Hurricanes are growing more intense with higher storm surges and heavier rainfall due to the climate crisis. These destructive storms cause billions of dollars in damage such as this devastation left behind by Hurricane Ian in Florida in 2022. Red Cross photo by Scott Dalton.
People who live in areas at risk for hurricanes should take action now to be ready when a storm threatens.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season could be one of the most active on record with 17 to 25 named storms, 8 to 13 becoming hurricanes and as many as 7 developing into major hurricanes during hurricane season which officially runs until November 30.
The worsening climate crisis is affecting hurricanes in three main ways:
More people are at risk – The combination of more people living in hurricane prone areas and the chance for powerful storms to form further north means everyone living in coastal areas – all the way up to Maine – need to be prepared even if their region hasn’t been impacted before.
Storms are intensifying more rapidly – Fast changes in hurricane strength close to coastal areas means that families have less time to prepare before a storm forms and need to be ready further in advance.
More rainfall and flooding are expected – With more rainfall and higher storm surges, areas that haven’t flooded during hurricanes before might be impacted now. This means more people need to take the threat of hurricane flooding seriously and consider preparing in different ways. For example, flood insurance is critical as well as having electronic copies of important files.
According to NOAA, the above-normal activity is due to several factors — near-record warm ocean temperatures in the Atlantic Ocean, development of La Niña conditions in the Pacific, reduced Atlantic trade winds and less wind shear, all of which tend to favor tropical storm formation.
CLIMATE CRISIS There are three explanations as to how is the climate crisis affecting hurricanes. First, warmer ocean water helps more powerful hurricanes form and intensify more rapidly. This May, the water in the Atlantic Ocean from Africa to the Caribbean was warmer than ever recorded. In fact, the water has never seen this amount of heat heading into hurricane season according to NOAA.
Second, rising sea levels are helping to create higher storm surges. The climate crisis is raising global temperatures, which leads to more water in the ocean. The U.S. has seen an increase of about 11 inches over the last 100 years according to NOAA. And the pace of sea level change is roughly twice as fast over the last 30 years according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Finally, a warmer atmosphere holds more moisture which can increase rainfall during storms. Several studies have directly tied higher rainfall during hurricanes to an increase in global temperatures. For example, one study of the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season estimated that warmer temperatures increased hourly hurricane rainfall rates by 11% according to NOAA.
PREPARE NOW People who live in areas at risk for hurricanes should take action now to be ready when a storm threatens:
Learn about your flood risk by contacting your local emergency management agency.
Review your insurance policies and coverage with your insurance agency.
Keep your personal, financial and medical records safe and easy to access (hard copies or securely backed up).
Sign up for free emergency alerts from your local government.
In addition, the Red Cross recommends that everyone:
Make a plan to evacuate and one to shelter safely at home. If you need to evacuate, know where you will go, how you will get there and where you will stay. Plan well in advance if you will need help leaving or use public transportation. Don’t forget to include pets in your plans. If you can stay home, be ready to live without power, water, gas, phone and internet for a week or longer.
Know how you’ll stay connected. Have a backup battery or another way to charge your cell phone in case the power goes out. Know how you’ll reconnect with loved ones if you are separated or if the phone or internet is down.
Gather critical supplies — like food, water and medicine — and organize them into a go-kit and a stay-at-home kit. Your go-kit should include three days of supplies that you can carry with you. Your stay-at-home kit should have two weeks of food and water, and, if possible, a one-month supply of medications and medical supplies. Customize your kit to meet your households’ specific needs like caring for pets or small children.
Download the free Red Cross Emergency app for weather alerts and safety steps for different emergencies in both English and Spanish. Find these and all of the Red Cross apps in smartphone app stores by searching for the American Red Cross or going to redcross.org/apps.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.
Support all the urgent humanitarian needs of the American Red Cross.
Find a drive and schedule a blood donation appointment today.
Take a class and be ready to respond if an emergency strikes.
