Whilst moving through the Central Atlantic then making it’s way across the Caribbean Sea into places such as Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, Colombia, Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao, Jamaica and the Cayman Islands; all the time building with intensity…. Hurricane Ian made landfall in Cuba on the 27th of September 2022 as a category 3 hurricane; with wind speeds of over 100mph which resulted in the fatality of 5 people in the process. The hurricane then proceeded to make landfall in Florida (USA) on the 28th of September 2022, with heavy rains and high winds of 150mph cutting a path through Fort Myers, St.Petersburg (St.Pete’s) and east across the Peninsula Florida Region (stretching from Jacksonville towards the Gulf Coast)…
Artwork: Copyright of L.D.K
(Jet streams, including the Pacific Jet Stream a.k.a the Equatorial Smoke Screen, plays an important part in the natural occurrence of regulating earths climate/weather systems through the movement of warm and cold air. This in turn also affects sea surface temperatures; for instance warmer sea surface temperatures (SST’s) result in more frequent hurricane formations and activity which tend to increase in duration especially throughout the hurricane season month of September. Also, the dynamics in anomalies such as the flux within earths magnetic fields can upset the hot and cold air balance: resulting in a wavier jet stream that produces more climatic anomalies).
Widespread destruction resulting from Hurricane Ian’s path has been caused to multiple homes, along with other types of properties and infrastructure, with heavy rainfall across many residential areas resulting in rain water levels of approximately 20 inches. Over a million people have been displaced from their homes. (Sanibel causeway was also severely flooded, as was a bridge on Pine Island along with severe flooding in the Fort Myers area and Naples).
With millions of people being under Evacuation Orders, the storm surges hit on coastal shore lines with waves as high as 4.5 metres and the overall destruction caused by the storm was catastrophic to the point that state of emergency was being declared.
It has been reported that approximately over 100 people have perished in areas across Florida, along with 5 people from North Carolina and 1 person from Virginia. (No reported hurricane fatalities in places such as North Myrtle Beach in South Carolina).
With another 10,000 people having yet to be found in the aftermath of the hurricane storm; livestock, crops and trees have also been badly affected; along with power lines being downed by the hurricane which resulted in over 1.2 million homes being without electrical power, (many with no available land line or internet).
A large number of people, (along with pets and wildlife; whereby most have the uncanny ability to strongly sense a storm approaching), have been left in great distress and in need of safe shelter, food and fresh drinking water.
Over 50 people have been reported to have perished directly through drowning from the flooding of the storm. Along with the rescue of approximately 4,000 people left stranded in the floods of the hurricane storm, some horses, along with a number of cows and chickens have also managed to be rescued under a critical code 3 flood water search, and whilst it was reported that some farmers were able to take preventative measures ahead of the hurricane; through turning off their irrigation systems and drying out some of the agricultural land enough to be able to harvest whatever produce they could; a lot of livestock, crops and trees, (with the exception of palm trees having reportedly being the least affected tree species in comparison with certain other tree species), have also been badly affected along with power lines being downed by the hurricane; resulting in over 1.2 million homes being without electric power.
The livelihoods of many people have been affected in having entirely lost their businesses due to the hurricane storm and flooding damage. The Federal Government has stepped in to provide energy and also to repair power lines and other infrastructure such as bridges, with provisions of things like water, medical aid and shelter.
Eventually the Hurricane moved onto Northern Carolina and also to South Carolina’s North Coast area as a category 1 Storm, with a Hurricane wind force of 85mph causing some more flooding and damage to properties before eventually dispersing in Virginia.
Hurricane Ian was a C.S.E (Climatic Shock Event), and was one of the most powerful storms to hit the USA which is estimated to cost between 42 up to 58 billion dollars worth of damage; the infrastructural damage across Florida was horrific; Economic Analysts have suggested that it will take at least between 4-5 years for Florida to return to some sort of normality; again highlighting the need for more improvement within infrastructural planning along with further general improvements in Hazard/ Storm and Flood Risk Management for everybody with relation to such Climate disaster situations…
Peace and love to everyone across the planet, L.D.K
(Kaieteur Houdini)
(Article Copyright of L.D.K)