National Hurricane Center director surveys damage in Jacksonville area

The director of the National Hurricane Center toured damage caused by Hurricane Matthew in Duval and St. Johns County on Friday.

First Alert Chief Meteorologist Mike Buresh was the only local meteorologist who spoke with Dr. Rick Knabb as he walked along Jacksonville Beach.

"It's amazing what the power of water can do," Knabb said. "This is an example of just how heavy water is, how powerful storm surge is and how damaging waves on top of the storm surge can be."

Knabb said the devastation to Jacksonville Beach and the metropolitan area would have been much worse if the area would have gotten a direct hit by Hurricane Matthew.

"If there’s another hurricane strike here that’s closer, stronger, more direct, the outcome from the storm surge next time might be even more dangerous than it was during Hurricane Matthew," Knabb said.

He said it was a good thing people evacuated.

"Even with the dunes here, the water got into the streets, made its way into some of the structures and it was a very dangerous time," Knabb said. "It was good the people who got out were not here."

He said people should not assume the next hit will be the same.

"Whatever your personal experience was for Matthew, don’t assume the next hurricane threat is going to be the same and you don’t need to prepare next time," he said.

He said the area will be a little more vulnerable until the dunes are built up again.

"This is just a taste of the vulnerability we have in this area," Knabb said. "It is important we prepare for the next hurricane, the next storm, just like we do every year."

Cox Media Group