A Wave of Disaster: Hurricane Florence

Courtesy+of+NPR

Courtesy of NPR

Kendall Fisher ‘20, Staff Writer

Surging at an extraordinary one hundred and forty miles per hour, Hurricane Florence swept through the shores of North and South Carolina on August 31st. The Category Four hurricane continued to wreak havoc until September 19th and left a wake of destruction in its path. With at least forty-two deaths and many more injured, this hurricane has been a devastating tragedy to those affected. Hundreds of schools closed their doors and have repurposed themselves as emergency evacuation centers that supply food, water, a place to shower, and medical assistance.

Throughout the Carolinas, record-breaking storms have covered streets with several feet of rain; thousands of homes have been destroyed, and acres of crops have been fully submerged in water. Around ten-thousand people remain in shelters, while hundreds of thousands are left without power. Although the storm has stopped, flooding continues and damage costs are now estimated to around fifty billion.

Thankfully, many different organizations have stepped in to help their fellow Americans in this time of need; food banks, hospitals, animal shelters, and relief agencies are all doing their best to provide aid to these communities. It is essential that everyone comes together in this time of tragedy and heartbreak.