New normal: Dangerous and deadly storms

On the evening of Thursday, September 26, Hurricane Helene made landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast, leaving immediate destruction in its wake and a significant death toll.

Yet, it was in North Carolina, 500 miles from the coast, where communities faced an unexpected and even heavier toll. Larger hurricanes can have widespread impact into inland regions, but rarely have we seen this level of destruction so far from the coast.

As the hurricane swept through six states, leaving more than 200 people dead, many missing, and millions of people remaining without power for days, we find ourselves facing a new reality: climate change will continue to generate longer and more intense hurricane seasons. This new “normal” is a concern for millions of people, not only living on the southern coast line, but has now expanded to include landlocked communities hundreds of miles away.

Why was it so bad?

Since hurricanes are fueled by warm water, they typically lose power and become less destructive as they travel over land. Dry land.

What’s important to note is that for several days before Helene’s arrival, the Carolinas experienced heavy rainfall, saturating the ground. By the time Helene arrived, even as a weakened storm, two things were in play:

1. The ground was wet enough to possibly fuel the phenomenon known as the “brown ocean effect,” where a storm gains energy as it passes over wet ground (rather than fizzling out as they normally do, crossing over dry ground). This could have fueled and prolonged Helene’s campaign.
2. Dry ground can usually absorb heavy rainfall, which helps mitigate and reduce flooding. However, the already-soaked ground in the Carolinas wasn’t ready to absorb anymore water. So as Helene dumped trillions of tons of rain, the water had nowhere to go, which resulted in the unprecedented flash floods that swept away entire communities and roads.

These factors created the “perfect storm” of conditions that no one was really prepared for, causing devastation and claiming lives for days even after it had passed.

The dangers that come after the storm

While the winds and rains of a hurricane seem to be the scary, destructive part, why do the reported death tolls continually rise days to weeks after the storm? What exactly is killing people?

To get into the mindset, think about the state of a community after such a storm. Roads are washed away. Trees and traffic lights are blown down. Large debris ends up miles away from where it’s supposed to be. And most significantly, utilities like water and power are down. Just think about everything that runs on electricity – wifi networks, your fridge, A/C…

Extreme heat almost always follows tropical storms and hurricanes, with increasing temperatures found to be greater than 10°F above normal. Hurricanes leave a high pressure system in their wake, which leads to dry “sinking” air that inhibits cloud formation or rain to cool things off. Without electricity to power any air conditioning, heat illness becomes a real threat. Some recent hurricane data found 13% of deaths from a hurricane were due to heat illness.

Floods are responsible for more human casualties than any other weather-related hazard. Even if you’re a strong swimmer, the power of a flash flood or storm surge can take you under, and should not be underestimated. Even a few inches of flood water can knock an adult off their feet and carry them downstream. Water as low as 6 inches can splash your car’s air intake and stall it. A foot of water can float your vehicle and carry it away. If there’s a lot of water on the road, especially if it’s rising, it’s best to avoid driving through.
Read: What to do if you’re stuck in a flood

Traumatic injuries are responsible for approximately 30% of deaths during a hurricane, and reported in over 10% of emergency department visits after the storm. Tornadoes can develop in the outer rain bands of the hurricane. Coupled with the strong winds, wind-driven debris can cause traumatic injuries during the storm. After the storm has passed, comes the surveying of damage, where there’s much to be cleaned up. Clearing downed trees and making your way through piles of used-to-be houses often leads to situations where wounds, lacerations, and broken bones are common occurrences. 

Emergency departments see an 11% increase in visits due to intestinal illnesses after such storms. A 48% increase in E. coli infections (one week after storms) has also been observed. With disrupted water services, storm-driven floods can easily contaminate the drinking water. And without electricity to fuel proper refrigeration, food easily spoils. Additionally, those with electric stoves or microwaves do not have a way to heat their food and water to make it safe to ingest.

Historically, it was usually only southern coastline communities that had to be concerned with hurricanes. So in some ways, they’re well practiced and understand “the drill.” However, as the range of impacted areas expands each year, communities not built for such storms lack the proper infrastructure and preparedness. Without previous experience of strong storms, they often don’t know what to anticipate, putting their emergency response to the test. Washed out roads, fallen trees, and limited personnel can keep first responders from being able to reach every person who needs help.

Read: How to prepare for hurricanes

Have a plan

You can never be “too prepared.” In an ever-changing climate, it’s best to know your forecast of risks and take them seriously. (Luckily, there’s an app for that 😉)

Discuss your evacuation plan with your household and know where to go if a disaster happens any time of day or night. Local agencies will usually announce:

• Evacuation orders by zones
• Recommended evacuation routes for best traffic flow
• Locations of designated safety shelters where you can weather the storm more safely

If told to evacuate, it is best to follow the recommendation because it could become more dangerous the longer you wait.

If told to stay home, it means it may be more dangerous to drive, and staying home is safer than leaving. 

Before, during, and after the storm, GOES has the insights and tools you need to weather any emergency. When help is out of reach, you can be your own first responder and never feel stranded.