Introduction
Name of research topic?
Hurricane Michael is the topic on which the research focuses.
When weather event occurred?
The hurricane occurred between 7 th and 16 th October, 2018.
Where weather event occurred?
The hurricane battered various countries which included Honduras, Nicaragua, Cuba, the United States, and El Salvador. In the US, Florida and Georgia bore the brunt of the hurricane.
Who was impacted by the weather event?
The communities that live in the regions where the hurricane was witnessed were most affected by the hurricane.
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Why is the weather event relevant and important?
Hurricane Michael’s significance lies in the fact that it was characterized by intensely extreme conditions such as high-speed winds which caused untold destruction
Body
Weather Event
Classified as a category 4 storm, Hurricane Michael was primarily defined by strong winds. In such areas as Florida, the wind reached speeds of over 150 miles per hour (Meyer, 2018). The sustained high wind speeds are not the only feature that characterized the Hurricane. Those in the affected areas also witnessed a storm surge which caused flooding in Florida and other affected areas (Meyer, 2018). As a result of the surge, such regions as Florida saw water levels rise to as much as 12 feet (Gibbens, 2018).
Causation
Warm ocean temperatures and low levels of wind shear are the main factors that encouraged the formation of Hurricane Michael (Gibbens, 2018). On the one hand, the warm temperatures provided the hurricane system with the energy that it needed to approach land. On the other hand, the fact that there was little wind shear meant that the hurricane was able to form and approach land without much hindrance.
Societal Impacts
Short-term effects
Some of the hurricane’s effects that were felt immediately include power outages and sharp gas shortages. As many as 800,000 people in Georgia and Florida were left without power as a result of the hurricane (Rice, 2018). Property damage is another short-term effect of the hurricane. This disaster destroyed thousands of homes (Luscombe, 2018). Perhaps the most critical short-term impact of the hurricane involves the loss of human life. In Florida alone, as many as 35 people are believed to have died (“Hurricane Michael Killed”, 2018).
Long-term effects
Economic and environmental damage are some of the long-term effects of Hurricane Michael. Experts estimate the economic damage at $30 billion (Barrabi, 2018).
Weather Readiness
The stakeholders involved in responding to Hurricane Michael have not had enough time to develop plans for responding to similar disasters that will undoubtedly occur again in the future. However, there are some important lessons that have been gained and have informed some preliminary plans. Overhauling the building code in such states as Florida is among the plans that have been made (Gold, 2018). It is believed that the new code will set the stage for the construction of structures which are better placed to withstand such disasters as Hurricane Michael. As more insights into Hurricane Michael are gained, there is no doubt that concerned stakeholders will institute measures and develop recommendations for mitigating the impact of similar disasters.
Conclusion
Hurricane Michael is one of the most devastating disasters that the US has ever recorded. This disaster affected a number of Central American countries, and such states as Georgia and Florida. Dumping huge amounts of rainfall and accompanied with strong winds, this hurricane killed dozens, damaged property and is expected to cause environmental devastation. There is no question that concerted efforts are needed from all stakeholders to protect communities against such disasters as Hurricane Michael. The US should understand that the hurricane offers lessons that can be used to enhance disaster readiness.
References
Barrabi, T. (2018). Hurricane Michael projected to cause $30B in damage. Fox Business. Retrieved January 6, 2019 from https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/hurricane-michael-projected-to-cause-30b-in-damage
Gibbens, S. (2018). Updated: how Hurricane Michael’s storm surge and wind impacted Florida. National Geographic. Retrieved January 6, 2019 from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/2018/10/news-hurricane-michael-florida-explained/
Gold, J. (2018). Hurricane Michael teaches new home building lessons. Forbes. Retrieved January 6, 2019 from https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamiegold/2018/11/07/hurricane-michael-teaches-new-home-building-lessons/#106df8fd48e9
Hurricane Michael killed at least 35 in Florida, 45 total. (2018). Boston Globe Media. Retrieved January 6, 2019 from https://www.boston.com/news/national-news/2018/10/28/hurricane-michael-killed-at-least-35-in-florida-45-total
Meyer, R. (2019). The sudden, shocking growth of Hurricane Michael. The Atlantic. Retrieved January 6, 2018 from https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2018/10/hurricane-michael-florida-panhandles-worst-case-scenario/572671/
Rice, D. (2018). Hurricane Michael: what you need to know in graphics. USA Today. Retrieved January 6, 2019 from https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/news/2018/10/10/michael-graphics/1590739002/#poweroutages
