Written By: Caleb Cox 

Hurricane Ian hit the southeastern coast of Florida on September 28th, causing devastating damage to the properties and structures there. This massive storm began in the center of the Gulf of Mexico and gradually made its way northeast toward Florida over a couple of weeks.

What is a Hurricane?

A hurricane is, as stated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), “... a rotating low-pressure weather system that has organized thunderstorms but no fronts,” or in other words, a giant storm that sends monstrous waves, also known as tsunamis, up to the size of skyscrapers toward the land. They can cause devastating damage and kill all living things in the way. Usually, warnings are given to citizens in coastal areas who may be in the line of fire of a Hurricane around three to four weeks in advance, so they have time to evacuate. However, Hurricane Ian was so sudden that they only had a 2-week notice to leave the danger zone.

What is the damage done so far?

So far, Hurricane Ian has already done some devastating damage. For the irreplaceable, at least 106 people have lost their lives to the storm as of October 4th, 2022. So many people have died from this Hurricane because–just like other hurricanes such as Hurricane Irma, which had at least 134 deaths–some do not follow the evacuation order for reasons of their own. And for the replaceable, 40,600 people were displaced, 5 large buildings were destroyed, and the hurricane had officially reached more rural areas such as Sarasota and Tampa as of Thursday, September 27th. This ends in disaster as the hurricane destroys their house and all of their possessions. 

What can You do to Help?

        Many hurricanes have occurred in the past, however, Hurricane Ian is happening right now and you can do something to help the people who are in need. There are several charities and programs you can contribute to help Floridians who were caught in the disaster, including the Red Cross and Project Hope. The Red Cross Supplies victims of the hurricane with money to help them get back on their feet. Project Hope provides reliable transportation for them as most of the vehicles were destroyed. Even small donations build up, anything you can give will help tremendously so please donate to a charity or program to help those who need help.