Helene caused significant flooding in the Tampa area, impacting several thousand homes with feet of storm surge, according to the city's mayor. Despite the damage, the mayor acknowledged that Tampa was relatively fortunate compared to other areas directly hit by the storm, which was intensified by climate change.
The mayor emphasized the undeniable impact of climate change on the increasing power of storms, citing the rapid intensification of Helene into a Category 4 Hurricane in the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. This made it the strongest hurricane to hit Florida's Big Bend region.
Scientists have warned that hurricanes, like Helene, are intensifying more quickly, giving residents less time to prepare as a result of warming atmospheric conditions caused by fossil fuel pollution. The mayor highlighted the alarming trend of storms gaining speed and power rapidly, making it challenging for communities to respond effectively.
Despite Helene staying about 120 miles away from the coast, the storm's sheer width had a devastating impact on the Tampa Bay Area, leading to widespread flooding and damage. The region is currently focused on clearing streets and homes that are still inundated with sand and water from the storm surge.
