Adapted from articles by Michael Copley, Rebecca Hersher, and Dr. Jennifer Jones
In September 2022, Hurricane Ian struck Sanibel and Captiva, Fort Myers Beach, and Cape Coral. Its acceleration from a Category 2 to a virtual Category 5 was unprecedented. This was caused by the extremely high water temperature in the Gulf of Mexico. Hurricane Ian was deadly and extremely destructive. It was the third-costliest weather disaster on record worldwide, the deadliest hurricane to strike the state of Florida since the 1935 Labor Day hurricane, and the strongest hurricane to make landfall in Florida since Michael in 2018.
It’s undeniable that our climate is changing, and this fact has resonated strongly with the people of Florida. Even in a state known for its political divisions, a significant majority of both parties have recognized the reality of climate warming. This level of consensus is remarkable and underscores the urgency of the situation.
In July, Hurricane Beryl tore across the Caribbean, unleashing life-threatening flooding and dangerous wind as it headed toward Texas.
Beryl is the most powerful hurricane ever recorded this early in the Atlantic hurricane season and the earliest storm to strengthen so rapidly as it formed, in a similar way to Hurricane Ian! Beryl grew from a relatively weak tropical depression into a full-blown major hurricane in less than two days, a stark reminder of the urgency and concern surrounding climate warming, which is heating our oceans and creating an environment that provides energy for hurricanes to rapidly grow into an extremely dangerous storm.
The recent havoc wreaked by Hurricane Beryl is a stark illustration of climate warming’s immediate and life-threatening consequences. This powerful hurricane, the earliest storm to intensify so rapidly in the Atlantic, clearly indicates the pressing need to address climate warming. It’s not just a distant threat; it’s our present reality. The overwhelming consensus in the scientific community is that climate warming is pivotal in developing severe storms like Beryl.
“You’re hearing things like ‘unprecedented’ and ‘shocking’ a lot about Beryl,” says Andra Garner, a hurricane expert at Rowan University in New Jersey. But Garner says it isn’t surprising to scientists to see such a big storm so early this year. Ocean temperatures have been high due to human-caused climate warming, driven by burning fossil fuels. This stark reality underscores our collective accountability in fueling hurricanes through our actions. It’s a wake-up call for us to take responsibility for our actions. We all must curb climate warming, as warm water fuels hurricanes.
Heat Drives Stronger Storms
As the ocean slowly warms up throughout the summer, bigger and stronger hurricanes become more likely. But this year, the water temperature in the tropical Atlantic is higher than ever before!
It has been in record-breaking territory for over a year, which means a lot of extra heat is available to fuel storms. Climate warming is making powerful storms more common. Warmer ocean temperatures are helping to drive what the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted would be an unusually intense hurricane season in the Atlantic this year, with forecasters expecting as many as 17 to 25 named storms.
The 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season Will Be ‘Extraordinary,’ Forecasters Warn
Moreover, the forecast of the 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season predicts an “extraordinary” year, with an unusually intense hurricane season expected due to record-breaking ocean temperatures. This is not a coincidence; it directly results from our actions and environmental impact.
“With a warming climate, we should be expecting more of these storms to intensify rapidly,” says Jennifer Collins, a professor in the School of Geosciences at the University of South Florida. The relationship between a hotter planet and the number and timing of storms that rapidly gain strength is still an active area of research. Unfortunately for those of us living in Florida, Collins states, “I’m just expecting it to be a new season of firsts.”
Stronger Storms Cause Financial Stress for Americans
Many Americans have been affected by extreme weather in recent years, and many suffer long-term financial problems, according to a new nationwide survey conducted by NPR, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
The survey found that more than three-quarters of adults in the United States have experienced extreme weather in the last five years, including hurricanes, wildfires, floods, and heat waves. Most people who suffer major weather damage or financial problems do not receive money from the federal government.
“Facing extreme weather has had a substantial impact on millions of Americans, who have had serious property damage, health, and financial consequences,” said Robert J. Blendon, co-director of the survey and professor of health policy and political analysis emeritus at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
Here in Florida, residents have experienced huge increases in their insurance charges, many of which have been around 50% or more. Sadly, many have either had companies refuse to continue their coverage or increase costs so much that they have chosen not to continue their hurricane cover, preferring to “take a chance!”
The suffering caused by hurricanes, wildfires, floods, and heat waves is evident, and it’s disturbing that most affected individuals do not receive the necessary support from the federal government. This inaction highlights the urgency of addressing climate warming and its immediate repercussions. Extreme weather also affects people’s health. Nearly one-quarter of those who experienced extreme weather in the last five years said someone in their household had a serious health problem.
Floods, Wildfires, And Hurricanes Are Emptying Bank Accounts
The financial impact on families from bad weather, which is not classified as extreme, can also be serious. Severe thunderstorms or high tide floods can be extremely expensive. A damaged roof or waterlogged car can cost thousands of dollars to fix or replace.
Survey findings indicate that most families end up paying for the cost of disasters and bad weather themselves. Among those who had serious property damage or financial problems after a disaster, more than 70% said they were either uninsured or underinsured, meaning the money they got from their insurance company didn’t cover most of the repair costs.
Extreme Weather Is Worst for People Who Are Already Marginalized
Black people who experienced extreme weather experienced financial problems at three times the rate of white people. Respondents who identified as Latino faced financial difficulties after weather disasters at more than twice the rate of white people.
“Disasters can have the effect of widening existing inequalities,” says Caroline Ratcliffe, one of the authors of a 2020 paper that looked at the financial effects over the four years after a weather disaster. She says a storm, wildfire, or flood doesn’t need to be record-breaking to cause long-term economic problems, partly because those who experience medium-size disasters don’t qualify for emergency federal relief money.
The Latest Climate Resilience Survey
Dr. Jennifer Jones, Department of Ecology & Environmental Studies Water Resources, The Water School at FGCU, wrote, “. . .belief in climate warming is widely accepted and even a bipartisan issue here. The latest Florida Climate Resilience Survey conducted by Florida Atlantic University found a whopping 92% of Floridians believe climate warming is happening, including a majority of Florida Republicans (88%) and Florida Democrats (96%).
Only 27% of Floridians believe municipal, county, and state governments are doing enough to address the impacts of climate warming. Investing more money in climate warming resilience is a legitimate use of public funds that will protect people, property, and our way of life. Most of us want our governments to do more to protect us — it’s OK to say that publicly.”
The link between human-caused climate warming and hurricanes’ terrifying power is undeniable. Experts emphasize that warmer ocean temperatures, a direct result of climate warming, fuel these catastrophic storms. This alarming reality holds us all accountable for our actions and demands we take responsibility for the consequences.
It’s time to acknowledge the gravity of the situation. We cannot ignore the consensus among Floridians and the scientific community. Climate warming is not just a political issue; it’s a matter of our survival. We and our government officials must take decisive and immediate action to mitigate the effects of climate warming and prevent further catastrophic events.
It is time for everyone to reduce their power and water consumption and, wherever possible, switch to items that are not powered by fossil fuels.
