Just over a week ago, Hurricane Ian made landfall near the barrier Island of Cayo Costa, Florida. The storm brought unprecedented destruction to a region that hadn't experienced a similar storm in over a decade. Since the storm, media coverage has been intensely focused on rescue efforts, damage assessments, and debates over the meteorological forecasting over the storm. Media outlets have also reported statements from climatologists and climate change experts warning that storms like Ian will become all too common as climate change goes largely unaddressed. Last week, a Wired article by contributor Meghan Herbst explored statements by climatologists from around the country. The article, titled "Hurricane Ian is a Warning From the Future" quoted UGA Geography/Atmospheric Sciences professor, Dr. Marshall Shepherd. In his statement, Dr. Shepherd makes it clear that storms like Hurricane Ian will continue to cause catastrophic damage as long as human infrastructure is developed in the paths of such significant storms. “In some ways these aren’t really natural disasters anymore,” says Dr. Shepherd. The article continues to explore the issues surrounding development in areas that are susceptible to damage from increasingly catastrophic storms. Type of News/Audience:
