Welcome back to Meteorology Matters.
We're diving into the aftermath of Haleen and Milton,
those hurricanes that slammed Florida back in October 2024.
Yeah, we all remember the crazy damage,
but we're going deeper than that today.
Like, you wouldn't believe some of the stuff
still going on.
It's wild, right?
The stuff you don't hear about after the news crews move on.
Exactly.
Like, get this, some people were using airboats
just to go vote, because the flooding was still so bad.
And some towns are still underwater months later.
It's crazy.
It shows you how these hurricanes,
they don't just disappear.
The effects stick around and change things in ways
you don't expect.
Right.
So Haleen and Milton, they hit Florida back to back, a 1-2 punch.
We're not going to rehash all the initial damage.
Everyone's seen the pictures.
But we are going to look at the long-term stuff, the things
people are still struggling with.
Yeah, the stuff that doesn't make headlines anymore,
but is still a huge problem for people.
Totally.
So let's start with the flooding.
Some parts of Florida are just drowning.
And I mean, for months, Hickory Hills in Dade City,
that's a prime example.
It's really bad there.
Like, whole neighborhoods underwater,
people using boats just to get to their front doors.
It's not just an inconvenience.
It's dangerous.
Absolutely.
I was reading about one resident, Victor Lemus.
He's terrified about what happens if there's an emergency.
With the roads flooded, how do ambulances even get in?
It's a major gap in disaster response.
The county was pumping the water out at first,
but they stopped back in December.
Now people are stopped.
It's like they got abandoned as soon as the cameras left.
Right.
And it shows how complicated this stuff is,
because the county says they stopped pumping because the flooding
moved on to private land.
So it's a legal issue, too.
It is.
And a bigger question, too, about climate change.
When your property is affected by these massive forces,
who's responsible for fixing it?
Exactly.
So another spot that got hit hard was Ridge Manor.
It's basically built to flood.
It's so flat.
And the Wootla-Koochee River drains super slow.
Look at this.
They had flood warnings for 34 days straight after Milton.
Imagine that over a month of living with that threat.
It's unbelievable, right?
The river hit its third highest level ever recorded.
So you're talking about a massive amount of water
with nowhere to go.
I mean, it's bad enough having your house flooded.
But these people had to use airboats just to go vote.
It shows how resilient they are.
But it's also crazy to think about voting
being that difficult.
It makes you wonder about those areas that are always
getting hit by these storms.
Does it affect people's ability to vote?
It's a question we need to think about.
Definitely.
All right, let's shift gears a bit
and talk about the economic damage,
because the pictures don't tell the whole story.
Yeah, it goes way deeper than that.
The physical damage is one thing, but the economic hit,
that can last for years.
Annamarie Island is a good example.
It's a huge tourist spot.
And it got slammed.
It's been really slow to recover.
Lots of businesses are still closed.
And tourism is way down, which is their whole thing.
It's a chain reaction.
Yes.
Like the Annamarie City Pier got wrecked.
That's a huge tourist attraction.
So less torrents, less money for everyone.
And only like two thirds of the vacation rentals
are even open again.
Right.
I saw that Terry Kinder, the head of the Chamber of Commerce
there, she's optimistic about rebuilding.
But she admits it's going to take a long time.
Makes you realize how fragile the whole system is.
Yeah.
One disaster and everything gets thrown off.
Totally.
And it's not just businesses feeling it.
Governments and utilities are struggling too.
Those financial companies, S&P and Moody's,
they've been looking at the hurricane's impact.
And it's not looking good.
S&P actually downgraded Buncombe County in North Carolina
because of Hurricane Helene.
They said they could lose a ton of revenue
and end up with a way bigger financial burden.
Yeah.
A downgrade that's never good.
Basically, it means providing services and keeping taxes
in check is going to be way harder.
It's a huge hit to the whole community.
And Moody's is worried about utilities too.
Rebuilding that stuff costs a fortune
and could mean higher prices for everyone.
It's just another layer of stress
for people who are already dealing with so much.
And then there's insurance, which is already
a nightmare in Florida.
Prices have been skyrocketing for years, and now this.
It's insane.
Some areas are seeing rates double.
That's a killer for homeowners, landlords, the tourism
industry, everyone.
It's a perfect storm.
You have more extreme weather happening all the time.
Plus, insurance companies are paying out more.
So they raise prices.
It's unsustainable.
Makes you wonder if Florida's headed for the same kind
of insurance crisis they had in California
after those wildfires.
People lost everything and then found out
they weren't even covered.
It's terrifying.
It is.
And it raises questions about whether we're prepared.
As a society, our building codes, our insurance systems,
are they enough for this new reality where these storms are
just going to keep getting worse?
That's the million dollar question, isn't it?
OK, so let's talk about the long term effects,
because it goes beyond the immediate damage.
What about things like people moving away?
I read that Howard Kearer at Evercore Wealth Management,
he's worried about that.
It makes sense, though, right?
If you keep getting hit by these monster storms,
wouldn't you want to move somewhere safer?
But then what happens to those communities?
That's the thing, right?
Who's left to rebuild?
And what happens to the economy?
It's a whole domino effect.
It is.
And it's a global issue, too.
This is happening all over the world.
People are being forced to move because of climate change.
So what does that mean for our future?
Where do we go from here?
It's a lot to think about.
And we've only just scratched the surface.
But before we get too deep into that,
I want to remind everyone to follow meteorologist Rob Jones.
He's got some great insights on all this stuff.
Yeah, Rob's the best.
You can find him on Instagram at meteorologist on TikTok,
at TV meteorologist, and on YouTube at Rob Jones' Hurricane.
And if you're on YouTube, make sure to check out
his Meteorology Matters playlist.
He breaks down all kinds of crazy weather stuff
in a way that's actually fun to listen to.
OK, so we've covered a lot today,
the flooding, the economic damage,
even the possibility of people migrating
because of these storms.
It's heavy stuff.
It is.
But it's important to talk about it.
We can't ignore these problems.
We have to learn from what happened with Helene and Milton
and start figuring out how to build a more resilient future.
And it really makes you think, how do we build communities that
can actually handle this kind of thing?
Because it's not going away.
And speaking of that, let's go back to Hickory Hills
and those other flooded areas.
It's been months, their homes are still under water.
What's being done to help them?
I mean, that's the tough part.
There aren't any easy answers.
We talked about the county stopping the pumping
because of those private property issues.
So it's a legal mess and a logistical one.
But something has to be done right.
You can't just leave these people stranded.
It is a terrible situation.
They're stuck in this bureaucratic limbo.
They've called FEMA local officials, even state
representatives, but nothing's really happening.
It shows you how, even when there's a system in place,
it can totally fail when something like this happens.
One resident I read about, Robert Tucker,
he said his house is near this retention
pond that's overflowing.
He can't even pump the water out himself
because it would mean going on other people's property.
It's a catch-22.
And can you imagine what's going to happen
when the rainy season starts?
If the water's this high already?
It's scary, right?
I mean, it seems like they need better infrastructure,
like drainage systems, or even zoning laws that
stop people from building these flood-prone areas.
It's not just about cleaning up afterwards.
It's about preventing it in the first place.
Absolutely.
And this is where community support comes in, too.
When the government can't or won't help,
it's often neighbors helping neighbors
that makes the difference.
We saw that after the hurricanes, right?
People coming together to help each other out.
But it shouldn't be all on them.
There needs to be a bigger effort
from the government, from nonprofits, everyone,
to really support these communities in the long term.
Definitely.
And we have to start thinking about these things
as part of a bigger pattern, you know?
Climate change is making these extreme weather events more
common, and we are not prepared.
So what can we learn from Helene and Milton?
What can we do to make sure our communities can actually
survive these things?
Because it's not just about surviving the storm itself.
It's about surviving the aftermath, too.
Right.
It all starts with accepting that climate change is real,
and it's affecting us now.
We can't keep pretending it's not happening.
We need to talk about the risks about investing
in better infrastructure, preparing for disasters.
And we have to start living more sustainably.
You know?
If we don't change things, these problems
are just going to get worse.
Absolutely.
And insurance is a huge part of this, too.
We need to make sure insurance is affordable
and that it actually covers these kinds of disasters.
It's bad enough to lose your home, but to lose it,
and then find out you're not even covered.
That's devastating.
It's like adding insult to injury.
And we can't forget about the emotional impact either,
the trauma of going through something like this.
It can stay with you for years.
It does.
And we need to provide better mental health support
for people who are struggling.
You know?
It's not just about rebuilding houses.
It's about rebuilding lives.
It's about the human cost.
And I keep thinking about those people in Hickory Hills
still living with flooded homes and feeling like no one cares.
What would you want to say to them, to anyone
who's going through something similar?
I'd say, first of all, you're not alone.
There are people who care, and there is help out there,
even if it doesn't feel like it.
Don't give up.
And keep speaking up.
Keep calling your representatives FEMA,
anyone who might be able to help.
You have to fight for yourselves and for your community.
And reach out to your neighbors, too.
Talk to each other.
Help each other out.
There's power in numbers.
And sometimes just knowing someone else
understands what you're going through
can make all the difference.
I think that's really important to remember.
Before we move on, though, I want
to remind everyone about meteorologist Rob Jones.
He's amazing at explaining all this weather stuff
in a way that's actually interesting.
He really is.
You can find him on Instagram at at meteorologist
on TikTok, at at TV meteorologist, and on YouTube,
at at Rob Jones' hurricane.
And if you're on YouTube, check out his meteorology matters
playlist.
It's full of deep dives on all kinds of cool weather topics.
So we've covered a lot of heavy stuff today, haven't we?
The flooding, the economic struggles, the insurance crisis,
and, of course, the human cost of all of it.
It is a lot.
But sometimes you got to face the hard stuff.
It's important to remember these stories and learn from them.
If we want to build a better future,
we have to start by understanding the problems.
And you know what else?
I think it's important to remember that even in the face
of all this, there's still hope.
There is, definitely.
We've seen so much resilience from the people affected
by Helene and Milton.
They're not giving up.
Right.
They're rebuilding their homes, their businesses, their lives,
and they're doing it together.
Like Tara Kinder, the head of the Chamber of Commerce
on Annemarie Island, she said something that really stuck with
me.
She said, we're all very happy to be here.
And you could hear the determination in her voice.
You know?
They're not going to let these hurricanes break them.
It's inspiring.
It shows you that even when things are really bad,
there's always hope.
And that we have a choice in how we react to these challenges.
We can give in to fear, or we can
choose to be strong and work together
to build a better future.
And I think the people we've been talking about today,
they're definitely choosing to fight back.
So as we wrap up this part of the conversation,
I want to leave everyone with a question.
OK.
I'm listening.
Knowing everything we've talked about today
about the flooding, the economic struggles,
the fact that some people might even
have to move away from their homes,
what lessons do we need to learn from all of this?
What can we do to prepare for future storms
and make our communities stronger?
That's a great question.
Because it's not just about cleaning up the mess afterwards.
It's about taking steps now to make sure the next storm doesn't
hit us quite so hard.
Exactly.
What can we do as individuals, as communities, as a country,
to make sure we're ready for what's coming?
Because the climate is changing, and these storms
are only going to get worse.
It's a huge challenge, but it's also an opportunity,
you know, to rethink how we live, how we build,
and how we take care of each other.
We can create a better future, but we have to start now.
And we want to hear from you.
What are your thoughts on all of this?
Join the conversation on social media
and tag meteorologist Rob Jones.
You can find him on Instagram at meteorologist on TikTok,
at TV meteorologist, and on YouTube at Rob Jones Hurricane.
And while you're on YouTube, check out his Meteorology Matters
playlist.
It's full of awesome weather content.
All right, so we've talked about the immediate impact
of Helene and Milton and all the long-term consequences
that are still unfolding.
The flooding, the economic hardship, the insurance
nightmare, the possibility of people having to move away
from their homes.
It's a lot to take in.
It is, but it's a conversation we need to have.
The effects of these storms are going to be felt for years
to come, and we have a responsibility
to learn from them and make sure we're better prepared
for the next one.
And it's not just about putting up stronger buildings
or having better evacuation plans.
It's about coming together as a community
and supporting each other.
Yeah, exactly.
You know, we see that after every disaster,
people helping their neighbors, volunteering,
donating to relief efforts.
It's amazing to see how people come together
when times get tough.
It really is.
And it gives you hope, right?
Yeah.
Even in the face of all this destruction,
there's still so much good in the world,
people helping each other out, rebuilding their lives together.
Yeah, and it shows you that we're not powerless.
You know?
We can't stop these hurricanes from happening,
but we can control how we respond to them.
We can choose to be resilient, to help each other,
to rebuild, and to come back stronger than before.
I love that.
So as we wrap up this episode of Meteorology Matters,
we want to leave you with a challenge.
The call to action.
What can you do today?
Right now to make a difference, to help
create a more resilient future.
Maybe it's donating to a disaster relief organization
or volunteering your time.
Maybe it's having a conversation with your family
or your neighbors about preparing for future storms.
Maybe it's contacting your elected officials
and pushing for policies that address climate change
and make our communities safer.
Whatever it is, big or small, every action counts.
And remember, you can always find more information
and connect with others who are passionate about weather
and resilience by following meteorologist Rob Jones.
He's on Instagram at meteorologist, TikTok,
at TV meteorologist, and YouTube at at Rob Jones Hurricane.
And don't forget to check out the Meteorology Matters
podcast playlist on Rob's YouTube channel
for more deep dives into the world of weather.
So that's it for today.
We've covered a lot of ground from the immediate impacts
of Helene and Milton to the long-term challenges
we face as a society when it comes to climate change
and extreme weather.
It's been a heavy conversation, but an important one.
And hopefully it's left you with some things to think about
and some ideas for how to get involved.
We want to thank you for listening
and for joining us on this journey.
As always, stay safe, stay informed,
and keep those weather brains churning.
See you next time.