Catastrophic winds have torn through Issaquah, trees smashed through roofs of buildings, and branches flew off trees and catapulted into windows, leaving destruction behind. With the increasing frequency of high winds and natural disasters, these events will occur increasingly often. Climate change is to blame, and most of humanity is not prepared for it.
The University of Miami found that the rate of bomb cyclones specifically found in the Atlantic Basin have increased by 40% in the past forty years. This is likely due to the rise in ocean temperatures. The rise in temperatures causes wind currents to become more powerful, and in turn creates these cyclones. In the most recent bomb cyclone, which affected Issaquah, it destroyed houses and, unfortunately, took two lives.
But, bomb cyclones are not the only disaster that is on the rise. NASA found that climate change has increased other disasters, such as stronger hurricanes, more droughts and heatwaves, higher frequencies of flooding, and extreme wildfires. This has been shown in the devastating fires in Southern California, specifically in the Pacific Palisades, Kenneth, Eaton and more. The high winds along with the drought, which are both side effects of climate change, are fueling the fire and pushing it further out to more areas, destroying more lives and houses. With the help of winds and dry brush, ABC has reported 62 miles of land has been burnt, which showcases how disasters significantly worsen due to climate change.
Lack of preparation for the bomb cyclone left many cold with dying phones, no power, and no way to stay clean with the lack of warm water. A sophomore named Jarell Eason said that since he was not prepared for the bomb cyclone his “Chromebook to charge his parents’ and every body’s phones.” According to Health Care Ready, more than half of Americans do not have an emergency plan. The danger of this is shown with previous fires in Southern California and in the bomb cyclones. For the former, people had to pack up and leave in minutes without having any prepacked or prepared items. With the fires that are ongoing today, more people have packed their bags with all their valuables, ready for an evacuation. When it came to the bomb cyclone, many people were unprepared which caused a lot of stress. Alice Most, a freshman, said that “doing important things before the cyclone hit did help the possibility of being without power for however many days and reduced anxiety.”
Many people are not prepared for the effects of climate change, so it is a good idea to work to prepare for a natural disaster now before it is too late. Maryland Department of Emergency Management has a list of guidelines on how to prepare for these events. Some key points are to make sure people know what hazards are near them and what disasters can affect them. For example, living in the Ring of Fire creates an increased risk of earthquakes, meaning those who live there should be prepared for that disaster. The next step is for an adult to create a family disaster plan. This plan should include a safe meeting place, how to take care of pets, and who people can contact that will most likely not be effected by the same disaster, like a family member who lives far away. Next, create a plan to communicate with family members. During a natural disaster, phones lines are often jammed or down, so coming up with alternative forms of communication is imperative. After getting all the details down, the family should practice this plan. Preparing for a disaster before it actually happens is extremely helpful because people can find flaws in their plans. The next step would be to build a disaster supply kit. These should be kept in people’s home and in their car. FEMA Emergency Supply Checklist provides a list of everything people need to make a good kit. Key highlights are first aid material, important medications, non-perishable food, can openers, and phone chargers. Lastly, people must acknowledge things in their life that may change these plans. For example, are they planning to get a pet? Do they have a disabled family member? Are there some medications that people cannot live without? These are all important things to consider as everyone’s disaster plan will be slightly different depending on their own needs.
Humanity as a whole is not ready for natural disasters. Senior, Jenna Bice says that while “the increase in natural disasters will initially create panic this will lead to humanity working together to fight and prevent the climate change that causes these disasters.” For now, humanity does not fight or prepare for climate change enough. That doesn’t mean you can’t be. Being prepared for a natural disaster can save your own life. For the sake of your own life, consider starting your emergency supply kit today.
