What are Hurricanes?

For many Iowans, Hurricanes are a foreign concept recognized only by their continued persecution of the unfortunate residents who are unlucky enough to find themselves in the path of a storm. Hurricanes are classified on a scale of 1-5 based on maximum sustained windspeeds, while Iowa native tornadoes, on the other hand, are classified based on damage caused. 

Hurricanes often have the potential to be extremely damaging, as they not only feature high windspeeds but often due to location, affect large portions of the southern United States. Hurricanes, much like tornados, are typically a seasonal occurrence, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) defines this season to be from June 1 until November 30, unfortunately for us as humans, weather thus far seems to be unconstrained by our calendar. 

NOAA and other major meteorology organizations had predicted an above-average season in terms of activity for 2024, due to conditions in the Pacific Basin being prime for storm development. The above-normal water temperatures in the region combined with the reduced wind shear are considered to be the two major meteorological contributing factors to hurricane Milton’s extremely rapid category 5 development, these conditions also made 2024 the first season since 2019 to feature multiple category 5 hurricanes. 

Modern Hurricane Response

This season, multiple major hurricanes have occurred, most notably Beryl, Helene, Kirk, and Milton. Powered by technology, we have heard stories such as the viral “Lieutenant Dan” a man who insisted on riding out hurricane Milton in his 20-foot boat docked in Tampa Bay, and the quick spread of information regarding damage to the Tropicana field. 

The use of social media and internet resources has allowed unprecedented relief for victims of the storm, with many press conferences being streamed on X (Formerly known as Twitter), and rescue coordination efforts being hosted on Facebook, the internet has allowed supplies and people to be brought together to help our neighbors in need. Governor Ron Desantis has been very efficient in responding to damage in Florida, while national organizations respond to more northern damage ranging from Georgia to the Carolinas and even as far north as Virginia. This unique and relatively new way of response bridges the gap between the government and private sectors in terms of support and response. 

Damage and National Impacts 

The damage from this season so far is unique due to how widespread the storm paths have been. Damage ranges from a few shingles off the roof to total property losses. 

I spoke to a local business owner affected by the hurricane season, Shane Torres. Shane is a nationally renowned real estate agent, as well as the owner of numerous businesses in Central Iowa and a real estate brokerage in the Tampa Bay area, when asked about the damage to the Tampa Bay Area, he said 

“The damage that many sustained will take months or even years to rebuild and there are some that won’t rebuild at all”. 

I asked Shane several questions regarding his real estate agents and office in the area, and while the office was undamaged by the storms, he mentioned that almost all of his agents were impacted one way or another. 

“7 of them have total losses from home, cars, and personal belongings”.

 Additionally, The housing market in the damaged areas, has come to a standstill, as people wait to rebuild or make the difficult decision to leave their beloved houses and property they will struggle to sell, and rebuilding may be even more difficult as the cost of construction and materials has begun to rise significantly. NOAA estimates 150 billion dollars in damages so far in the 2024 season while CarFax estimates 347,000 cars have suffered damages from storms. Despite the concerning amount of damage, many economists expect minimal economic impact, some items will face short-term price hikes but the economy will recover as the balance returns. 

Why We Care 

Ignoring the economic impact, the human toll of these storms is often much higher than we like to think. Many Iowans have family or friends in the affected areas. Those impacted have a difficult path of recovery and need our support. These storms impact tourism, ecosystems, industry, economies, and countless people. However, I am confident Americans will rebound and rebuild in a way only Americans can. With the next storms inbound, we can only hope they are minor compared to storms thus far.