Hurricane Ian: ‘This Could Be the Deadliest Hurricane in Florida History’ - How You Can Help

Help those impacted by Hurricane Ian

  • 41.9k
    jimK
    09/30/2022

    It is great to see an administration and a political party willing to help people in need instead of only focusing on their political base. That is the way government should be and ot is refreshing to see it in action once again.

    Warming oceans will continue to get warmer and ocean fed storms will continue to get worse in both wind speed as well as in torrential rain falls depths, since the warmer oceans pump more water vapor into the atmosphere that feeds these storms.

    There were some analyses of recent past storms compared to similar storms from fifty years ago that confirm that the storms of today are of much greater intensity, greater size, within much larger 'eyes', much greater wind speeds and much greater fresh water flooding.

    They will only get worse over the next decade.

    The only 'good' aspect of this hurricane is that is passed trough and did great damage to some very wealthy neighborhoods. Perhaps, the wealthy climate deniers will feel the full impact of climate change and realize that it will only get worse in the near future, take a longer term perspective than next year's ROI, and realize the need to suffer some now to take the steps needed to really begin addressing the Climate Crisis.

    There is little time left to have any hope of forestalling the huge economic and humanitarian costs which will accrue should we not adequately invest in getting climate change under control while there is still a chance to do so.

  • 48.0k
    Brian
    Voted Sad
    09/29/2022

    I'm sad about all the damage in Florida and pray that rescue efforts can help.

    It's good to know that our government is ready to help.

  • 3,890
    John
    Voted Angry
    09/29/2022

    When Ron DeSantis it was a Congressman's he refused to help the people of New Jersey after hurricane Sandy. It now appears that there's a great loss of life in Florida most likely due to the inapt and uncaring Ron DeSantis. The man has proven time after time that he is nothing short of a pig. What the hell is going on with the republican party, do you have idiots like Ron DeSantis, and Greg Abbott human trafficking people coming to this country in desperation. Do you have an absolute lunatic Lindsey Graham what else can you say about him Mitch McConnell who doesn't know which end is up he only knows how to try to fleece America and make himself a millionaire which he has, Donald Trump will go down in history and the Guinness book of records as the world all time no make that the galaxies all-time biggest liar (is it wasted on anyone that everyone around Donald Trump ends up in prison even his supporters that right at the capital his lawyers you name it if they're around Trump they end up in prison and tossed by trump under the bus) And even more idiots like a Marco Rubio probably one of the grandest of cowards and slackers Ted Cruz who left Texas while everybody was freezing to go on vacation in Mexico and didn't seem to care one bit the Donald Trump said his wife was ugly and fat Ted Cruz sucked up as hard as he could to Donald Trump after that. That's the republican party a pack of losers who installed the supreme court that 75% of America disagrees with. Out with these bastards they have killed enough people and ruin this country as much as we can possibly let them it's time Ti draw the line in the sand and vote these idiots out.

  • 1,806
    Shari
    Voted Apathetic
    10/01/2022

    It is sad to see the insurrection party cry socialism when funds are needed for recovery in another state but totally not when it is for their state. We need to get all of these hypocrites out of office!

  • 7,920
    larubia
    09/29/2022

    Good thing FEMA, the Red Cross, and generous donors don't respond to Floridians the same way DeSantis does to immigrants. Imagine the country making a "statement" about taking global warming seriously, by just refusing to help those affected by Ian. 

    Huh!

  • 48.0k
    Brian
    Voted Sad
    10/02/2022

    I support helping the people of Florida and Puerto Rico and all other areas recently affected by hurricanes.

    However, I hear many Republicans, including Senator Rick Scott, still banging the drum about excessive spending by the Democrats.

    Democrats are trying to use money responsibly to take care of the American people, our infrastructure, and our social safety net.

    If the GOP wants to keep crying about spending, then we don't have to allocate more money to help people in these hurricane-affected areas. We don't have to.

    Or maybe they can finally agree to start taxing the wealthy to get more money to pay for issues like this.

    I think these GOP officials should shut up and take the money. Unless they want their constituents to suffer.

  • 695
    Lynne
    Voted Angry
    09/30/2022

    Many Floridians moved there to avoid taxes after they had taken advantage of better schools and services in the states where they raised their children. They, and many others in Florida, oppose any federal assistance to people in dire need of help. Until of course, that describes them. The the tin cups come our immediately. Enough hypocrisy. If they don't believe in social safety nets, they're not entitled to benefit from them.

  • 1,927
    Paul
    Voted Apathetic
    09/30/2022

    Yes, sure, help the people, but Governor Insanity voted against help for the victims of Irene when he was a Congressman. How can we help the people without helping that scurrilous rat?

  • 5,174
    Adam
    Voted Sad
    10/03/2022

    Why don't we let this sink in. "This 100% solar community endured Hurricane Ian with no loss of power and minimal damage"
    https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/02/us/solar-babcock-ranch-florida-hurricane-ian-climate

    The storm uprooted trees and tore shingles from roofs, but other than that Grande said there is no major damage. Its residents say Babcock Ranch is proof that an eco-conscious and solar-powered town can withstand the wrath of a near-Category 5 storm.

    “We have proof of the case now because [the hurricane] came right over us,” Nancy Chorpenning, a 68-year-old Babcock Ranch resident, told CNN. “We have water, electricity, internet — and we may be the only people in Southwest Florida who are that fortunate.”

  • 8,978
    Charles
    Voted Angry
    10/03/2022

    Does the right hand know what the left hand is doing in Florida???

    voting to defund FEMA recently????

    refusing to vote for another states request for disaster relief???

    NOW requesting funds from the Goverment!!!!!!

    I certainly want Florida to receive help but Floridaians need to help them selves by VOTING OUT THE GOP elected officials who voted against relief prior.

  • 3,497
    MaryA
    10/01/2022

    And our racist VP, Kamala Harris says it again.  She said, help should be based on equity.  Making the point it's lower income that are minorities.  Another asinine statement!  Last I knew Hurricanes don't pick and choose what color skin you are.  Never let a disaster go without showing Your true colors!  

  • 602
    Arnold
    10/01/2022

    Joe will have some more people to talk to

  • 13.3k
    MrGeer
    09/30/2022

    this is not a freak thing, scientist have been warning us for decades now. Florida is the canary in the coal mine, if you will. millions will be forced to relocate as climate refugees due to govenment inaction on the climate dissaster. And now, here it is, at your door step.

  • 5,174
    Adam
    Voted Sad
    09/30/2022

    So many thoughts (beyond the devastating loss of life and property):

    1) Will this storm change some people's minds about climate change?
    2) Will the federal gov't response change some people's minds about the administration?
    3) Will people actually start evacuating when told to? As climate change leads to stronger storms and more extreme natural disasters, things like this are going to be happening more frequently. "I've lived here for 30 years and never evacuated before" is no longer a valid argument. Your 30 years is severly overshadowed by the 1-in-1,000-year storm surge. I just hope this acts as a wake-up call so we lose fewer lives as record-setting storms become the norm.

  • 2,937
    Arlys
    09/30/2022

    My heart goes out to the people of Florida and now even South Carolina.  The "wakeup call" for Desantis is just that, and delivered by the Universal or God's karmic actions.  Often times, karma arrives in unlikely ways and many don't even realize it.  Thankfully we are a nation of people who have compassion and willing to help those in need.  Sadly, we have to deal with opinionated, power mad, egotistical politicians.  If you think Desantis is going to change his ways, you better think again because his show of change of heart is only for the voters who put him in his position.  And he wants to run for president in 2024?  He would have to make some serious changes in his attitude and actions before I would even consider voting for this POS.

  • 1,874
    Dawn
    Voted Sad
    09/30/2022

    Let's not turn Florida into another Louisiana....

  • 1,064
    SigmaTriz
    Voted Apathetic
    09/30/2022

    These storms seem to be getting stronger.  You've all ignored the fact that UCF holds two patents that would help stop gobal warming by stopping carbon dioxide emissions. 

  • 93.8k
    LeslieG
    09/30/2022

    Officials reported at least 17 hurricane deaths Thursday (9-29-22). That number is expected to increase.

    https://www.tampabay.com/hurricane/2022/09/29/hurricane-ians-catastrophic-toll-includes-least-17-dead/

  • 8,878
    M
    09/30/2022

    Busy week, barely seen coverage of this, but I was shocked by how many people didn't evacuate. I do realize some don't have the financial means, etc, but is it an issue of trying to move too many people and even days notice isn't enough? It's not 1965 anymore, weather reports are accurate now. 

  • 93.8k
    LeslieG
    09/29/2022

    Hurricane Costs

    "Hundreds of thousands of Floridians faced mandatory evacuation orders earlier this week, with the storm posing a clear threat to life."

    "It also poses a clear threat to Florida’s struggling insurance market, where six carriers have already entered insolvency this year despite Ian being the first hurricane since 2018’s Michael to make landfall in the state. The litigious environment, rather than the weather, is to blame for the Sunshine State’s insurance woes, according to many industry commentators."

    "Mark Friedlander, Insurance Information Institute corporate communications director, told Insurance Business earlier this year that a hurricane this season could be “catastrophic” for Florida’s ailing insurers – and his words may very well turn out to be prophetic."

    "Insured losses from slow moving Ian could be upwards of $20 billion, with some commentators having suggested it could hit the $50 billion mark – some have warned that Ian is less Charley, which charged across Southwest Florida in 2004, and more Harvey."

    "Harvey brought catastrophic flooding across populated areas of the Gulf Coast, including Houston, Texas, driving insured losses of $30 billion, according to Swiss Re. The reinsurer pegged total economic losses from the major hurricane, which struck in 2017, at $85 billion."

    https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/us/news/columns/editorial-hurricane-ian-promises-an-insurance-storm-422268.aspx