This Climate Emergency Forum video discusses the devastating impact of Hurricane Helene, focusing on the unprecedented scale of destruction and long-term consequences.
This video was recorded on October 3rd, 2024, and published on October 9th, 2024, and represents the opinions of the discussion participants.
The discussion highlights inadequate building regulations, lack of flood insurance awareness, and the role of warming oceans in intensifying storms. It emphasizes the long-term suffering of affected communities, including psychological trauma, PTSD, and increased rates of alcoholism, drug addiction, and suicide in areas hit by severe weather events.
The conversation then shifts to the true impact of hurricanes, citing a recent study that suggests hurricane-related deaths are hundreds of times higher than official immediate counts when considering long-term effects. The study estimates that US hurricanes may have contributed to up to 5 million deaths since 1930, surpassing other major causes of death like infectious diseases and motor vehicle accidents. Economic impacts are also discussed, with damage estimates for Hurricane Helene reaching up to $160 billion.
Throughout the discussion, there’s a strong emphasis on the urgent need for climate action and better preparedness for future extreme weather events. The video explains how global warming increases water vapor in the atmosphere, leading to more intense precipitation during storms. It also addresses the changing patterns of hurricanes due to alterations in jet stream configurations. The discussion concludes by calling for more robust building practices and regulations to withstand future storms like Helene.
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Dr. Peter Carter - MD, Expert IPCC Reviewer and the director of the Climate Emergency Institute
Paul Beckwith - Climate Systems Scientist. Professor at the University of Ottawa’s Paleoclimatology Laboratory as well as at Carleton University
Regina Valdez - Program Director, Climate Reality Project, NYC. GreenFaith Fellow and LEED Green Associate
Charles Gregoire - Electrical Engineer, Webmaster and IT prime for FacingFuture.Earth & the Climate Emergency Forum; Climate Reality Leader
Heidi Brault - Climate Reality Leader, BA(Psychology), Library & Information Technician Diploma - Video production and website assistant - Organizer and convener, Metadata technician, COP Team Lead for FacingFuture.Earth and the Climate Emergency Forum.
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