Florida To 'Bear the Brunt' Of Impacts From Incoming Storm
NewsweekSEP 20 2024
Hurricane Milton on Monday strengthened into a Category 5 hurricane as it headed toward the Tampa, Fla., area that less than two weeks ago was devastated by Hurricane Helene.
The hurricane is expected to hit the Tampa Bay area Wednesday before traveling over Orlando. Florida officials warned residents to prepare for the "largest evacuation" since Hurricane Irma in 2017.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has issued a state of emergency for 51 counties, including Pinellas and Miami-Dade. He also ordered National Guard and State Guard members to return home after helping with Helene recovery in other states.
As long as man-made climate change is allowed to proliferate with little done to oppose it, the threat of these types of storms will continue. More must be done to battle climate change because as long as the oceans and atmopshere continue warming severe flooding and other destructive forces will be on their way.
It's unfortunate that a once-in-a-century storm is about to hit the coast of Florida, but this isn't about man-made climate change. The frequency and intensity of these storms hasn't increased in recent decades. More must be done to create better evacuation policies and protect areas where more people are choosing to live than ever before.