Storm surge could be catastrophic

ST. PETERSBURG - A University of South Florida marine science researcher challenges the accuracy of official projections of hurricane storm surges.

Dr. Robert Weisberg says those models are based on 1972 technology, which was limited by computing power of that era, so they only calculate storm surge in two dimensions.

He developed a new model, using three dimensions and including the height of waves on top of the surge. The he took data from Hurricane Ivan, which made landfall near Pensacola and applied to a theoretical landfall in Indian Rocks Beach.

"The potential for damage and destruction here in our greater Tampa Bay area is as severe as coastal Mississippi," Weisberg says. "And we know what happened there -- ust massive destruction of homes."

Weisberg published his findings in December and has presented it at one hurricane conference. He says the findings also suggest nearly everyone in the Tampa Bay area needs flood insurance, whether or not their home loan requires it.