Hurricane Irma has left nothing but destruction in its path. It left Princess Juliana International Airport leveled and inoperable for what looks to be some time to come. And now she makes her way towards the Bahamas. Though I am sure everyone has great concern for the Bahamas and even Cuba, it appears that Irma is especially threatening to Broward and Miami-Dade Counties, Florida.
Evacuations of Broward and Miami-Dade Counties
Broward County Florida has a population of 1.9 million. It includes cities such as Ft Lauderdale and Boca Raton. The Florida Everglades are in their backyard.
Evacuations there are ongoing and mandatory. Miami, though not in Broward County, is expected to be equally devastated should Irma hit there. The sea level has been rising in Miami for some time already and floods occur regularly. Evacuations for Miami are in the makings.
A National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration gauge positioned just off the Miami shoreline has the Miami sea-level between 2012 and 2016 at four inches higher than the previous 20 years. One can imagine the devastation that might lay waiting for Miami-Dade and Broward Counties should Irma decide to visit. Residents there should take these evacuations seriously.
Climate change is real
Hurricane Irma is now the largest hurricane in recorded history.
It has some scientists baffled. Recently, it had sustained winds of 185 miles per hour lasting more than 24 hours -- a record for any Atlantic hurricane. Readers, this is truly a monster. Irma just skirted Puerto Rico leaving millions without power, and now it is barreling towards the Bahamas. At 7:45 AM EDT the Weather Channel had Irma at 165 miles Southeast of Grand Turk Island and moving west northwest at 17 miles per hour.
It’s anyone’s guess, but it does not look like Irma is going to miss the Bahamas or Florida.
After the devastating behavior of Hurricane Harvey, the State of Florida might do well not to underestimate any storm in this age of drastic climate change, warming ocean temperatures, and rising sea levels. Florida has a great deal of experience in handling hurricanes.
The danger is that they may be over-confident. After Hurricane Harvey, I can almost guarantee that Houstonians will never make that mistake again. Climate change is real. If we do not behave as such, then we are going to be convinced, just like Houstonians were.
Did I mention, I believe that Rush Limbaugh has lost his damned mind calling Hurricane Irma coverage, “Fake news”? But that is another story.
