Hurricane Milton was recorded as the second-most intense Atlantic hurricane ever recorded over the Gulf of Mexico when it reached landfall on October 9th. It was only two weeks after the disaster of Hurricane Helene had ravaged Florida and other states in the region. Nearly two million people tuned in to watch the news coverage of the hurricanes provided by the Weather Channel. These events have captivated the attention of not just residents of Florida, but people of other regions of the country that have loved ones in the region where these natural disasters occur.

According to the Florida Climate Center, hurricane season in Florida lasts from the duration of June 1st to November 30th. The latest hurricanes from the time of this article have been Hurricane Helene and Milton, which have both caused immense damage to the state of Florida. The torrential downpour and constant flooding have decimated nearby coastal towns. Through human-caused climate change, the Climate Center has established that more intense hurricanes have been occurring in the Atlantic region. Between 2019 and 2023, these increases in magnitude have become extremely evident. Specifically for Hurricane Helen, it was recorded to be the 14th most powerful hurricane to hit the U.S. The path of destruction spanned 500 miles, which was perpetuated by the immense winds and prevalence of flooding.

In terms of Hurricane Milton, this category 5 storm became the fifth strongest hurricane in the Atlantic as well. Categories 4 and 5 of the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale are both considered to be catastrophic events, categorized by wind speeds of 130-157 mph. Furthermore, the events of Milton had contributed to the formation of tornadoes as a result of the outer-most rain bands of this disaster containing thunderstorms within. A staggering 40 tornadoes were identified prior to Milton, as well as in its continuance. This number holds great value when discerning that Florida sees a yearly average of 50 tornadoes, thus Milton already constituted 80% of this amount in the time it prevailed.

Despite the high wind speeds that can be associated with hurricanes, the most detrimental environmental threat is the flooding that ensues after these natural disasters. The NRDC notes that while Hurricane Sandy barely reached a category 1 hurricane with its 80 mph wind speeds, the adverse water swells gave rise to the destruction of beaches, boardwalks, subway tunnels, plus neighborhoods in their entirety.

In addition, coastal ecosystems are continuously susceptible to the harm that hurricanes bring forth. The unbearable conditions that contribute to the culmination of a hurricane cause the dislocation of a multitude of species, particularly sea birds and water fowls as they fly far away from their original habitats to ensure safety.

As often seen in images in the wake of hurricanes, several trees are uprooted and consequently obstruct roads. The perpetual damage of a forest canopy can cause drastic long-term effects to emerge over time, specifically the transformation to a dry and barren environment.

The vast waves and storm surge that attribute a hurricane often advances beach erosion, where this event rapidly removes an extensive amount of sand. This drastic development diminishes the presence of sand dunes and accelerates the process of flooding. Organisms that rely on this environment undergo stress with such forceful changes, causing there to be prevalent habitat loss.

Ms. Cain, a chemistry teacher here at Harrison High School, comments on the abrupt environmental changes that our world experiences with natural disasters. She notes that “climate change is a huge threat” when asked about the state of our world. In addition, she highlighted the importance of conservation efforts, which emphasize the future of the Earth well beyond the lives of humans in the present.

As discussed with Ms. Cain, people can make minute changes in their lives that aim to better the health of our planet. These efforts align with being mindful of water usage, food choices, public transportation, as well as composting. The actions made by people can allow the environment to rebound more effectively following natural disasters, such as hurricanes.

To learn more about hurricanes and the state of Florida amidst this time, please check the Florida Climate Center and the information it has to offer.