Hurricanes are powerful and destructive forces. These natural phenomena start as small disturbances and can grow into huge storms like Hurricane Milton and Helene as they gain strength and size over the ocean. When one makes landfall in a populated area, it can wreak havoc on homes and community infrastructure. You may have seen images of the devastation caused in the U.S. by recent hurricanes like Helene, Debby, Ian, and Katrina the news or on social media.
On Tuesday, October 8, Hurricane Milton was upgraded back to a Category 5 storm and is expected to make landfall on Florida’s west coast on Wednesday, October 9. Florida is preparing for significant impacts, including storm surges up to 12 feet, particularly around Tampa Bay. The governor of Florida has declared a state of emergency for 51 of 67 counties in the state, and evacuations have been ordered for vulnerable areas. This would be Florida’s third landfalling …