The hurricane season has taken off in the United States with Hurricane Florence set to strike the East Coast that had faced the wrath of a hurricane last year. In 2017, three major hurricanes struck in quick succession in different parts of the country and left behind a trail of destruction. Puerto Rico was badly affected and is still trying to come to terms with the damages it suffered to its infrastructure.

CNN reports that Hurricane Florence began as a Category 3 storm, but was gradually upgraded to Category 5. In view of probable threats to the coastal areas, mandatory evacuation orders have been issued which is expected to affect upwards of one million people.

Officials have cautioned the residents and advised them to take necessary precautionary measures to safeguard their lives and properties.

Administration braces to face the hurricane

The National Hurricane Center has indicated that the intensity of the wind will give rise to storm surge coupled with inland wind threats. President Donald Trump has declared an emergency in North Carolina. In the words of South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, "this is a real hurricane we have coming." Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam has added, "this is a serious storm and it's going to affect the entire state of Virginia."

Hurricane Florence has forced several counties in both North and South Carolina to order a mandatory evacuation.

Simultaneously, restrictions have been imposed on Travel by road in the danger zones. Many establishments like state government offices, schools, and medical facilities will down their shutters. In order to tackle the situation, people have boarded up their homes, and stocked essentials like gas, drinking water, batteries, generators etcetera.

Any hurricane is a climatic disorder

According to the Independent UK, climate change is a factor that gives rise to tropical storms. In case Hurricane Florence comes to a halt over land, it could lead to heavy rainfall and flash floods. When Hurricane Harvey struck Texas in 2017, Houston experienced nearly 60 inches of rain and left 93 dead while the extent of damages is believed to have been in millions.

In the opinion of James Kossin of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, global warming is a direct fallout of man-made air pollution. It leads to an increase in temperatures in the poles and has a cascading effect on the environment. Another climate scientist Kevin Trenberth appears to agree. He notes that “the implication is that the warmer oceans increased the risk of greater hurricane intensity and duration.”

Climatic disorders like drought, flash flood, and wildfire are on the rise globally. Such irregular patterns of weather are invariably accompanied by loss of lives and properties and damages to the infrastructure. Various agencies rush to the scene to provide relief and rehabilitate the people but, a majority of the damages are irreversible. Those who formulate policies must evaluate the situation based on ground realities and focus on long-term strategies to prevent disasters like hurricanes.
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