Tropical Storm Chris (1982) - Impact

Impact

At an offshore oil rig, a wind gust up to 81 mph (130 km/h) was reported. In addition, several boats in the Gulf of Mexico sustained heavy damage. About 9 miles (14 km) southeast of Sabine Pass, a 65 feet (20 m) utility boat sunk. Minimal rainfall was reported in Texas, reaching about 1 inch (25 mm). Winds were light, remaining below tropical storm force in eastern Texas. However, a restaurant on Pleasure Island suffered an estimated $200,000 in damage (1982 USD). In addition, minimal damage occurred at Sea Rim State Park, totaling to only $1,000 (1982 USD). In the Port Arthur area, numerous power outages were reported. Flooded roads and power outages were reported in Beaumont, though damage was not significant in that city.

Along the southwestern coast of Louisiana, tides between 4 and 7 feet (1.2 and 2.1 m) were reported. On land, Chris produced tropical storm force winds in a few areas and light to moderate rainfall. Throughout the state, precipitation was generally between 5 and 10 inches (130 and 250 mm), though peaking at more than 16 inches (410 mm) in Delhi. Elsewhere in Louisiana, about 5 inches (130 mm) of rainfall was reported in Lake Charles. Street flooding in Lake Charles was severe, though only a few houses suffered flood damage. To the south of Lake Charles, minor damage was reported in Cameron Parish, totaling to about $500,000 (1982 USD). However, due to high tides, damage along the coastal areas of that parish was considerable. A Cameron Parish official noted "There's power out all over the place, and we understand there was quite a bit of damage at Holly Beach". In Evangeline Parish, an F2 tornado on the Fujita Scale destroyed four buildings and damaged seven other structures. In northeastern Louisiana, wind damage was "spotty" and limited to downed trees and powerlines. As a result of heavy rainfall in that portion of the state, low-lying areas flooded, and bayous overflowed. A tornado, rated at F3, destroyed eleven houses and one church in Clayton. In addition, the tornado knocked down trees and powerlines in the area. Overall, damage in Louisiana was near $1 million (1982 USD).

Throughout Louisiana and Mississippi, a combined total of nine tornadoes were reported. One of the tornadoes in Mississippi damaged several homes and businesses in Cleveland, and at least four injuries were reported. Another tornado spawned in a rural area overturned a mobile home in Eden. Two other twisters in the state caused minimal damage. In Mississippi, rains peaked at about 10 inches (250 mm) in the northwest section of the state. The rest of state reported widespread rains of 1–7 inches (25–180 mm). Rainfall in Alabama peaked at 3 inches (76 mm) in some areas, and similar amounts were observed in Georgia. In Florida, rainfall peaked at 7 inches (180 mm) in an extremely southern part of the Panhandle. Precipitation was also recorded in Lake Okeechobee, with 1 inch (25 mm) reported there. The northeastern section of the state reported 5 inches (130 mm) of rain. No rain was reported in the Florida Keys.

In Arkansas, only 1 inch (25 mm) of rain was reported, which were in several portions of the state. Missouri reported a peak of 5 inches (130 mm) of precipitation, in the southeastern portion of the state. Other rains in the state include 1–3 inches (25–76 mm), which was widespread. Illinois reported mainly 1 inch (25 mm) of precipitation, with one area of 3 inches (76 mm), all in the southern half of the state. Very little rain was reported in Indiana, with only 1-inch (25 mm) on the southern border of the state. In Tennessee and Kentucky, rains of 10–16 inches (250–410 mm) were reported with locally heavy flooding. The western portions of Tennessee reported flood waters at least waist high in some city streets. In addition, schools in Milan were closed, while portions of U.S. Routes 70 and 79 were submerged into water. A few businesses in the city of Huntington suffered flood damage. Others rains include 1 inch (25 mm) in the Carolinas, New York, Michigan, Virginia and Ohio. Overall, damage from Tropical Storm Chris was slightly less than $2 million (1982 USD), and no fatalities were reported.