October 15, 2024 by Daniela Fleming (‘26)
On September 26th, Category 4 Hurricane Helene made its dreadful landfall in Florida, decimating the South. Strong winds, surging waters, and flash floods of up to 15 feet smashed homes – and records – marking it as the deadliest hurricane since the infamous Katrina in 2005.
Although hurricanes usually fizzle out quickly because they are no longer fueled by the warm ocean water, Hurricane Helene kept moving North, pummeling towns in the Carolinas and Georgia before finally dispersing.
Hurricane Helene also wore down the natural barrier islands, which are made of sand, so the area was more susceptible to further damage and flooding by smaller storms.
Currently, there are 230 known deaths, but those who lost loved ones did not have time to grieve. A tropical storm was rapidly intensifying in the Gulf of Mexico, threatening to buffet the same region just devastated by Helene.
On October 9th, just 13 days later, Hurricane Milton made landfall in Florida as a Category 5 storm. It left even more ruin in its wake, causing an outbreak of tornados due to the heat, humidity, and strong winds. Fortunately, unlike Hurricane Helene, Milton’s trajectory crossed the Florida peninsula instead of curving upwards into other Southern States (see map).
The Southeast now must rebuild hundreds of billions of dollars’ worth of damage, which experts are unsure how long will take – it could be years before Florida and the other affected areas recover completely. Unfortunately, hurricanes are not uncommon in the region, but casualties have been minimized due to advances in the technology to prepare for them in advance.
Although this devastation does not affect our home in New York, we must stay informed and care for the other parts of our country. Visit these links to learn more about these storms:
Hurricane Helene updates: Death toll surpasses 230 as rescue efforts continue – ABC News (go.com)
Hurricane Milton: Floods, blackouts and gas shortages as Florida faces headwinds | CNN
Stay informed and stay curious!
