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| A street in Panama City, Florida Joe Raedle / Getty Images |
On Wednesday afternoon, Hurricane Michael made landfall on the southern part of Florida known as the Panhandle as a Category 4 hurricane, indicating 130-156 MPH winds, a strength The Weather Channel deems "unprecedented." Michael has since continued into Georgia, where wind speeds have slowed, but the hurricane has already caused storm surges of over 7 feet in Apalachicola, Florida, and over 5 feet in Cedar Key, Florida (TWC). Over 300,000 customers in Florida have lost power, and one death has been reported from a tree falling onto a house (NYT). Over the coming days, the hurricane is expected to cause damage in Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina, where states of emergency have already been declared (Newsweek).
The response to Hurricane Michael and other large hurricanes that hit the United States is a prime example of the federal system in action. At the state level, agencies provide more localized aid. For example, in response to Hurricane Michael, the South Carolina Department of Transportation has brought in more tree-cutting equipment to clear roads and the South Carolina American Red Cross has helped provide shelter for people during Hurricanes Florence and Michael (WSPA). At the national level, FEMA, the agency responsible for managing natural disasters, provides more broad aid that the state and local governments are unable to finance or mobilize. For Hurricane Michael, FEMA has prepared search-and-rescue teams and has thousands of employees ready to aid the states affected wherever necessary (CBS News). While no natural disaster can be stopped, state and federal governments can use their varying scopes and resources to provide the best aid possible.
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2 comments:
I think the state and local government are doing all they can for the most part. They have sent multiple aid groups to the areas and have warned surrounding states that it will spread ahead of time. The local governments are also pretty well equipped as there are often threats of hurricanes in these areas. I wish all the families who have lost their homes luck and send them prayers. Nataural disasters can't be prevented so we can only do the best to help the people stuck in these states.
Even though natural disasters cannot be prevented, our government should be able to provide aid and send it over immediately to where the disaster has occurred. I’m glad In this situation the people that were involved were able to seek immediate attention from our state and local government. The government should continue to do there jobs quickly and efficient for many Americans that still seek for help/ attention.
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