Earlier this week, Tropical Storm Erin was traveling towards the Northern Caribbean. Meteorologists have continued to monitor Erin as it reached Category 3 winds on Aug. 13. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) now reports its wind speed has accelerated to Category 5.
Tropical Storm Erin’s Winds Reached 160 MPH
Tropical Storm Erin was first tracked on Aug. 7 alongside Tropical Storm Fernand within the Atlantic Ocean. At the time, its winds were measured at Category 3. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) website features a visual presentation of the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale to determine a storm’s identification. Category 3 is tropical storm status. It’s identified with a wind speed of 111 to 130 mph. That’s enough strength to knock down trees and cause minor damage to buildings. They can also cause heavy rain and flash floods.
Due to the Atlantic’s high temperatures and low humidity, Tropical Storm Erin’s gales grew stronger. They accelerated up to 160 mph, escalating the natural disaster to become a hurricane, or Category 5. Evacuations are ordered ahead of the arrival time as the gust can demolish whole communities. Meteorologists are shocked by the wind’s progression as it approaches the Northern Caribbean in 24 hours.
The Caribbean and US East Coast Take Immediate Action
The NHC reported that Hurricane Erin (then Tropical Storm Erin) was located 110 miles north of Anguilla on Aug. 16. The storm is currently traveling west at 16 mph. The meteorologists issued storm watches for heavy rain. They warned St. Martin, St. Barts, and St. Marteen that heavy rain could appear and trigger flash floods, landslides, and mudslides.
The US Coast Guard has restricted ship parking in ports during the crisis due to the gale’s strength. They have imposed the emergency protocol throughout the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. Any vessels approaching South Carolina, Florida, and Georgia are ordered to search for an alternate port to avoid the hurricane’s path within 8 hours as Tropical Storm Erin approaches.
An exception applies for commercial ships that are currently carrying passengers to safety. One Royal Caribbean cruise liner has scheduled an alternate route for Port Canaveral after bypassing an earlier stop in Bermuda. Four other cruise ships will follow suit and are expected to arrive on Aug. 17.
NHC Director Michael Brennan advises the Bahamas and the mid-Atlantic states to stay offshore. Heavy rainfall and tidal waves are expected to be life-threatening once the new week arrives. Tourists tend to underestimate the threat and will continue their leisure activities. Authorities are cautiously watching the beaches.
Will FEMA Be Available?
One worry that soon-to-be-affected citizens fear is whether they will receive assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. After the Kerr County Flash Flood in Texas, the state had no access to emergency aid. This was due to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem, who established a cost-cutting method.
Any grant above $100,000 requires her signature before disbursement. Texas’s luck turned as kind donations came in, including from Raising Cane’s CEO Todd Graves. The Trump Administration placed a momentary hiring freeze, which resulted in thousands of missed FEMA calls. The pause expired on July 15, but the agency is still restricted from hiring.
A spokesperson later informed the Miami Herald about the freeze’s latest status: “We are currently under a hiring freeze for all external hiring. However, limited internal movement for mission-critical positions is permitted, and some vacancies are posted on USA Jobs.”
Biden Administration FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell also shared concerns about understaffing. She said in the same interview: “Having delays in reimbursement could result in delayed contracts for FEMA. It’s just going to put a strain and more risks on existing employees. There are fewer people to process the project portions.”
The affected states in Hurricane Erin’s (then Tropical Storm Erin) path could meet a similar experience. The delay of relaying information on the crisis appears to be nonexistent on FEMA’s website as well. As for Kristi Noem, she’s busy defending against death threats. The DHS Secretary has been scrutinized for her deportation campaign and living rent-free in a US Coast Guard reserved home.
