My mood is negative this morning, so I won’t delay getting straight to the news. I’ve taken some extra time to read additional articles regarding the whole Hurricane Milton situation. There’s too much incorrect information to avoid getting this right. While most of the US will not be directly affected by the storm, we will be affected by its impact on the economy and the availability of emergency resources. As you read, you have a responsibility to do the following:
- Share what is important to the audience you have.
- Offer shelter if you safely can to those leaving Florida.
- Avoid misinformation from politically driven sources.
- Gently correct friends on social media who share misinformation.
- Stay informed throughout the day.
For the record, I’m writing this at 7:30 AM EDT. Updates from the National Weather Service, which is the most trusted information source, generally occur at the top of the hour, every hour. However, given the potential impact of this storm, they will often announce updates the instant a significant change is detected. Here is this morning’s map:
The yellow areas on the map are where the hurricane’s effect is likely to be the strongest. While the storm retreated slightly from a Category 5 to a Category 4 overnight, it could still regain power before making landfall Wednesday evening. This is likely to be the strongest storm to hit the Tampa area since 1921. It is rare for storms that form in the Gulf to move Eastward. This compact storm brings with it some of the lowest pressure possible, which makes it even stronger. Tampa’s mayor has warned that people who stay, “will die.” The state of Florida, still reeling from the effects of Hurricane Helene, is going to be permanently scarred by this storm.
Somewhat baffling, but not surprising, is the fact that Orlando attractions are not closed… yet. Disney World, Universal Orlando, and SeaWorld are still open as of this writing. All say they are “closely monitoring” the storm, and be sure that they will not close unless they feel visitors to the park are directly threatened. Now, take a look at the map above. Find Orlando. While it’s not in the bright yellow impact zone, it seems impractical that some closure either Thursday or Friday won’t be ordered. Milton will still be a Category 1 storm when it exits into the Atlantic. Don’t think that won’t put lives in danger.
For the sake of anyone who seriously thinks that the government is controlling the weather: they can’t. Controlling the strength and direction of a storm like Milton is impossible. People who share this kind of nonsense become responsible for the deaths of Floridians who believe this nonsense and choose to stay. Don’t be stupid. Misinformation takes much-needed resources away from disaster recovery. Have no part in it.
Your “thoughts and prayers” are not what is needed right now. President Joe Biden approved an emergency declaration for Florida, and U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor said 7,000 federal workers were mobilized to help in one of the largest mobilizations of federal personnel in history. That 7,000 won’t be enough. FEMA is already strained, still working on the large disaster space left by Helene. Once the storm pushes through, volunteers are needed to help in search and recovery efforts, clearing debris from roads, and getting utilities up and running. Please, do not volunteer unless you have experience in these areas and are well-equipped to take care of yourself. Otherwise, you risk becoming a liability that no one needs.
There are still a number of variables that cannot be predicted. Whether the storm directly hits Tampa Bay or just South of the Bay will affect which areas see the strongest storm surge. Rainfall amounts ahead of the storm depend on how fast it moves across the state. There is no way to know the exact strength of winds in any given area until they get there. Prudence in these situations demands preparing for the worst.
If you’re looking at maps of the Atlantic and Caribbean, you will likely notice that there’s a Tropical Storm Leslie out there looking menacing. As of the latest information from the National Hurricane Center, Leslie looks as though it will stay out at sea. This does not mean that we won’t see any other storms develop quickly behind it, though. This season is far from over.
Yes, this is going to keep my attention for the rest of the week. There are too many people in Florida that I care about to not keep this as the center of my focus. I also know that a lot of people from Indy like going to Florida this time of year. Maybe next year, okay? Let’s not contribute to the problem.
Fortunately, weather patterns over the rest of the US look rather quiet. If you don’t live in one of the areas affected by Helene, enjoy the luxury of sitting back and having another cup of coffee this morning while you consider tangible ways in which you can help.
Morning Update: 10/10/24
Over three million people are without power across Florida. Milton has crossed the state and is now out in the Atlantic, but as it is still dark as I’m writing this morning, there’s no way to know just yet the extent of the damage. What we do know is that the storm was strong enough to shred the fabric covering Tropicana Field. Before the storm itself hit, more than 20 deadly tornadoes wreaked death and havoc across Southern Florida. Walls erected to protect hospitals seem to have worked. A report inside one hospital says they are functional with both electricity and internet. The rest of Sarasota is not likely to be so fortunate.
We know that there will be a number of deaths resulting from the storm. In one video I saw yesterday, a young woman complained, “Where ya’ll getting evacuation money? I can barely pay my rent! I can’t afford to evacuate!” I can relate to that sentiment. Indeed, gas prices ticked up ahead of the storm. There were reports of price gouging as hotel prices more than doubled along the evacuation route. Both state and federal officials, including Vice President Harris, have warned that companies will be punished for price gouging, but that won’t help anyone who was looking for shelter from this storm.
9,000 Florida National Guard members have been called to active duty and more than 5,000 line workers from as far away as California are hitting the state to deal with power outages. A team stayed at Tampa Zoo to help animals deal with the storm. Yet, not all prison inmates were evacuated from dangerous areas. As the sun is beginning to rise, the severity of the damage will become more obvious.
G leaves with his friend’s family to head right into the heart of Florida early tomorrow morning. They do have a contingency plan, should they not be able to reach or stay at their planned destination. I’m asking him to send back pictures as they travel, but he’s 15; the odds of him actually taking pictures are pretty slim. Tipper is spending tonight with her friend as well, which means Kat and I will have the house to ourselves for the first time in years. Don’t expect any hanky panky, though. I’ll probably be asleep before she gets home from the salon.
I’m having some difficulty sitting upright this morning. Balance is the issue as I’m feeling rather light-headed. I’m reasonably sure that this is chemo-related. I’ll take my meds when I finish the update and will lie back down for a few minutes. That’s usually enough to solve the problem. The twins are being rambunctious this morning, though. They just chased each other across my desk. And back. Rest may be challenging to achieve.
Other news? Well, let’s see…
Han Kang has been awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature “for her intense poetic prose that confronts historical traumas and exposes the fragility of human life.” No, I’ve not read any of the South Korean author’s work. We’ll have to put that on the list.
Severe solar storms could stress power grids. Normally, I wouldn’t be overly concerned about this. Solar storms happen all the time and rarely do we see any negative affect. This time, though, the power grid is already stressed from back-to-back hurricanes. Don’t be surprised if your power flickers a little this afternoon.
Oh, those “God Bless the USA” Bibles? They were printed in China for $3 each. I have at least two issues with this. One, it’s not exactly patriotic, is it? There are plenty of publishers in the US that would have been happy to print the Bible, but apparently, profit comes before patriotism in the GOP world. The second issue is that, being made in China, it is almost certain that slave-like labor was involved. This is becoming increasingly evident for all goods made in China. I have a HUGE issue with this and it is the reason I won’t buy anything from Shein or Temu. Fuck anyone who is making a profit by underpaying the people who work for them, no matter where in the world they’re located.
Before I finish, though, keep in mind that hurricane season isn’t over. Global meteorological computers are already studying conditions and creating new weather models. I’ve seen two, so far, that are predicting at least one more Category 5 storm in the Gulf. The next one could possibly land well West of Florida, though, giving Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana a taste of the terror. Keep in mind, that these are just models. They’re not actually tracking any tropical depressions… yet.
If you have the means and wish to help victims of Milton, here are some options.
Now, someone hand Jim Cantore a big ol’ mug of coffee and a muffin. The dude has earned it.
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