The Impact of Four Hurricanes in 2004 on the Florida Citrus Industry: Experiences and Lessons Learned

Florida citrus areas were affected by four severe hurricanes (three direct hits) within a 6-week period in August and September 2004. All segments of the Florida citrus industry were impacted either directly or indirectly. Citrus nurseries suffered extensive losses and bearing trees were uprooted, broken or lost leaves and fruit. Compared to the 2003-04 season, the orange crop was reduced by 31% while grapefruit yields were reduced by 68%. Re-establishing grove operations and water management practices were major tasks for growers affected by the hurricanes. Tree damage, survival, and recovery depended on pre-existing pest pressures, cultivars, tree canopy size, grove architecture, cultural practices, and the hurricanes’ forces in the specific areas and blocks. For example, in young rootstock trials there was more tree blow-over apparently attributable to larger canopy volume relative to rooting, lack of rooting symmetry, and previous root weevil damage. Evaluation of different hedging and topping recovery practices indicated that early fall timing reduced return bloom in 2005. Some pest populations increased on the heavy fall flush in 2004 following mature leaf loss. This article brings together some useful information about hurricane preparedness and recovery practices for citrus production. UF/IFAS, cooperating scientists, and citrus growers conducted on-going evaluations of the health, recovery, and future potential of Florida citrus. Episodic catastrophic weather events like hurricanes are unpredictable and offer limited opportunities to observe and conduct experiments to assess their impacts. Nonetheless, there is a need to assist producers, harvesters, and the post-production components of the citrus industry in making appropriate, informal decisions about recovery of trees and the overall industry. Extension activities were conducted to keep growers informed of tree and grove conditions, provide advice on best management practices for potential problems and grove hurricane recovery. Economic decisions and investments in disaster recovery must be made with realistic expectations. The aftermath of three severe hurricanes within a 6-week period in Aug. and Sept. 2004, provided a unique opportunity to bring together the lessons learned about hurricane preparedness and recovery practices for citrus production. The purpose of this article is to summarize the experiences, what we may know and what we don’t know about the shortand long-term impacts of the hurricanes in 2004 in case similar events were to occur again. Hurricane Comparisons Over the past 60 years, the Florida citrus industry has experienced several destructive hurricanes (Table 1). Major hurricanes devastated the industry in 1944, 1945, 1947, and 1949 (Attaway, 1999). The 1944 and 1949 hurricanes were particularly severe, but no previous season can compare with *Corresponding author; e-mail: [email protected] Table 1. Hurricanes of major impact prior to 2004 in the past 60 years in Florida (after Attaway, 1999)