Editor's note: The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.
Catastrophic natural disasters are nothing new, especially during the beginning of summer and up until late fall, but when these natural disasters leave millions of dollars of damages and fatalities in their wake, it’s impossible to disregard the potential causes and the devastating aftermath.
Hurricane Dorian’s reign of terror as a Category 5 hurricane began near the Bahamas on August 31, finally hitting and wreaking havoc on the Abacos Islands and the Grand Bahama Islands, according to Vox and USA Today.
Dorian also managed to cause an insurmountable level of flooding, reaching up to 23 feet above coastal waters, and winds up to 200 mph.
After barreling through the Bahamas and ringing in a death toll of over 30 people and leaving 70,000 people homeless, Dorian made its way to the southeast of the United States.
Hurricane Dorian, though labeled the “second most powerful Atlantic storm” recorded in history, moved slowly, making its destruction that much more prolonged and catastrophic as it continued.
States like Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and mostly Florida were impacted greatly by the hurricane’s unruly weather patterns.
The casualties in the states reached up to four, according to the New York Post, and many are still left missing in the debris of the catastrophe.
In the fallout of the hurricane, many are concerned with the hurricane relief available for those who have been impacted by Dorian.
Looking back on previous natural disasters, such as Hurricane Katrina, it’s notable that there is still an extensive recovery process taking place in New Orleans, fourteen years after disaster struck.
Much like Katrina, not only has Hurricane Dorian caused physical and emotional turmoil but the storm has also brought about multiple controversies regarding climate change and the proper steps to helping recover both the Bahamas and the American states affected.
Climate change did not directly cause Hurricane Dorian, but according to The New York Times, the worsening global climate can be attributed to the severity of Dorian and other natural disasters.
Knowing this information is vital to all, including politicians and global leaders who have the power to push a positive agenda in regards to minimizing climate change.
However, climate change is not the only problem that must be addressed following Hurricane Dorian. Something must be done, on a governmental scale, to help those in need following the brutality of the tropical storm.
President Trump, who had previously incorrectly stated that Dorian would be moving towards and hitting the state of Alabama, is currently under fire for not giving aid to the victims who fled the Bahamas, in hopes of seeking safety in the United States.
It’s important that those in need are able to receive the proper funding to get back on their feet following such a traumatic and life-threatening situation. Those who have been left without homes or have lost loved ones are especially affected, which means that food donations, counseling services, and government funding should be included in this form of aid.
If you would like to help aid in the relief of Hurricane Dorian, organizations such as GlobalGiving and the Grand Bahama Disaster Relief Foundation are working towards goals in which 100% of donations are given to those whose lives were affected by the devastation of Hurricane Dorian.
(Courtesy of WGCU News) The islands of the Bahamas were destroyed greatly due to Hurricane Dorian's high speed winds and extreme levels of flooding.
