Randy Schultz: Hurricane Dorian, Trump and dangers of climate change ignorance

Sep. 3--As Dorian intensified last week to a Category 4 hurricane, President Trump announced that he would loosen rules on emissions of methane.

Perfect.

Methane contributes roughly 10 percent of the emissions that cause climate change. By freeing small drillers from having to cap emissions from natural gas rigs, the change would save them an estimated $19 million per year.

That's it.

Meanwhile, let's review what's happening with climate change as it relates to hurricanes.

With Dorian, we have the first four-year stretch with at least one Category 5 hurricane. Dorian follows Matthew in 2016, Irma and Maria in 2017 and Michael in 2018. Now, let's review what these storms did to Florida.

Most of the state got off relatively easily with Matthew. Like Dorian, it brushed the coast, though it still left $1.5 billion in damage.

Those who live on the First Coast, though, would disagree. That's Jacksonville and the surrounding area, whose residents long considered themselves almost hurricane-proof. No storm had hit in decades.

But Matthew caused serious flooding in that low-lying area, where the wide St. Johns River flows to the sea. Matthew pushed that water -- and more -- back downtown and into residential neighborhoods.

Then came Irma in 2017 and $50 billion of damage, surpassing Andrew in 1992. Irma also affected a much larger portion of the state. It cut a path through the Keys and up the Gulf coast, and South Florida got enough of a blow to cause widespread power failures.

Last year, Michael tore up the Panhandle, costing property owners $25 billion. Sixteen people died. Recovery has been slow.

Dorian still could cause serious problems. At one point, forecasters had Dorian striking the Atlantic coast, messing up Orlando and then moving across the Gulf of Mexico to hit the Panhandle.

Notice a pattern? These storm blew up quickly (Michael), confounded forecasters (Irma, Dorian) and fought off conditions that might have tamed them (Matthew, Dorian.)

According to every credible meteorologist, warmer oceans arm hurricanes with much higher winds, much more moisture, or both. Category 4 Hurricane Harvey in 2017 dumped enough rain in Houston to make it more costly even than Katrina --$125 billion.

And what do we hear from the Climate Change Denier in Chief? On Sunday, wearing a "USA" cap and reading first from a script about his intent to help victims, Trump said this about the unprecedented streak of megastorms:

"I'm not sure I've ever even heard of a Category 5. I knew it existed. And I've seen some Category 4s. You don't even see them that much. But a Category 5 is something that, uh, I don't know that I've never even heard the term, other than I know it's there. That's the ultimate. And that's what we have (with Dorian), unfortunately."

The Category 5 designation previously had befuddled the "very stable genius" in the White House. In addition, Trump tweeted that Dorian could bring high winds to Alabama when forecasts showed it affecting only the Southeast coast. Alabama officials scrambled to reassure residents that the president was, um, misinformed.

Such ramblings keep late-night comedians busy. There's nothing funny for Floridians, however, about Trump's willful ignorance and irresponsibility on climate change.

Just before his announcement on methane, Trump skipped the G-7 session devoted to climate change. That action continued the trend that began when he withdrew from the Paris Climate Accord and has continued through his attempts to undercut all of the Obama administration's efforts to make this country a leader in saving the planet.

Trump displays similar fecklessness on hurricanes by ignoring the details of governing, which bore him. The Federal Emergency Management Agency does not have a permanent director. Neither does the department that includes the National Hurricane Center.

Next year, Trump won't just try to win Florida. He will expect to win Florida. Based on what? Refusing to acknowledge climate change -- the greatest threat to Florida's future? By valuing West Virginia coal miners over Florida property owners?

Florida is stuck with a president who ignores science and two Republican senators whose positions on climate change don't approach what the state deserves. I wish it weren't so. But for now, that's what we have. Unfortunately.

Randy Schultz's email address is [email protected]

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