Armand Jackson
Hurricane Ian caused much destruction throughout the past week in Cuba and Florida as a Category 4 hurricane. As the hurricane made its way up the Atlantic coastline towards North and South Carolina, it shifted towards a tropical storm for Georgia. On Tuesday September 27th, a state of emergency was issued as officials prepared for all 159 counties in Georgia to face the impact of Ian as a tropical storm, causing potential heavy rainfall, damaging winds, flash floods, and isolated tornadoes throughout the state. Luckily, Georgia was spared from the storm’s path as a morning update on September 29th confirmed that Ian weakened and had maximum sustained winds of 65 mph.
According to Savannah Morning News, residents and businesses after the storm passed were able to resume daily life with gray skies and colder weather conditions. As hurricane season continues, questions are being raised about how government officials in coastal states approach these extreme weather events that environmental experts claim have intensified due to climate change. Officials in coastal states like Georgia and Florida wish to encourage population growth but it comes at the cost of residents being put in harm’s way by these intense storms, especially if they are not sufficiently warned about the dangers of living in developing areas that are vulnerable to flooding.
While these are long term issues, the immediate concern is about the lingering effects the hurricane had on Georgia’s neighboring states of Florida and South Carolina. Due to the national recovery efforts to aid those affected by Hurricane Ian, Georgia officials have cited concerns over further supply chain issues and higher fuel demand in the southeast. In response to these worries, the Georgia gas tax suspension that was initiated back in March of this year has been extended through November 11, 2022.
Explore Georgia, the official website of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, also set up an informational page for travelers and evacuees impacted by Hurricane Ian to find hotel and lodging availability, as well as real time updates about traffic conditions, airport closures and reopenings, emergency relief efforts, and more. Georgia residents are encouraged to report damages to their homes, businesses, and public facilities from Hurricane Ian through an online form.
