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  • Writer's pictureTeagan Harbour
    • Oct 1, 2022

Hurricane Ian: Power & Consequences


One of the most notable category 4 hurricanes in ten years strikes the south blowing powerful winds through neighborhoods.



Hurricane Ian picked up rapidly over the Caribbean region and fueled its way to the southern states. Florida faces the most detrimental impacts as winds exceed 100mph. Flooding along the western Gulf Coast took over homes in neighborhoods causing people to flee. As of now, the hurricane is making its way toward the Virginia and Carolina territories. Looking into how hurricanes are charged, they are products of global warming.

Something important to note is that humans create their own natural disasters to some extent. Ocean surface temperatures are on a rise as greenhouse gasses are trapping more sunlight in water. This is one of the causes of the off the charts wind speeds and staggering category storms. The warmer the water, the more power is built up for the storm as it forms over oceans. A satellite image by the New York Times states that, “the likelihood of a hurricane strengthening into a Category 3 storm or higher, with sustained winds above 110 miles per hour, has increased by about 8 percent a decade since 1979.” An 8 percent increase may not theoretically seem too altering, yet a storm this size with this power can and will take out cities and homes for days.

The storm has caused many impairments from 27 deaths, power loss, mass destruction, and flooding. Thus far, two million people have been left skint of electricity and even lost their lives. From Florida to South Carolina, major flooding is consuming cars and roads as people struggle to travel. Financially, AP News claims that the storm will lead to over $100 billion in damages, which includes insurance and firm losses. Now that we know how storms strengthen and leave areas, there are some solutions and benefactors to the situation. Some non-direct solutions include riding a bike, walking, or using an electric car. The less gas waste emitted into our air, the less the ocean consumes to fire up hurricanes. Another solution could be utilizing less heat or air conditioning so that less energy is used. Finally, some ways to help affect hurricane areas could be a donation of supplies or time. Sending food, money, or essentials is necessary for aiding survivors of disasters and a great help. A just as productive way would be donating blood or going to affected areas directly to make a difference.





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