I never expected that I would begin an article series on hurricanes! And now, here we are.
For Ian (which went right over me!), we stayed put, having been caught by surprise by a change in trajectory in the hurricane's projected path.
With Milton, when we saw what lay in store, we knew we would get out of dodge. And while we enjoyed the tranquility of not having hours upon hours of barreling winds, there is still a very palpable anxiety felt from a distance. You worry about your house, your neighbors, your community, and those who will face extreme hardship in the aftermath.
In that vain, I think it is important to begin to have a discussion about some of the lesser-covered impacts of severe storms, particularly mental well-being. The news will blast headlines on death tolls, insurance bills, and other devastation. The road to recovery will be covered less as the days go by. And while houses and yards are cleaned of debris, the invisible psychological effects may be harder to repair.
