Everyone who lives on the east coast of the United States, particularly in the South and along the Gulf Coast, is aware that hurricane season begins every year on June 1. Severe storms have an effect on both coastal and inland communities.
Those on the shore must balance remaining at work and keeping businesses open with preparing for a hurricane by either hunkering down or boarding up, relocating boats, and leaving. When locals make these judgments, they consider the magnitude and character of each storm, as well as their expected paths.
Inland residents may have family or friends on the coast who may visit for a few days during the storm, but power outages on ports can and often do result in food or gas shortages or the closure of businesses and service stations.
Everyone, regardless of location, prepares materials and supplies, creates plans A, B, and C, and monitors radar and predictions to choose how to proceed.
Southerners are so accustomed to this exercise that every August, jokes and memes begin to circulate, such as “Is Jim Cantore here yet?” questioning whether or not a significant storm is predicted.
Each season, several storms have a negative impact on company and revenue, and governors are aware that their citizens are informed of all the processes. Suggested evacuations provide a window of time for residents to migrate if they are able and alter their business schedules, and a staggered evacuation is preferable as a rapid, obligatory evacuation will result in congested roadways and strained resources.
Recent Hurricane Ian was closely monitored by meteorologists as it traversed the Atlantic, the Caribbean, and moved north towards Cuba. As The storm moved north into Florida, forecasters did their utmost to pinpoint the Cat 4 storm’s landfall area. Initial assessments suggested that the Tamp region would be the most likely spot. There, emergency vehicles were stationed, and people of Tampa, even slow-moving boats, escaped north and south.
Except that Ian chose to slightly alter course and head for Fort Myers. After Ian had traversed Florida and gained pace in the Atlantic Ocean en route to South Carolina as a Category 1 hurricane, the whole coastline of South Carolina awaited the precise location of landfall. Instead of Hilton Head, the storm opted to make its initial impact between Charleston and Georgetown.
Every year, hurricane planning is a guessing game helped by technology, but some media outlets believe that governors should have a crystal ball to predict the future while preparing for storms.
Watch @GovRonDeSantis dismantle the latest media spin in 2 minutes flat. https://t.co/FOZgibPzwj
— Christina Pushaw 🐊 🇺🇸 (@ChristinaPushaw) October 3, 2022
More on this story via The Republic Brief:
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis jumped in immediately after Ian to activate all rescue and assessment plans and sent aid immediately to the hit areas.
Rather than ask about the efforts underway, a CNN reporter decided to question DeSantis on his planning. The reporter must not have been watching the Weather Channel to be unaware of predictions, and the timeline for preparedness and evacuation.
DeSantis pushed back on CNN when the outlet questioned him about why a mandatory evacuation in Lee County was only in place the day before Hurricane Ian made landfall Townhall reported. CONTINUE READING…