[Karah Rucker]

FOR MANY FAMILIES THIS YEAR – THE HOLIDAYS WILL LOOK DIFFERENT DUE TO AN ACTIVE AND DEVASTATING HURRICANE SEASON.

FROM HOMES BEING SWEPT AWAY TO LOVED ONES DYING IN THE STORMS –

THIS HURRICANE SEASON LEFT DESTRUCTION ALL THE WAY FROM THE GULF TO THE EAST COAST.

THIS YEAR’S ATLANTIC HURRICANE SEASON WHICH OFFICIALLY ENDS SATURDAY –

has been one of the busiest on record. 

Meteorologists say 11 hurricanes formed, compared to the typical seven.

One of the earliest and most destructive storms this year was Hurricane Beryl.

It made history as the first Category 4 hurricane to form in June –

FIRST SLAMMING INTO ISLANDS IN THE CARIBBEAN.

THEN IT BECAME THE EARLIEST-EVER CATEGORY FIVE HURRICANE IN THE ATLANTIC ON JULY 1ST –

A WEEK LATER MAKING LANDFALL IN TEXAS AT A CATEGORY ONE.

Then, in September, came Hurricane Helene. This storm became the deadliest to hit the U.S. mainland since Hurricane Katrina in 2005, claiming more than 200 lives.

Helene caused nearly $49 billion in damage across several states, including North Carolina, Florida, and Georgia.

Homes were destroyed, drinking water systems were knocked out, farms were wiped out, and large areas of forest were decimated. 

RURAL AREAS OF THE CAROLINAS WHERE FLOODING IS RARE WAS SUDDENLY FEET UNDER WATER.

The effects of the storm were felt as far north as the Great Lakes, where unusually heavy rainfall triggered widespread flooding.

As the season continued into October, Hurricane Milton rapidly intensified, reaching wind speeds of 180 miles per hour. 

That made Milton one of the strongest hurricanes ever recorded in the Gulf of Mexico, second only to Hurricane Rita in 2005.

WITH MILTON COMING ON THE HEELS OF HELENE – IT FURTHER COMPOUNDED THE ALREADY DEVASTATING DAMAGE IN SOME REGIONS OF FLORIDA.

ALREADY LATE INTO THE SEASON WHEN THE OCEANS ARE QUIETER –

ANOTHER HURRICANE FORMED – RAFAEL – AND NEARLY BECAME THE STRONGEST NOVEMBER HURRICANE ON RECORD IN THE GULF –

WITH WINDS UP TO 120 MILES PER HOUR AS IT HOVERED OVER CUBA.

WITH EACH STORM’S PASSING, RECOVERY EFFORTS WERE QUICK TO FOLLOW.

BUT WITH BACK-BACK HURRICANES IN HELENE AND MILTON – DISASTER RELIEF EFFORTS WERE STRETCHED THIN.

FEMA’S DISASTER RELIEF FUND IS NOW DOWN TO LESS THAN 5 BILLION ACCORDING TO TESTIMONY FROM THE AGENCY LAST WEEK.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAS REQUESTED NEARLY 100 BILLION DOLLARS IN DISASTER AID FROM CONGRESS – WITH 40 BILLION OF THAT AIMED AT REPLENISHING FEMA’S DISASTER RELIEF FUND.

WHILE A SIGH OF RELIEF COMES WITH THE END OF THIS YEAR’S HURRICANE SEASON –

THE WEATHER CHANNEL CAME OUT WITH A REPORT SAYING JUST BECAUSE ITS OVER –

DOESN’T MEAN ITS REALLY OVER.

WHILE OVER 97% OF ATLANTIC STORM ACTIVITY HAPPENS BETWEEN JUNE AND SEPTEMBER –

THERE IS YOUR OCCASIONAL OUTLIER STORM –

SO ITS BEST TO ALWAYS BE PREPARED FOR SEVERE WEATHER.

THANKS FOR WATCHING STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS.

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