Climate Crisis Hurricane Strikes Florida.

#WhiteSupremacyKills: Another Hurricane, More Inaction from Florida's Gov. DeathSantis

Category 1 Hurricane Debby makes landfall in Steinhatchee, FL, a predominantly Black and rural community, exposing the state's racist neglect of marginalized communities.

August 5, 2024, Steinhatchee, FL:

Florida, the so-called "Sunshine State," yet again bore the brunt of climate change-induced extreme weather as Hurricane Debby made landfall on Monday morning near Steinhatchee, a small, predominantly Black rural community in the state's Big Bend region.

With maximum sustained winds of 80 mph, the hurricane moved north-northeast at 10 mph, wreaking havoc on the lives and livelihoods of Steinhatchee's 514 residents, many of whom are from marginalized communities. The storm is expected to continue its destructive path through North Florida and into Georgia, with impacts felt as far as South Carolina.

Steinhatchee, a historic fishing village on the Gulf of Mexico, has a dark history. Once known as "Dead Man's Bay," the area has a gruesome past involving the deaths of Native Americans at the hands of colonizers, and this hurricane is yet another stain on its troubled history.

This is not the first time Steinhatchee has been devastated by hurricanes. Last year, Hurricane Idalia battered the same area, and if that weren't cruel enough, the 2012 Tropical Storm Debby also made landfall in this small town. It's almost as if climate change is targeting these vulnerable communities, and yet, where is Governor DeSantis?

Steinhatchee, pronounced STEEN-hatch-ee, is located 70 miles west of Gainesville and is known for its beautiful natural attractions. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission touts the Big Bend region as offering "some of Florida's best wilderness destinations," with its blend of salt marshes, tidal swamps, and deep woodlands.

But today, those natural wonders are under threat, and the state's lackluster response to yet another hurricane season will only compound the devastation.

As the state grapples with the immediate impacts of Hurricane Debby, we must also grapple with the systemic racism and environmental injustice that leaves communities like Steinhatchee vulnerable time and time again.

Stay tuned for more updates on Hurricane Debby's path of destruction, and let this be a reminder that climate change is real, it's here, and it disproportionately affects communities of color.

URLs:

• Native Americans found dead: https://steinhatcheevacations.com/about-steinhatchee/#:~:text=As%20the%20area%20gradually%20came,the%20river%20around%20the%201500's.)).
• Florida's Big Bend Region: https://myfwc.com/viewing/explore/
• Spaghetti models and latest forecasts: https://data.tallahassee.com/storm/?sph=al972024\#spaghetti
• Special subscription offers: https://cm.usatodaynetwork.com/network-regional?region=florida