It has been a running joke on the internet that folks do things a little differently in Florida. A quick Google search of “Florida Man” reveals hundreds of headlines about wacky behavior, from attacking others whilst in a Minions costume to pretending to be a McDonald’s cashier in order to pocket the money. But in light of the recent and devastating tropical storms, Helene and Milton, the meme has once again resurfaced. This time, the trend features videos of Floridians fighting off alligators while stopped in traffic and surfing down the street during the hurricanes.
Hurricanes are intense, tropical storms that typically blow in from the ocean. They can affect coastal regions all over the world, bringing heavy amounts of rainfall, high winds, storm surges, flooding, tornadoes, and more. These storms can be mild or incredibly destructive, depending on their ranking on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale, from category one (causing some damage) to category five (catastrophic destruction). Regions like Florida are known to be hit more frequently by tropical storms than others, but in the span of two weeks, they found themselves directly in the path of the powerful storms Helene and Milton; category four and five respectively. With such disastrous storms in quick succession, it begs the question: what is causing these hurricanes to have such a pronounced impact? The answer may lie in the climate change our planet is currently facing.
So, what is climate change? The United Nations defines it as “long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. Such shifts can be natural, due to changes in the sun’s activity or large volcanic eruptions. But since the 1800s, human activities have been the main driver of climate change, primarily due to the burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas.” Essentially, the human processes of large-scale factory production, shipping cargo, and extensive travel, as well as certain farming practices have been detrimental to the Earth’s climate. These practices have resulted in the disruption and slow disappearance of the atmosphere’s ozone layer, leading to the gradual increase of the planetary temperature, impacting weather globally.
Although climate change does not appear to have shifted the frequency of these tropical storms, research suggests that it may be influencing their intensity. The BBC reported earlier this month that according to the United Nations Intergovernmental panel on Climate Change, “it is ‘likely’ that a higher proportion of tropical cyclones across the globe are reaching category three or above, meaning they reach the highest wind speeds.” They continued this sentiment, expressing that the time to act is now. “The proportion of tropical cyclones reaching category four and five may increase by around 10 percent if global temperature rises are limited to 1.5℃, increasing to 13 percent at 2℃ and 20 percent at 4℃.” Since the 1800s, the average global temperature has risen by 1.2℃, meaning that the increasing temperature is already playing a role in the destructive force of these storms.

So how can we take action against climate change? On a personal level, making switches such as using sustainable energy sources (such as solar panels), taking public transportation and shopping from local, sustainable brands can reduce your carbon impact. At the same time, it is unrealistic to say that the actions of a single individual are to blame, when mass production companies, and the government legislation that allows them to use environmentally unethical means of production, are the largest culprits. Other ways to take action include writing to politicians about climate concerns, protesting against climate destruction, and donating to restoration projects that seek to right environmental damage and offset carbon emissions.
It is evident that these changes to the climate are impacting our environment, as well as weather patterns. Florida is not the first place to feel the implications of the damage, and at this rate, they will not be the last. Floridians have proven themselves to be a resilient bunch, as time and time again they have rebuilt their communities after devastating hurricanes. They also seem to maintain a sense of humour in the face of danger, if the recent “Florida Man” Tiktoks say anything. And yet, they should not have to worry about the complete destruction of their homes every few months, or even weeks. The effects of climate change can be mitigated with collective effort, protecting “Florida Man” from the alligators swimming in through his windows once and for all.