Introduction
Extreme weather events are climate or environmental conditions, such as flooding, drought, temperature, and precipitation, that exceed the threshold value on the lower or upper ranges in historical measurements. As the world struggles with climate and environmental disasters, it is necessary to understand the scariest extreme events and learn from their aftermath. San Ciriaco Hurricane is an example of an extreme weather event that affected North Carolina and Puerto Rico. The historical context of Hurricane Katrina labels the event as an extreme occurrence and shows its effect on people and locations.
Evidence of an Extreme Event
Weather events are considered severe when they reach the extremes of historical measurements. San Ciriaco Hurricane was a strong and intense category three storm that appeared on Martinique island, traveling at 17 meters per hour. San Ciriaco is an extreme event because it holds the record for the most deaths lost due to a storm in the Atlantic Basin history. According to official Puerto Rico reports, about 3433 people lost their lives (Santory & Delgado, 2021). A 930mb central pressure makes the hurricane a severe phenomenon.
Historical Context
San Ciriaco Hurricane’s historical context describes the locations, groups, and people affected as well as the societal preparedness at the time. The locations affected by the San Ciriaco Hurricane were the mid-Atlantic coast of the U.S. in North Carolina and Puerto Rico. Millions of people in Puerto Rico were impacted by Hurricane San Ciriaco as it rained for twenty-eight days non-stop, with persistent winds reaching a hundred miles per hour (Seavey, 2020). The effects of Hurricane San Ciriaco heavily hit the poor in rural areas.
The island was unprepared for any natural disaster since the U.S. provided relief after the devastating damage to the country’s critical infrastructure. The weather instruments at the time were sufficient to measure the onset of such a disaster. Hurricane San Ciriaco had features of Caper Verdian storms since it swept across the Atlantic and entered Dominica’s Caribbean east. There were enough barometric readings and weather signs to suggest that a storm was approaching. In addition, it was August which was known for multiple hurricanes. However, Puerto Rico has not experienced a major storm since 1876 (Seavey, 2020). Therefore, the country was unprepared to deal with Hurricane San Ciriaco’s catastrophic effects.
Location and Community Background
Hurricane San Ciriaco was undoubtedly Puerto Rico’s worst disaster at the time. The estimated damage was approximately $20 million, but the effects were felt in various sectors. For instance, roads were flooded and destroyed, making it impossible to travel across the coastal areas. The storm destroyed urban properties and made farmers lose their crops. As a result, coffee farming was overwhelmed by the hurricane. Most people were left without water, housing, and food. Essential infrastructure, such as telegraph, telephone, and electric poles, was damaged. The San Ciriaco Hurricane caused more than 3000 deaths in Puerto Rico (Seavey, 2020). In North Carolina, the storm caused the deaths of 20-25 people (Davis, 2019). The major landscape change caused by Hurricane San Ciriaco is the destruction of farmlands by erosion of fertile soils, hampering the growth of coffee in the region.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Hurricane San Ciriaco is an extreme weather phenomenon with lasting impacts on various locations and people. The storm was extreme due to exceeding historical measurements’ threshold values. For instance, it caused more than 3000 deaths in Puerto Rico and North Carolina, making it more lethal. In addition, the affected areas were crippled by infrastructure damage. Ultimately, extreme weather phenomena require rigorous disaster preparedness.
References
Davis, C. (2019). Few traces remain from “wild and terrific” 19th-century hurricanes. North Carolina State University. Web.
Santory, J. A., & Delgado, N. (2021). Destroying a country is men’s business. Critical Times, 4(1), 148-166.
Seavey, I. R. (2020). A tale of two storms: progressive era disaster relief in Puerto Rico and Texas, 1899-1900 (Doctoral dissertation). Web.