Storm Allison caused flash flooding in New York, dropping up to Template:Convert of rain in one hour in several locations and peaking at Template:Convert in Granite Springs. The rains also caused river flooding, including the Mahwah River which crested at Template:Convert. Allison's rainfall damaged 24 houses and several stores, while the flooding closed several major highways in the New York City area. Overall damage was light, and no fatalities occurred in New York due to Allison.<ref name="nydam">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Similarly, rainfall in Connecticut peaked at Template:Convert in Pomfret, closing several roads and causing minor damage to numerous houses. The Yantic River at Yantic crested at Template:Convert, while a state road was closed when a private dam in Hampton failed from the rainfall.<ref name="condam2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In Rhode Island, Allison produced up to Template:Convert of rainfall in North Smithfield, washing out several roads and houses, and destroying a log house in Foster.<ref name="condam">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

An isolated severe thunderstorm in the outer bands of Allison produced an F1 tornado in Worcester and Middlesex Counties in Massachusetts, impacting over 100 trees and damaging one house and one small camper. A microburst in Leominster and another in Shirley damaged several trees. Lightning from the storm hit two houses, causing significant damage there but little elsewhere. Allison also produced moderate rainfall in the state, mainly ranging from Template:Convert. The rainfall caused drainage and traffic problems. Damage in Massachusetts totaled to $400,000 (2001 USD).<ref name="madam">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

AftermathEdit

Within weeks of the disaster, President George W. Bush declared 75 counties in Texas,<ref name="txdeclar">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> southern Louisiana,<ref name="ladeclar">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> southern Mississippi,<ref name="msdeclar">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> northwestern Florida,<ref name="fldeclar">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and southeastern Pennsylvania as disaster areas.<ref name="padeclar">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The declarations allowed affected citizens to receive aid for temporary housing, emergency home repairs, and other serious disaster-related expenses. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) also provided 75% for the cost of debris removal, emergency services related to the disaster, and repairing or replacing damaged public facilities, such as roads, bridges and utilities.<ref name="txdeclar"/>

File:Allison- Red Cross.jpg

Aid from the American Red Cross

A few weeks after Allison, FEMA opened six disaster recovery centers across southeast Texas, which provided recovery information to those who applied for disaster assistance.<ref name="txdrc">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The American Red Cross and the Salvation Army opened 48 shelters at the peak of need for people driven from their homes, which served nearly 300,000 meals. After the extensive damage to Houston hospitals, the U. S. Public Health Service team set up a temporary hospital at the Houston Police Academy. The National Disaster Medical System deployed a temporary hospital to Houston with 88 professionals, aiding nearly 500 people.<ref name="txhos">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The team of 87 medical personnel served over 1,000 patients within two weeks of Allison's passage.<ref name="txneeds">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Thirty-five volunteer services provided aid for the flood victims in Texas, including food, clothing, and volunteers to help repair the houses.<ref name="txvol">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> After nearly 50,000 cars were flooded and ruined, many people attempted to sell the cars across the country without telling of the car's history.<ref name="txcar">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Many people took advantage of the flood victims, including fraudulent contractors and suppliers raising the price of goods more than is actually justified.<ref name="txbad">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Following the extreme flooding, a mosquito outbreak occurred, though FEMA provided aid to control the problem.<ref name="txmosq">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> By six months after the storm, around 120,000 Texas citizens applied for federal disaster aid, totaling to $1.05 billion (2001 USD).<ref name="txaid">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Like in Texas, a mosquito outbreak occurred in Louisiana. Only pesticides acceptable to the US Environmental Protection Agency and the US Fish and Wildlife Service were allowed to be used.<ref name="lamos">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> FEMA officials warned homeowners of the dangers of floodwaters, including mold, mildew, and bacteria.<ref name="lacl">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> By three months after the storm, just under 100,000 Louisiana citizens applied for federal aid, totaling to over $110 million (2001 USD). $25 million (2001 USD) of the total was for business loans, while an additional $8 million was for public assistance for communities and state agencies.<ref name="laidsum">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> More than 750 flood victims in Florida applied for governmental aid, totaling to $1.29 million (2001 USD).<ref name="flaid">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In Pennsylvania, 1,670 flood victims applied for federal aid, totaling to $11.5 million (2001 USD). $3.4 million (2001 USD) of the total was to replace a SEPTA rail bridge over Sandy Run in Fort Washington.<ref name="paid">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

RetirementEdit

Template:See also Due to the severe damage and deaths caused by the storm, the name Allison was retired from future use in the Atlantic basin in the spring of 2002 by the World Meteorological Organization. The name was replaced with Andrea for the 2007 season.<ref>Template:Cite report</ref><ref name="NHOP 02">Template:Cite report</ref> Tropical Storm Allison was the first Atlantic tropical storm to have its name retired without reaching hurricane strength.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>