Welcome back to Meteorology Matters, everyone.
We're diving into some lingering impacts
from hurricane season.
Yeah, you know, we often talk about
the immediate aftermath of a hurricane.
Right.
But the recovery process can actually drag on
for months or even years.
For sure.
And today we're gonna be focusing on the aftermath
of hurricanes, Helene and Milton.
That's right.
Talking about the challenges folks are facing
and how communities are trying to get back on their seat.
And we're gonna dig into some of the systemic issues
that can complicate the recovery process
as well as highlight some of those amazing stories
of resilience that we're seeing emerge
from the affected areas.
So why don't we start in North Carolina?
Okay.
Hurricane Helene hit Western North Carolina pretty hard
and there are a lot of residents who are still displaced
from their homes.
Yeah, one of the biggest challenges they're facing
is the availability of FEMA's
Transitional Sheltering Assistance Program.
That's the TSA.
Yeah, exactly.
Okay, so that program, you know,
it was putting folks up in hotels after the storm.
Right.
Sounds like a real lifeline for people.
It was, but now months later,
the number of households using that program
has really dropped off.
Really?
Yeah, in early January, over 5,700 households
were still relying on the TSA for hotel stays.
But by February 4th, that number had plummeted
to just 762.
Wow, so that's a pretty big drop.
It is.
So does that mean everyone found permanent housing?
Well, it's not quite that straightforward, unfortunately.
Okay.
Some people were able to return to their homes
after repairs were done,
but others are facing a much tougher situation.
Yeah, so let's actually hear from one of those people.
Okay.
Kevin Morland is a 63-year-old man
from Clyde, North Carolina.
Okay.
His rented home was really badly damaged by Helene,
and he was relying on that TSA program.
So he was able to extend his hotel stay through March.
Okay.
But he has a criminal record,
and he's found it almost impossible to find a landlord
who will rent to him.
Gosh, you know, it's tough.
Something from your past.
Yeah.
Could make it so hard to rebuild your life.
Absolutely, and Morland's case raises some questions
about the fairness of housing policies
and just the need for more support
for people who are trying to turn things around.
It does, for sure.
So was Mr. Morland able to find a place?
Well, he actually had a camper donated to him.
Wow.
And he's planning to relocate to a more affordable area.
Okay.
His situation though really highlights
the struggles people face finding stable housing.
Yeah, absolutely.
And we're not just talking about one person here.
Right.
We also heard about Randy Billiot.
Okay.
He's a disabled trucker who was evicted
from his apartment after the storm.
He was also relying on the TSA program.
Okay.
Lost his hotel voucher in January though.
And what happened to him?
Well, he was struggling with his health, you know,
just facing so much uncertainty about the future.
Yeah.
He couldn't get clear answers from FEMA,
and he actually had to rely
on the generosity of strangers.
Really?
Yeah, his neighbors at the hotel
actually rallied around him and helped him pay
for his room when his voucher ran out.
Oh, wow.
That's, it's heartwarming to see that,
but it also makes you wonder,
yeah, why does it have to come to that?
Yeah, it exposes the gaps in the system.
Yeah, it really does.
So for folks who are still in need,
what's the current status of the TSA program?
Well, Governor Stein actually requested an extension.
Okay.
And FEMA agreed.
So the program is gonna run until May 26th.
That's good news.
It is, but there are really strict eligibility criteria.
I see.
And a lot of people have been deemed ineligible
for various reasons.
Okay, well, for those listening who might still be struggling
with housing in Western North Carolina,
are there resources available to them?
There are, and throughout February,
there's going to be these resources to recovery events
happening in different counties.
Oh, good.
You can connect with county, state,
and federal representatives.
Including FEMA.
Including FEMA, yes.
And it's a chance to find out about programs
you may qualify for and get help
with that application process.
That's great.
And there's also community engagement markets, right?
Right.
They provide free food and medical services
and information on recovery assistance.
And what about if people need things like
showers, laundry, or bottled water?
You can look for community care station locations.
Okay.
They're open daily in some of those hardest-hit communities.
Well, it's really important to remember
that recovery takes time.
It does.
And support services are still vital.
Absolutely.
If you need help, please reach out.
Now, let's talk about the financial burden
that hurricanes place on everyone.
Yeah.
The cost of recovery can be really substantial.
Huge.
And it often leads to some tension
between utility companies and their customers.
Yeah.
Let's look at Florida as an example.
Okay.
Regulators, they're just approved
some significant monthly surcharges
for customers of Duke Energy and Tampa Electric.
Right.
The goal is to help these companies recoup
the costs from hurricane recovery.
Okay.
But it also means that consumers
are gonna be paying more.
So how much more are we talking about?
Well, Tampa Electric customers are gonna see
an increase of about $20 a month on their bills.
And Duke Energy customers will be facing
a surcharge of around $32 a month.
Wow.
So that's a pretty hefty increase.
It is.
And you know, on top of everything else
people are dealing with,
it's led to a real debate about
who should ultimately bear the cost of storm recovery.
And what are regulators saying about this?
Well, they've expressed concern about the impact
of these surcharges, you know,
particularly considering that base rate hikes
were already approved last year.
Right.
There's a worry that these rising costs
are becoming too much for people to handle.
Yeah, I can see that.
So what can be done?
Are there any ideas being floated
to ease this financial pressure?
Well, there are some folks who argue
that utility shareholders should also share
in covering the costs of storm recovery.
Yeah, I mean, if the companies are profiting
they should share in the responsibility too, right?
That's the argument.
Makes sense.
Another idea is to actually set limits
on how much utilities can spend on storm recovery.
I see.
So that could help lessen the impact on customers' bills.
It's definitely a tough issue with no easy solutions.
Yeah, utilities need resources to restore power.
But we also have to consider the financial well-being
of the people they serve.
It's all about finding that balance.
Now let's shift gears and talk about
another lasting effect of hurricanes,
Helene and Milton unemployment.
Right, these storms didn't just damage property,
they disrupted people's lives and their livelihoods.
Absolutely.
So we're gonna hear from some folks in Florida
who are still struggling to get back
on their feet financially, months after the storms.
We'll explore the challenges they're facing
and look at the systems that can make it hard
to get the support they need.
And we'll also highlight some initiatives
that are aimed at addressing those challenges.
Before we dive into those stories though,
let's remind our listeners
how to connect with us.
Yes.
For weather updates and expertise,
you can follow our meteorologist Rob Jones.
You can find him on Instagram at meteorologist,
on TikTok at TV meteorologist,
and on YouTube search for Rob Jones' hurricane.
And on his YouTube channel,
you can also find the Meteorology Matters podcast playlist
where you can catch up on all our past episodes.
Now, let's talk about Giselle Wiggins.
She's a photographer and videographer
from Clearwater Beach, Florida.
Okay.
She lost her income after Hurricane Milton
because all those beautiful beach scenes
she normally captures were gone.
Right.
She applied for disaster unemployment assistance.
And even though she was found eligible,
she hasn't received any benefits yet.
Oh wow.
And months after the storm,
she was evicted from her apartment.
Right.
And now she's couch surfing at a friend's place
with all of her belongings and storage.
Yeah, it shows how these storms
can have these really long lasting consequences.
Absolutely.
So it's not just about the immediate impact.
Yeah.
It's about the whipsome months that follow.
Right.
And, you know, Giselle's story isn't unique.
No, it isn't.
We also spoke with Elizabeth Saz.
She's a single mother who has been struggling
with Florida's unemployment system since mid-November.
It sounds like she's been dealing with a lot of red tape.
She has, she describes the Florida Department of Commerce's
unemployment system as just incredibly difficult to navigate.
Hmm.
The phone lines are always busy.
There's no option to leave a message.
And her emails seem to go unanswered.
Yeah, it's got to be frustrating when you need help.
And you can't even reach the people who are supposed to provide it.
Exactly.
And it's not just an inconvenience.
It's causing real hardship.
Right.
Bills are piling up while people wait for assistance.
Exactly.
And it brings up some broader criticisms
about Florida's unemployment system.
Like what?
Well, the maximum weekly benefit is only $275,
which is pretty low compared to other states.
Yeah.
That's hardly enough to cover basic expenses
for a single person, let alone a family.
And the benefits only last for 12 weeks.
Oh, wow.
Which isn't really enough time to find new work,
especially in areas where the economy is still
recovering from the storm.
So where does this leave people like Giselle and Elizabeth,
who are still waiting for benefits,
what can be done to make this system more effective
and more compassionate?
Those are really important questions.
And we're going to dive into some potential solutions
in the next part of our discussion.
So yeah, it seems like Florida's unemployment system really
needs an overhaul.
It does.
People are talking about some solutions,
like increasing the maximum weekly benefit.
OK.
And extending the duration of those benefits,
especially for people who have been impacted
by natural disasters.
Yeah.
That makes sense, giving people more financial breathing room
and more time to find work.
Exactly.
And it's not just about the numbers.
It's about making the system itself easier to use.
People need clear information, easy to use online platforms,
responsive customer service.
The current system is just way too complicated,
especially for people who are already under so much stress.
Yeah, it sounds like a complete overhaul is really
what's needed to make sure the system actually works
for the people who need it.
Exactly.
So we've talked about the human toll and the financial strain,
but let's switch gears a bit and talk
about the actual physical cleanup.
All right, all that debris removal, the infrastructure,
repairs the environmental concerns.
Exactly.
It's a massive undertaking.
Huge.
And it can take a long time to complete.
Yeah.
It's easy to forget about that part once the immediate danger
has passed.
It is.
So let's take Buncombe County in North Carolina as an example.
OK.
One of the hardest hit areas by Helene, just the sheer amount
of debris is incredible.
Yeah, downed trees, building materials, vehicles.
It's a logistical nightmare.
It is.
Where do you even begin to tackle something like that?
It takes a coordinated effort between local, state,
and federal agencies.
OK.
The US Army Corps of Engineers has been working in Western North
Carolina since October.
And how are they doing?
They've made some real progress.
As of February 5, their contractors
had collected over 900,000 cubic yards of debris.
Wow, that's a lot.
It is from public rights of way, but there's still
a lot more work to do.
What about debris on private property?
That's a bit trickier.
I bet.
Buncombe County has a program for that.
OK.
But property owners have to apply and get an inspection.
Yeah, I imagine that can be tough for people who are already
dealing with so much.
It can be, and as of January 29, over 445 residential property
owners and 40 commercial property owners had applied.
OK.
So it's a process.
It is, for sure.
So beyond the sheer volume of debris,
are there any other challenges they're
facing in Buncombe County?
Yeah, one big concern is all the debris that
ended up in the waterways.
Right.
Haleen brought a lot of flooding to Western North Carolina.
Exactly.
And all that floodwater carried debris
into the rivers and streams.
And that's obviously a big problem for the environment.
It is.
Waterway debris removal is a top priority,
but it's a delicate operation.
Yeah, you don't want to cause further damage.
Right.
So they're using a lot of different techniques
to protect the environment during cleanup.
OK.
Like they're using silt fences to prevent pollutants
from washing into the water.
OK.
And they're also taking steps to minimize disturbance
to wildlife habitats.
Getting.
It sounds like they're taking a really thoughtful approach.
They are.
One of the things they found is a ton of vehicles
in the rivers and streams.
Yeah.
The floodwaters were so powerful,
they just swept them away, cars, trucks, even campers.
Wow, that's incredible.
It is.
Contractors are working to get them out of there.
OK.
As of February 5th, there were still about 80 vehicles left.
Wow.
So it's a long process.
It is.
But it's important for restoring the ecosystem.
It is.
And it's not just about restoring the environment right.
Right.
It's about rebuilding communities.
Exactly.
And that's where the financial side of things comes in again.
Yeah, we talked about the strain on individuals,
but whole communities are bearing the cost of re-building.
They are.
And the North Carolina Treasurer's Office
has actually set up a $100 million loan program to help out.
That's fantastic.
What can communities use that money for?
All kinds of things, repairing roads and bridges,
rebuilding schools and hospitals.
Wow, that's going to be a big help.
It is.
Rebuilding takes time and resources.
It does.
And collaboration.
Absolutely.
So before we move on, let's remind our listeners
how to stay informed about weather events and support
recovery efforts.
Yeah, Rob Jones is a great resource.
You can find him on Instagram at meteorologist
on TikTok at TV meteorologist.
And on YouTube, search Rob Jones' Hurricane.
And on his YouTube channel, you can also
find the Meteorology Matters podcast playlist.
Perfect.
Now, for our last topic today, let's
talk about something pretty unexpected that
happened as a result of Hurricane Haleen.
OK, this really highlights how interconnected
our ecosystems are.
I'm intrigued.
Tell me more.
So Haleen brought all that rain and flooding
to Western North Carolina, right?
Right.
Well, all that moisture created the perfect conditions
for a certain type of fungus to grow.
Fungus?
OK, this is definitely not what I was expecting.
What kind of fungus are we talking about?
It's a fungus that affects trees, specifically
black walnut trees.
OK.
And it's associated with a disease called
Thousand Cankers Disease.
And how does that disease work?
Well, it's spread by a tiny beetle that carries the fungus.
OK.
The beetle bores into the bark of the tree
and spreads the fungus as it tunnels.
I see.
And the heavy rain and flooding from Haleen
created a really good environment for these beetles.
So the hurricane actually helped spread this disease.
It's a fascinating example of how interconnected things
are in nature.
It is a little unsettling, though.
Yeah.
How serious is this disease?
Can it kill trees?
Yeah, it can be fatal.
Oh, wow.
The fungus disrupts the flow of nutrients and water
in the tree, and eventually, the whole tree can die.
And is there a cure?
Unfortunately, no.
So prevention and early detection are really important.
That's a good reminder that we need to pay attention
to these subtle changes in the environment
after big weather events.
Absolutely.
Now, let's talk about the impact these hurricanes have
had on the tourism industry.
Yeah.
Tourism is a huge part of the economy in many coastal areas.
And it's very vulnerable to disruptions.
It is.
So let's focus on Florida, which relies heavily on tourism.
OK.
What are some of the biggest challenges they're facing?
Good question.
Well, one of the most immediate impacts
is the physical damage to businesses that cater to Tuas.
Right.
Hotels, restaurants, shops, all that.
Exactly.
A lot of those places had to close, at least temporarily,
some permanently, which has led to job losses.
It's a real blow to those businesses and the communities
that depend on them.
What about the tourists themselves?
Have these storms scared people away from visiting Florida?
Yeah.
A lot of people cancel trips because of safety concerns,
travel disruptions, you know?
Makes sense.
And even months later, some areas
are still having trouble attracting visitors back.
So it's not just about rebuilding.
It's about rebuilding confidence.
Right.
Reassuring people that Florida is still a great place to visit.
Yeah.
How are they doing that?
They're focusing on marketing and communication,
letting people know that Florida is open for business
and highlighting the areas that are ready for visitors.
OK.
They're also telling stories about the resilience
of the state and the people.
Right.
Showing that Florida is strong.
Exactly.
And they're emphasizing the importance
of investing in infrastructure.
Like roads and airports and things like that.
Exactly.
It not only helps the tourism industry,
but it also improves things for residents.
So everybody wins.
Right.
And there's also a push to diversify Florida's tourism
offerings.
So going beyond just the beach?
Exactly.
Showcasing cultural attractions, historical sites,
the food scene, all the different things Florida
has to offer.
I like it.
It sounds like Florida is taking a really
a comprehensive approach to recovery.
They are addressing the immediate needs
and looking towards the future.
It is inspiring to see how people
are working to rebuild their businesses and communities.
It reminds us that even in the face of adversity,
there's always hope.
Wow.
What a journey.
It has been.
Really insightful look at the long road
to recovery after hurricanes, Haleen, and Milton.
Yeah.
We've seen the challenges, the setbacks,
but also the incredible resilience of these communities.
For sure.
From housing insecurity to unemployment
to the financial burden on utility customers
and the effects on ecosystems and the tourism industry.
We've covered a lot of ground.
We have.
And it's clear that these issues
need some serious attention.
They do.
You know, we need to find solutions and work together
to build a more resilient future.
Absolutely.
And I think it's important to remember something
that you mentioned earlier.
Yeah.
Behind all these challenges, behind the numbers
and the statistics are real people.
Right.
Whose lives have been turned upside down by these storms?
You know, the stories we hear today from Kevin Morland,
Randy Billiot, Giselle Wiggins, and Elizabeth says,
they're just a glimpse into the struggles
that so many people are facing.
Absolutely.
And those stories really highlight
the need for empathy for compassion.
Yeah.
And for systems that can truly support people in times of crisis.
For sure.
Yeah.
And as we wrap up this episode,
I want to talk about what we as individuals
can do to make a difference.
OK.
We've talked about preparedness and understanding
risk and community support.
But what about individual action?
Well, we can start by staying informed about weather events
and taking precautions to protect ourselves and our families.
We can support relief efforts through donations
or volunteering or just by spreading awareness.
And I think it's also important to talk about climate change.
Absolutely.
And how it's impacting these extreme weather events.
It's a complex issue, but we can't ignore it.
We can't.
And building a more resilient future
requires all of us to work together.
It does.
From individuals to communities to governments.
We have the knowledge, the resources, and the technology.
We do.
What we need is the will to act.
And we can start today.
We can.
By raising awareness, supporting those in need,
advocating for change.
We can all contribute to a world that's
better prepared for the challenges ahead.
Absolutely.
Well, we want to thank you, our listeners,
for joining us on this deep dive into the aftermath of hurricanes
Helene and Milton.
We hope you found it informative and thought-provoking.
And remember, we're all in this together.
By working together, we can create
a more resilient and sustainable future for everyone.
If you want to learn more about any of the topics we've discussed
or connect with us, you can visit our website
or find us on social media.
And for all the latest weather updates and insights,
be sure to follow meteorologist Rob Jones.
You can find him on Instagram at meteorologist on TikTok
at TV meteorologist.
And on YouTube, search for Rob Jones' Hurricane.
You can also find the Meteorology Matters podcast
playlist on his YouTube channel.
Thanks for listening.
And until next time, stay safe and stay informed.