HURRICANE IRMA- COURSE AND AFTERMATH

Out of the five most hurricane prone cities in the United States of America, four are in the state of Florida. The risk of hurricane damage is higher in the state of Florida than that of the other states because of its geographic location. Since the year 2000 to the present, about 79 tropical or sub-tropical storms have affected the region with a combined damage estimate in the figure of $73 billion. The financial ramifications of being a hurricane prone region is not the only loss. Over a seventeen-year period, there have been at least 126 direct fatalities and at least 92 indirect casualties. During the 2004 hurricane season, more than one out of five houses were damaged in the region.

In the 2005 hurricane season, Hurricane Wilma was the deadliest of the tropical storms to have ravaged the state of Florida. Since then, it was twelve years before the next deadly hurricane made landfall. What started as a tropical wave that moved away from the western coast of Africa, intensified into the tropical storm Irma while nearing the Cape Verde islands. On the 31st of August, the tropical storm was classified as a category 2 storm on the Saffir-Simpson scale. This development happened over a period of mere 24 hours.

Over the next three days, Irma intensified into a Category 5 hurricane, the highest intensity on the Saffir-Simpson scale, with wind speeds maintaining at a constant 185 miles an hour. On September 4, after moving into more favourable conditions, Irma strengthened into a Category 4 hurricane. While travelling towards the Leeward Islands, Irma strengthened into a Category 5 hurricane. Throughout the 6th and the 7th of September Irma made consecutive landfalls at Barbuda, Sint Maarten, Ginger Island and British Virgin Islands. On the 8th of September, Irma made landfall in Cudjoe Key, Florida as a Category 5 storm. Later that day it made landfall in Marco Island and Naples, with wind gusts of speeds of up to 142 miles an hour. Having made landfall in Florida, the storm started moving to the New England coastline having moved through Mississippi.

Over the course of the tropical storm, immense devastation and loss of life stood in its wake. There was a widespread evacuation in the regions where the storm made landfall, especially in the Florida Keys region. The Florida Keys were the worst affected region in the state with 99% of the people having lost electricity. The entire Keys region was cordoned off for travellers by law enforcement officers. Highway 1, the main travel route from Florida City to the Keys, has been made clear for travelling but major debris still clutters the road shoulders. Law enforcement officers only let FEMA trucks with supplies and valid residents of the Upper Keys through. Through Key Largo to Islamorada and Key West, there has been extensive damage on every island. Entire neighbourhoods have been demolished and the worst fate was met out to the trailer parks and mobile home developments.

The storm wreaked such havoc that cars had floated away, boats were washed inland and debris strewn everywhere, surrounding cars and boats. Boats have been lodged between houses, yachts have been ruined and vessels have gotten dry docked by Irma. Most important tourist destinations, like the Theatre of the Sea, have been hit and sustained substantial damage. The storm has thrown the residents of the Florida Keys into the dark ages with no electricity and cell coverage. Fuel Stations have become dysfunctional and felled trees have strewn the entire landscape.

Relief operations are in full swing with an army of about a 1000 people from different states are working with the residents to get service back. Some areas still remain flooded and in the midst of temperatures ranging in the mid-90s, having no electricity has battered the residents. Relief forces are working round the clock to restore full functionality. Some travel companies even offered cruise services at highly discounted prices to keep people away from the mainland when the hurricane made landfall as that is a safer option. Although Irma will go down in history as one of the most devastating hurricanes, the people of the affected areas have stayed strong and are fighting to bring back normalcy to their everyday lives.

SAFE & SOUND SAIL

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