Airborne Oil
Wind speeds in a hurricane starts at 74 miles per hour and are often much faster than that. In 1992, Hurricane Andrew packed winds of 140 to 160 miles per hour. When winds reach these high speeds, they can easily lift water from the surface of the ocean and carry it, dropping it along with rain from the storm. If there is oil on the water's surface, it may be pulled into the air and dropped on land with the rain. However, the elements of a hurricane speed up the oil breakdown, making the threat minor. In addition, it does not rain oil; the oil is simply blown onto land in the air.
Water Surge
When a hurricane approaches land it brings large waves known as a water surge. This surge carries the water much farther inland than a typical storm or the daily tides. If oil is present on the surface of the water, this surge also carries the oil residue much farther inland than it normally would reach. This increases the cleanup required after the storm has passed. The polluted water also can be forced farther up rivers that feed into the ocean, expanding the pollution.
Storm Formation
While little is known about the effects of an oil spill on a hurricane itself, it is possible for an oil slick to slow down the progress and growth of a hurricane, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. For a hurricane to form and grow, it needs warm water. The warm water evaporates quickly, feeding the storm. Oil does not evaporate the same way water does. Therefore, oil has the potential to decrease the speed at which the hurricane can grow by cutting off its access to the warm water beneath the oil.
Recovery Times
Robert Twilley, an oceanographer at the Louisiana State University, witnessed firsthand the length of time it took for the inland wetlands to recover from large storms, such as Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005. A salty residue was left behind once the water receded and dried, making for a difficult cleanup. If oil is added to the situation, the cleanup times may be increased, and some of the marshlands may never recover