Written by: Sadie Latimer | News Editor
The National Ocean Service says that a hurricane is a “rotating, organized system of clouds and thunderstorms.” They form over the tropical warm waters of an ocean. “(Hurricanes) often (begin) as a tropical wave — a low-pressure area that moves through the moisture-rich tropics, possibly enhancing shower and thunderstorm activity.” When hurricanes move inland, they typically lose power due to the lack of warm water that acts as fuel for the storm.
Hurricanes are split into five categories, with Category 1 being the least powerful and Category 5 being the most. “The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale is a 1 to 5 rating based only on a hurricane’s maximum sustained wind speed. This scale does not take into account other potentially deadly hazards such as storm surge, rainfall flooding, and tornadoes,” said the National Ocean Service.
Hurricane Helene hit Florida as a Category 4 hurricane Sept. 26. It diminished to a tropical storm as it traveled inland through Georgia, South and North Carolina, Virginia and then Tennessee. Most of those states saw severe flooding, with Florida receiving storm surges of up to 15 feet.
Hurricane Milton made landfall in Florida Oct. 9. Although it decreased from a Category 5 to a Category 3 as it hit land, it was still vastly destructive. It moved from Florida’s west coast across the state and into the Atlantic Ocean. The hurricanes were disastrous by themselves, but they also spawned multiple tornadoes. As of Oct. 16, there were at least 268 casualties from both hurricanes combined, with Helene being much more deadly.
During Hurricane Helene, the city of Asheville, North Carolina — known for its beautiful art and architecture — was decimated. The city is home to two intersecting rivers, which makes it susceptible to major flooding. Roads were buried by mudslides or washed away by the floods, and residents were isolated without power or cell service for at least two weeks.
For both hurricanes, many counties had mandatory evacuation orders. Some people, however, decided to stay and brave the storms. Jane Castor, the mayor of Tampa, Florida, issued a warning to people in mandatory evacuation zones. “I can say this without any dramatization whatsoever: If you choose to stay in one of those evacuation areas, you are going to die,” said Castor. Before Hurricane Helene, Taylor County, Florida, notified residents that if they chose not to evacuate, they needed to write their personal and important information on themselves with a permanent marker so they could be easily identified.
Joseph Malinowski, who is also known as “Lieutenant Dan” on TikTok, hunkered down in Tampa Bay on his boat during Hurricane Milton. “The safest place to be is on a boat in a flood,” Malinowski said in a video posted by the TikTok account “Daily Mail.” Miraculously, he was found alive in his boat after the storm had passed.
One person known on TikTok as Ashly Cox posted a video that quickly became controversial. “When you live in a mandatory evacuation zone but your boyfriend says ‘we’re staying,’” the video said. Many people online warned her about the dangers of Helene, with some people even telling her to not only leave her home in Tampa, but leave her partner as well. Cox then posted a follow-up video clarifying that she is the decision-maker, and if she had wanted to leave they would have left. She gained even more criticism because of that video from viewers who turned their hate away from her boyfriend and onto her. One day after the hurricane hit, she posted another video to let people know that she was safe.
Another TikTok user, “Kricketfelt,” first posted about staying on the Gulf of Mexico in a mandatory evacuation zone during Hurricane Helene. “Because my house is three floors and solid concrete, we are not evacuating,” she said. “Kricketfelt” posted videos during and after Helene, documenting the aftermath of the strong winds and flooding. When Hurricane Milton hit, she and her family decided to ride out the storm once again, despite being given evacuation orders by the police. She posted continuous videos showcasing Milton before it made landfall. Her posting ceased when it made landfall Oct. 9, causing concern amongst her viewers, however reports were made from individuals who drove by her house and found it still standing with the power on.
The American Red Cross has been a significant contributor to the hurricane relief being provided in the areas affected by Helene and Milton. They have sent volunteers to ensure that people are being given food, shelter and medical attention. To donate to The American Red Cross’ hurricane relief fund, go to https://www.redcross.org/donate/donation.html/.
Contact the author at howlnews@mail.wou.edu
