#SCORP4Today – Hurricane Ian: What Kind of Catastrophe Is That?

First of all, let us show our deepest condolences to more than a hundred people who have passed away because of Hurricane Ian which occurred several days ago. What kind of catastrophe is Hurricane Ian? How severe was the disaster that caused a large number of deaths? 

Hurricanes, in general, are a type of tropical cyclone where a circular storm forms over warm waters with trifling air pressure at the center. It is known as the deadliest hurricane to hit Florida since 1935 and is classified as a category four storm as it has maximum sustained winds of around 155 miles per hour. This very-threatening storm crossed many countries: the Cayman Islands, Cuba, Jamaica, and the USA, with the State of Florida being the worst hit by the storm.

In the days leading up to the storm, many believed that the heaviest impacts would be felt farther to the north, near Tampa Bay. But then the forecast was revised, showing the storm’s track shifting to the south. Some decided to shelter in place because they thought their houses would be strong enough to ride out the storm and quickly found themselves scrambling to reach higher ground as the water rose. Some couldn’t afford to evacuate and thought it wasn’t worth the hassle. The shelters had a capacity of 40.000 people, yet only 4.000 showed up. These show that many made the conscious choice not to evacuate. Governor Ron DeSantis had stated that officials acted appropriately when they issued their first mandatory evacuations on Tuesday, less than 24 hours before Hurricane Ian made landfall.

Nevertheless, the government has provided an adequate disaster risk reduction plan. FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) continues to work with federal, state, and local partners to support survivors and communities in their recovery from Hurricane Ian. Recovery and cleanup from the storm may take some time. Individuals affected by Hurricane Ian in Florida now can apply for assistance online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov and impacted survivors from the approved designated counties can visit the nearest DRC for help to apply for assistance. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has also activated its Operation Blue Roof program to provide homeowners and permanently occupied rental properties in disaster areas with fiber-reinforced sheeting to cover their damaged roofs until arrangements can be made for permanent repairs.

Even though natural disasters often occur unpredictably, hurricanes are one of many predictable natural disasters. You can see it on TV or radio stations or FEMA. There are two types of alerts, such as ‘hurricane watch’ which means that the expected hurricane condition is sustained winds that are 74 miles per hour or higher possible (usually announced 48 hours before the hurricane), and ‘hurricane warning’. The ‘hurricane warning’ means that hurricane-force winds are expected and this should be taken seriously (usually announced 36 hours before the hurricane). 

With these predictions, you could prepare yourself and others to increase survivability during this event. Some tips that could save lives are to prepare for the worst, keep track of weather services and maps, prepare emergency supplies, locate the nearest shelter and its fastest route, know some emergency numbers, and get things ready. The first tip is to prepare for the worst. Preparing for the worst means your main focus is your life and others. The next one is to keep track of weather services and maps because these will greatly increase your survivability and help your escape. Preparing emergency supplies can be done by stocking up emergency supplies for the long–term. These supplies must consist of food and water supplies, medical supplies, power supplies, safety and personal items, important documents, and fire extinguishers. Another tip you should know is to locate the nearest shelter and its fastest route as also the emergency number. In emergencies, you don’t have enough time to locate a shelter or find an emergency number. Lastly, you should get things ready. It means that you should prepare things, such as transportation and emergency supplies in an accessible location. On the other hand, there are a few things that you shouldn’t do during the hurricane: don’t go outside and don’t leave appliances plugged in.

We extend our heartfelt condolences and sympathies to the families of the victims, injured, and the affectees of this natural calamity. Our prayers are with those who are still missing as a result of this natural disaster. We pray for their early and safe recovery. May the deceased rest in peace. People may lose their loved ones and they would need to take care of their emotional and mental health. We do hope whoever suffered from the aftermath of this disaster will get better soon so they can immediately get back to their normal lives. Also, the people need help in an evacuation, even if it’s only for a few miles. Every little thing could be meaningful for them. The more stakeholders get involved in helping them, the more prepared and the better everyone will be.