Hurricane Miltonlanded in the Tampa Bay area of Florida yesterday (October 10).
While authorities expressed relief at the fact that the storm impacted as aCategory 3rather than acatastrophicCategory 5, the winds were nevertheless able to claim the lives of 15 people at the time of writing and leave several more economically vulnerable.
HighlightsHurricane Milton hit Tampa Bay as a Category 3 storm, claiming 15 lives.Experts stress following official instructions during hurricanes.Community resilience seen in Florida as nearly 1,000 people rescued.Viral bad ideas could promote risky behavior during crises, experts warn.
Bored Pandaspoke with two seasoned disaster management experts who provided their exclusive analysis of the event, including their recommendations for citizens to overcome upcoming challenges.
“A storm is only the beginning,” explainedProfessor Michel De L’Herbe. “Rescue efforts, removing wreckage, and addressing the losses of those most affected are the most difficult aspects.”
“The priority is always to follow official instructions from authorities and stay informed,” addedCamilo Prats, a risk reduction expert with nine years of experience working for the United Nations.
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In the hours before this piece was written, Florida announced that nearly 1,000 people had been rescued, along with more than 105 animals.
“Floridians have been an example of resilience during this crisis. Any expert in the field will stress how important it is to listen to authorities and trust in your community,” De L’Herbe explained.
“This is why programs such as the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) are so important.”
Image credits:PHILIPPE SERRAND (not the actual photo)
“It’s also important to notify authorities in advance if there are any family members or neighbors with special needs, mobility issues, or who rely on electrical devices,” Prats added.
Florida was vulnerable as Hurricane Helene left debris that had to be removed quickly so they wouldn’t turn into deadly projectiles due to Milton’s strong winds
Image credits:WKYC Channel 3
“During a storm, especially one as intense as Milton, any leftover debris can quickly become a deadly projectile, adding to their already destructive power,” De L’Herbe stated.
Flying elements gain lethality during mass movements, such as evacuation efforts, often leading to traffic jams and leaving people exposed for long periods.
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“Those processes carry their own risks already,” Prats added. “Mass evacuations can lead to significant traffic congestion, so identifying the shortest and safest routes is critical.”
To reduce their time spent in the open, Prats urges people to review the government-provided list of safe zones and shelters and to consider heading to them as soon as possible with supplies.
Families should always have an emergency kit with 72 hours’ worth of supplies, including those needed to take care of their pets
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Prats mentioned some of the essentials, such as “water, non-perishable food, medications, flashlights, charged phones, radios for updates, a first-aid kit, important identification documents, insurance policies, and cash.”
Moreover, De L’Herbe mentioned the “72-hour rule,” which states that during crisis situations, people should always be equipped with essential supplies to survive independently for at least three days.
Image credits:FHPTampa
“For families with pets, there are shelters that arepet-friendly. Families should take the suffering of their animals into account and do everything possible to ensure they are safe,” the professor added.
Prats seconded this, explaining that keeping pets identifiable through collars and microchips is also essential.
A large number of “bad ideas” went viral just moments before the storm, promoting methods that experts quickly dismissed
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Several viral stories broke through before and after the hurricane, with some citizens even securing their roofs withratchet straps.
“A strap like that can secure the roof, but it will not protect the house’s walls or windows,” De L’Herbe explained. “Sadly, that method isuselessin the face of a Category 5 hurricane.”
Prats, on the other hand, considered the measure useful but stressed that it must be implemented alongside the securing of windows and the clearing of debris from outdoor spaces.
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“Higher floors are more exposed to strong winds. If there’s an evacuation order, it’s important to follow it,” Prats reiterated.
“Buildings can experience power outages, which can complicate the situation for people with limited mobility on upper floors,” he added.
De L’Herbe strongly agreed, explaining that evacuating from a high-rise building is much more difficult and that electric malfunctions can result in fires that can trap residents inside.
The attention brought to these viral clips could do more harm than good, both specialists said, as people are especially vulnerable to miscommunication during a crisis
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For the experts, the attention these stories attract, even if interesting, could do more harm than good.
“Promoting stories like these may encouragerisky behavior,” Prats argued. “It’s important that mainstream media outlets are aligned with and focused on disseminating official information during these events.”
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De L’Herbe, however, was more severe in his assessment.
“It’sirresponsible. We must not romanticize the emergency,” he stated. “While these anecdotes might be fun, they are directly related to ultimatelyindividualistic attitudes.”
“If anything happens to these people, rescue teams will have to put their lives on the line to help them, not to mention using resources that could’ve gone to citizens who did follow instructions.”
According to the experts, while some videos might’ve gone viral for all the wrong reasons, they ultimately lauded the behavior of Florida’s citizens
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“This hurricane reinforces the idea that communities can respond appropriately,” De L’Herbe stated, noting that the way Floridians faced Hurricane Milton will serve as an example for the future.
As of this writing, the National Coast Guardhas reopenedsome of the ports in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina, facilitating the work of emergency responders and paving the way for recovery.
ProfessorMichel De L’Herbeis an Emergency Management Consultant. Nowadays, he operates his firm,MGMT.
Camilo Pratsworked for the United Nations from 2015 to 2023. He currently serves as Project Lead atE2BIZ.
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