Strong winds are not the only determining factor when considering the danger of an approaching hurricane. The severe storm surge that results from the storm is primarily what causes the consequential numerous casualties. Once fatal Hurricane Florence made landfall on September 14, 2018, in Wilmington, North Carolina, it shocked Americans with relentless 90 mph winds affecting parts of the East Coast, including North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. The locals of these states were issued mandatory evacuations as the storm continued along a designated projection to make landfall.
The death toll has risen to 42 victims, who ultimately lost their lives to the aftermath of the dangerous flooding. However, there is some speculation about the nature of the climate information that has been introduced to the public; especially after seeing what Florence has done to the Carolinas. The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale is currently the scale that meteorologist use to rank major hurricanes based sustained winds; categories 1 though 5 describe a range of the potential catastrophic damage and loss that may occur after the storm. Some people decided to hope for the best and stay home awaiting the hurricane. It could be that some these individuals who were affected underestimated repercussions of the destruction. Could there have been more lives saved if people took the flooding damages more seriously? Could it be that the Saffir-Simpson Scale is somewhat flawed at measuring the severity of a hurricane? This seems to be the imposing question many people are taking into consideration. Some believe there should be some modifications to stress the factor of flooding. On the other hand, some people agree with Dr. J. Marshall Shepard’s point of view, who is a leading international expert in weather and climate. Dr. Shepard believes the scale should not be changed in order to solely maintain the integrity of its current data for historical context. As of now, the Staffir-Simpson scale remains excluding proposed modifications.
Currently, the people of North and South Carolina don’t have electricity. Nearly 430,00 people have been left without power. Governor Henry McMaster estimated the flooding damage in South Carolina would total to $1.2 billion. The dangers of the storm’s aftermath precipitates an extensive list of threats to communities and areas affected, including drowning, electrical injuries, and infection. The flood is contaminated with sewer water and toxic chemicals. Recovery efforts are actively working to help these people get back to their normal lives. If you are interested in supporting the people affected by Hurricane Florence, please donate to the American Red Cross.
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