The devastation caused by Hurricane Helene is both astounding and alarming. With all of the news coverage and all of the talk about the consequences of the storm, no one is mentioning the root cause of such a catastrophic hurricane – climate change.
Peachtree Creek, about a mile from my house, flooded Bobby Jones Golf Course and surrounding houses.
There is no question that Helene increased in intensity as it crossed over the super heated waters of the Gulf. And of course those waters were at higher than average temperatures because the South just experienced the hottest summer on record and there is no longer any doubt that the earth is warming due to climate change. And we are responsible for climate change.
With houses and neighborhoods and in some cases, entire towns flooded and destroyed, it’s difficult to think about the impact that the storm had on the environment. Worrying about losing a few wildflowers cannot compare to the loss of life and property that occurred.
But I do worry about it. Fully and completely immersed in writing a book about the endangered plants, I think about the flooding in North Carolina and the impact on the rock gnome lichen clinging to cliffside’s of the Tallulah River. or the bunched arrowroot which grows in sandbars in the French Broad River. The ecological impact will be felt for years to come. With only a few populations, the loss of any of these rare and vulnerable plants could be catastrophic for the entire species.
Florida, bearing the full brunt of the hurricane winds, is also home to no fewer than 53 endangered plants. What has happened to the Apalachicola Rosemary after the storm hit? Or what has happened to the many, many endangered plants that live in wetland habitats that were inundated with sea or storm water. The environmental needs of these species are so exacting that any change in the water level has a negative impact on the longevity of the species.
Personally, we were very fortunate. Though there was significant flooding less than a mile from our house, we suffered no damage and the rains soaked my drought struck garden. 11 1/2 inches of rain replenished the moisture of the soil but by no means made it soggy. So we dodged the bullet – this time. But there will be a next time and a next time and a next time, for we have always had storms and hurricanes. BUT the frequency and intensity of today’s storms far surpasses those of the past, meaning “the next big one” is in our future.
My favorite walking path.
There is no question that we must grieve for those families who lost loved ones in this terrible storm and there is no question that we must work together to rebuild so much of our region that was damaged. But I also think that there is no question that we must, we must be realistic about addressing climate change. Both the knowledge and technology is available for clean energy. We cannot afford to drag our feet any longer. Now is the time for working together to make the changes that will lead to a healthy, safe climate for all of us and for our beloved environment.
For more information about what environmental leaders are doing to fight climate change in the Southeast, read this article from the Southeastern Environmental Law Center. https://www.southernenvironment.org/press-release/southern-leaders-take-action-to-reduce-climate-risks-and-protect-vulnerable-communities/