and analyzed, Suncoast officials explained that Ian made landfall as one of the five most powerful U.S. hurricanes, and Florida’s deadliest since 1935. The 150 mph winds were the strongest to ever lash Florida’s West Coast, knocking out power to 2.6 million, causing more than $100 billion of damage and, tragically, 119 deaths. According to Florida’s Department of Law Enforcement, at least 58 deaths were related to drowning and almost 60% were people age 65 or older. Chronic medical conditions such heart disease and respiratory illnesses were contributing factors in one-third of the reported fatalities, and the average age of those who died was 67. Surprisingly, especially for novice hurricane snowbirds, while Ian’s ferocious winds left a breathtaking trail of wreckage in its path – not tomention some horrific TVnews reports for snowbirds still at home and just readying to head south – much of the property damage was caused by water and flooding. Surveying the damage and considering the options for cleanup and recovery also struck Stats show that Florida suffers some of the greatest financial damage from storms, partly due to the frequency of hurricanes, but also because of tremendous population growth and coastal development. Approximately 15 million Florida residents and seasonal snowbirds, or 76% of the population, live in coastal areas. As foreign a concept as it is for usually landlocked snowbirds, Florida storm surge describes the wall of water that is pushed toward the shoreline, as a hurricane moves onshore. Storm surge combines with the local tide and the battering, wind-driven waves to push large volumes of water onto the shore. While the frightening visuals of a hurricane’s fury usually rivet themost attention, it is often the storm surge that causes the most chaos and damage. In the strongest hurricanes, storm surge can be as high as 25 feet above normal water levels. While storm surge is tragically probable near the shore, and as Hurricane Ian violently demonstrated, water can also be a huge problem in inland areas. Ian’s historic rain (more than 17 inches in a 24-hour period) overwhelmed storm-water ponds and drainage systems and created water issues for stores, restaurants and the ground-floor interiors of many homes. The drying-out, the blue tarp temporary fixes on roofs, the ripping-out drenched and mouldy drywall and other manoeuvres of repair and restoration will continue for months, if not longer. For experienced locals and snowbirds who happily assimilate into the Florida good life, Ian’s aftermath also triggered two relevant (and quasi-political) Florida hot-button topics. The ‘cone of confusion’ is now a debate, questioning those traditional hurricane cone map images not onlymisleading residents and first responders about the actual size and scope of a storm, but failing to give adequate notice for preparing, battening down the hatches and possibly evacuating. The next Florida hurricane season is not until September 2023, and the cone of confusion concept is “under review.” This time, when the early stats were rehashed Special Report Photo: Sarasota Herald-Tribune 16 | www.snowbirds.org
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