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Chaos in the Gulf: Hurricane Milton Ravages Florida, Communities Fight to Recover

Florida has been hit by the second most intense Atlantic hurricane ever recorded. The mighty storm struck the city of Siesta Key on Florida’s western coast, leaving behind despair and devastation. The hurricane made landfall near Siesta Key on 9^th October, becoming one of the most powerful post-tropical hurricanes with a wind speed exceeding 105 mph.[1] The storm left a trail of submerged neighborhoods and floodwaters and damaged power lines, leaving many people scrambling for safety and at least 27 reported casualties. The state has been trying to assist the victims; however, the hurricane’s strength overwhelmed even the most well-prepared rescue missions. The gulf waters, which are typically a calming site for locals, now have become a menacing force, turning a beautiful town into a disaster zone.

Despite being serene, Florida has had a history of devastating hurricanes. It has seen some of the worst hurricanes causing millions of dollars of damage, such as the 1921 hurricane with wind gusts of 150 mph or Hurricane Andrew in 1992, considered the most costly natural disaster in US history.[2] The reason behind such destruction is Florida’s geographical position, which makes it lie directly in the way of the hurricanes forming in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico.[3] This threat of hurricanes exceeds during Atlantic hurricane season, ranging from 1^st June to 30^th November.[4] As the director of the Extreme Events Institute at Florida International University in Miami, Richard Olson, said,

“Our hurricane risk is geographically determined.”

As a result, Florida is no stranger to hurricanes, and the Milton hurricane is only the latest addition to the list.

Hurricanes are rotating low-pressure cyclones with winds reaching 74 mph, forming over tropical and subtropical waters.[5] The surface winds continuously revolve in a closed circulation, forming a calm center of the storm called the eye, surrounded by the strongest winds referred to as the eyewall.[6] They originate over warm ocean waters, a low-pressure area, as a tropical wave that moves through moist tropical regions. When the warm air rises, it creates a further low pressure, which causes more air to rush in. The rising air cools down, resulting in the formation of clouds and thunderstorms, and when the speed crosses the 74mph range, it is notified as a hurricane.[7] Hurricanes are classified into five categories based on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Category 1 hurricanes have sustained winds of 74 to 95 mph that cause significant damage. The more intense hurricanes with 96 to 110 mph speeds are put in category 2. Whereas Category 4 and Category 5 hurricanes bring catastrophic damage by having wind gusts ranging from 130 mph to 157+ mph respectively.[8]

Hurricane Milton had a trajectory similar to Hurricane Katrina; it shifted from a Category 1 hurricane to a Category 5 hurricane in the initial 22 hours, with a recorded maximum speed of 180 mph on 7 October. Fortunately, while it was a Cat 5 over the Gulf of Mexico, it had slowed down to Cat 3 when it hit near Siesta Key, Florida, late October 9th. [9] This storm has left unforgettable marks of destruction because the initial hurricane is not the only thing people must worry about. After the hurricane’s landfall, there were recurrent tornadoes, and dozens of warnings were issued. On Wednesday, the National Weather Service (NWS) officers issued 98 tornado warnings, breaking the record for the most warnings in a single day in Florida.[10] The NWS posted on X on Wednesday,

“If the driving rain and wind isn’t enough to convince you to remain sheltered in place, there is also the very real threat of tornadoes, even in the outer bands of #Milton”

The FEMA Administrator, Deanne Criswell, stated, “When people think about hurricanes, when they picture the damage hurricanes are going to cause, they think about winds and they think about floods, but Milton was a stark reminder of the threats tornadoes pose.” But tornadoes are not the only threat that Milton brought; the state has experienced flooding and 5 to 10-foot storm surges observed from Naples to Siesta Key. Numerous sinkholes have been reported in Florida. A large sinkhole that opened up in Hillsborough County was one of them. Similarly, a hole in Polk County on Thursday swallowed a pickup truck.[11] The most affected and hardest-hit areas include the Tampa Bay Area, Sarasota County, and Treasure Coast. Moreover, Florida’s central and northern areas are experiencing heavy flooding because 20 inches of rainfall poured in a few hours. The flood will take weeks or months to recede into the ocean. Because of this, destruction in many areas has rendered them unrecognizable.[12] Currently, there are still power outages, and approximately 1 million people are surviving without power. Such outages have hindered transportation.[13] Apart from the infrastructure, the death count in Florida currently is estimated to be 24, with three more dead due to Milton in Mexico. The overall damages stand at $30 billion, but some estimates speculate it is much higher.[14] Additionally, over 2000 miles of area have been impacted by the hurricane, which will need massive reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts.

The damage has been so traumatizing that some of the victims have decided to leave Florida forever. Cindy Phillips, 75 years old Florida resident[15], said:

“I’ve already called the Realtor; It’s the fear of the storm. Are we going to have a home after? What are we going to do if we don’t? We’re getting too old to be in Florida. Three hurricanes is too much. I can’t do it anymore.”

The devastating aftermath stops at the restriction of power and health facilities and extends to the dangers of wild animals, particularly alligators. Many families have found them in their homes or backyards and has become a safety concern. The authorities have requested the citizens to stay safe and avoid going into dark waters.[16]

Amid the chaos, there were constant efforts to provide protection to the citizens. Mandatory evacuation orders were issued for the people living in coastal areas as the hurricane intensified. The governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis, along with local authorities, issued evacuation orders for the residents in the path of the hurricane.[17] Many people have evacuated to Tampa-Bay public shelters. In addition, emergency shelters were set up throughout the state, including schools, community centers, and other facilities. These shelters are specifically arranged for those who could not escape to other cities. The state has also catered to the people without personal transportation by setting up state-coordinated transportation facilities to escalate the evacuation.[18] Florida, being prone to hurricane threats, the widespread forecasts and warnings initiated one of the largest evacuations in recent years. The state’s preparations largely met the challenge. Elizabeth Dunn, an instructor at the University of South Florida mentioned: “With each storm system, we try to learn from the previous one. We try to put something in place so that never happens again.”

Local officials and the government were swift to respond to the disaster. Emergency services worked tirelessly to rescue people and restore essential services. The National Hurricane Center issued multiple warnings to prepare the residents for any situation.[19] In addition, sandbags were distributed, and emergency supply distribution centers conducted public awareness programs. The state also enabled an Assistance Information Line for supplying essentials to needy residents.[20] The recovery process included restoring power, medical aid, and other essentials.

However, the storm’s unexpected intensification baffled many officials. Despite issuing recurrent warnings, the storm’s sudden surge made evacuating difficult for many people.[21] The government also faced the issue of managing such a large number of evacuees. The rapid influx of evacuees to neighboring states and shelters strained resources and highlighted the need for better preparedness and resource allocation in future disaster responses. Despite these setbacks, the coordinated efforts of federal, state, and local authorities played a crucial role in mitigating the impact of the hurricane and aiding in the recovery process. The efforts helped save countless lives and demonstrated the importance of preparedness and community support in the face of natural disasters.

In addition to saving lives, recovery from such a catastrophe requires multiple levels of government and organization efforts. Many organizations are playing a constructive role by offering financial assistance to the affected population. The Florida Home Builders Foundation has established a disaster relief fund to support communities. Meanwhile, a system of donations has been at work to speed up the recovery.[22] Also at the scene are organizations like the Red Cross, volunteering to help homeowners with debris removal.[23] However, long-term recovery requires reconstructing homes and businesses and investing in stronger infrastructure to minimize the risk of damage in future incidents.[24] Florida needs to address such continuous risks by revising building codes and implementing new coastal protection measures. The most important element in the speedy recovery is to develop community resilience, enabling the residents to recover easily from future crises. This involves fostering strong community networks, providing mental health support, and ensuring vulnerable populations access necessary resources.

The road to recovery will be long and challenging. Reconstructing damaged infrastructure, restoring power, and supporting displaced families are just a few of the hurdles ahead. But volunteer groups, local organizations, and government agencies are working hand-in-hand to provide relief and rebuild what was lost. Despite the trials ahead, the people of Florida have shown that, while hurricanes can knock them down, their spirit remains unshaken.

References:

[1] Hurricane Milton Recap | Weather.com

[2] http://fcit.usf.edu/Florida/lessons/hurricane/hurricane.htm

[3] https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2022/09/27/florida-hurricane-vulnerability-explainer/

[4] https://climatecenter.fsu.edu/topics/hurricanes

[5] https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/hurricane.html

[6] https://www.noaa.gov/education/resource-collections/weather-atmosphere/hurricanes

[7] https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/how-hurricanes-form.html#:~:text=Warm%20ocean%20waters%20and%20thunderstorms,enhancing%20shower%20and%20thunderstorm%20activity.

[8] https://www.arnolditkin.com/blog/insurance/the-5-categories-of-hurricanes/

[9] Hurricane Milton wind speeds: Maps show when, where they are highest (usatoday.com)

[10] Hurricane Milton Update as Florida Breaks Tornado Warning Record – Newsweek

[11] Hurricane Milton updates: Rescues underway, death toll mounts (usatoday.com)