The hurricane season of 2017 was one of the most dangerous year of hurricanes. We were hit with a barrage of hurricanes that affected the USA and the countries in central America. There are 5 different type of category of hurricane from the least dangerous being one and five being the most dangerous, in that order. In the 2017 hurricane season, the four major hurricanes are Harvey, Nate, Irma, and Maria. Quick brief of these hurricane is as shown:
- Hurricane Harvey
- Category: 4
- Area: Texas and Louisiana
- Toll: 82 Death
- Cost of Damage: $180 Billion
- Hurricane Nate
- Category: 1
- Area: Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama
- Toll: 0 Death
- Cost of Damage: $4 Billion
- Hurricane Irma
- Category: 4
- Area: Florida, Georgia, South Carolina
- Toll: 61 Death
- Cost of Damage: $150-200 Billion
- Hurricane Maria
- Category: 4
- Area: Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands
- Toll: 55-500 Death (Possible 113 more death)
- Cost of Damage: $95 Billion
We can see that only hurricane Maria did not hit the USA but cause the most damage in terms of death which is about more than 600 death. While the 3 other hurricanes combine that hit the USA has cause less damage in term of death, while having the most cost of damage than the one that didn’t hit the USA. One correlation we can make is that more cost of damage with a higher hurricane category leads to less death, due to the investment made in the building to withstand natural disaster. Compare to that of Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands has poor building infrastructure, are not able to withstand natural disaster. Being hit from the hurricane is one problem but another big problem is the aftermath of it or rebuilding.
With the data, we can see that both hurricane Harvey and Irma has caused up to $380 billion of dollars in damage in the USA. With the majority of the damage occurring in Texas and Florida. The damage done in 2017 has now reach the same amount of damage as hurricane Katrina from 2005. However, even with all this damage done in Texas and Florida, it is expected that all the damage is to be rebuilt by the end of 2018. This demonstrate that power of first world country in its ability in order to rebuild after huge disaster. Unlike. that compare to the damage done in the 3rd world country like Nicaragua, Honduras and Puerto Rico had experience. A big problem that affect these countries on rebuilding is a lack of source of power. An example, is that Puerto Rico has now finally received electricity after 1 year being hit, which now they can communicate with their love one to say there safe and alive. According to Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority state that with electricity coming back they can focus on rebuilding hospital, airport, sewer and water pumping station and banking center. However, civilian like Jose Saldana Jr. claims that the local people have yet to see power restore to their home and business. Which demonstrate that Puerto Rico is far from finally rebuilding to the great country they are. They are yet to estimate a time that they will finally rebuild. The more time they aren’t able give electricity to the rest of Puerto Rico, the more harm and dangerous their environment will be, since they have no hospital or communication to help the local people. While the USA are talking about when they should be done rebuilding, countries like Puerto Rico at the same time are just finally getting a source of power to start the rebuilding process.
Data and Information
- https://www.cnn.com/2018/08/14/us/puerto-rico-power-restored/index.htmlhttps://www.cnn.com/2018/08/14/us/puerto-rico-power-restored/index.html
- https://abcnews.go.com/US/hurricanes-harvey-irma-cost-us-economy-290-billion/story?id=49761970
- https://weather.com/storms/hurricane/news/hurricane-irma-harvey-landfall-category-4-united-states-history
- https://weather.com/storms/hurricane/news/2018-10-12-harvey-irma-maria-florence-michael-extreme-hurricanes
- https://www.cnn.com/2017/10/10/weather/hurrihttps://www.cnn.com/2017/10/10/weather/hurricane-nate-maria-irma-harvey-impact-look-back-trnd/index.htmlcane-nate-maria-irma-harvey-impact-look-back-trnd/index.html
- https://www.usatoday.com/story/weather/2018/01/30/2017-s-three-monster-hurricanes-harvey-irma-and-maria-among-five-costliest-ever/1078930001/
- https://weather.com/storms/hurricane/news/2017-11-11-moments-hurricane-season-atlantic-irma-maria-harhttps://weather.com/storms/hurricane/news/2017-11-11-moments-hurricane-season-atlantic-irma-maria-harvey/vey/
