The upcoming 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, which starts Saturday, June 1, is shaping up to be one of the most active and potentially destructive on record.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the leading authority on weather and climate, has issued a dire forecast, predicting an 85% chance of an above-normal season with a range of 17 to 25 total named storms.
U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) sent a letter to President Biden urging him to review all federal regulations that stand in the way of improvements to disaster recovery, and to relax them before disaster strikes.
Read: Florida Sens. Scott, Rubio Join Tennessee Sen. Blackburn Demanding Action In $11M VA Bonus Scheme
“As this weekend marks the official start to the 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season, I write to request that the administration conduct a thorough review of all existing federal regulations that can be relaxed to yield more effective and well-organized hurricane relief and response efforts. The 2023 Atlantic Hurricane Season saw 20 named storms, 7 hurricanes, and 3 major hurricanes. We must focus on addressing continuing bureaucratic inefficiencies to ensure a more robust federal response for the next disaster, particularly as the State of Florida continues to recover from previous tropical cyclones. Streamlined efforts across the federal government are of critical importance to the success and timeliness of disaster response,” said Rubio In his letter.
“For too many Americans, the disaster recovery process is needlessly complex and disjointed. I urge you to cut unnecessary and duplicative regulations, which disadvantage communities and individuals recovering from natural disasters. Burdensome rules may impede rebuilding and recovery in the aftermath of natural disasters. Individuals, businesses, local governments, and nonprofit organizations in Florida must be free to focus on safe preparations and post-recovery activities without bearing the burden of arduous federal regulations that may inadvertently amplify obstacles to recovery,” said Rubio.
Read: Forecasters Eye A ‘Hyperactive’ 2024 Hurricane Season: Florida Residents Should Prep Now
“In times of disaster, Americans come together to overcome daunting challenges to rebuild and recover. A thoughtful assessment and revision of bureaucratic mandates that impede disaster recovery efforts is necessary to address victims’ health and safety needs effectively. Some examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
- The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must improve coordination with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Defense (DoD) when a major disaster declaration is issued, and use its authorities to the maximum extent possible to efficiently provide aid to persons and populations in need.
- The DoD should use existing authorities to rapidly repair damage to installations that are regularly impacted by natural disasters, and create a list of installations that are more prone to being threatened or damaged by natural disasters.
- The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) should move to ensure that veterans living in rural areas, such as the Florida Panhandle and the Florida Keys, have a full suite of medical service options available to them in their own communities as roads and highways are impacted by debris, flooding, traffic, and emergency response activities.
- The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) should explore disaster policies whereby drone regulations can be temporarily and safely lifted during disaster declarations to facilitate emergency relief efforts, such as helping victims obtain medications when the roads to their homes are blocked.
- The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) should ensure that there are sufficient protections in place for residents of HUD-assisted properties to prevent them from being forced back into living conditions that may have been made unsafe and unsanitary following a disaster.
- The Department of Labor (DOL) should look to provide more flexibility to ensure that business reporting requirements do not paralyze businesses and workers whose most immediate priority should be providing assistance.
- The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) should expediently delay filing deadlines when necessary and consider rule reforms that enable disaster victims to make penalty-free early withdrawals from 401(k) and other retirement accounts.
- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) should be prepared to expedite the placement of portable residences and trailers in areas that have been devastated by storm surge to allow survivors to live on their properties.
- The Department of Agriculture (USDA) should revise regulations for the Emergency Watershed Protection Program to allow local project sponsors 30 days to complete work for exigent circumstances and 365 days in nonexigent circumstances.
- The Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) should be prepared to implement emergency permitting procedures to expedite emergency work in response to disasters.
The confluence of several key climate patterns and oceanic conditions is setting the stage for a particularly active 2024 Atlantic hurricane season.
Foremost among these is the development of La Niña conditions in the Pacific Ocean, which tend to suppress wind shear and create more favorable environments for tropical storm formation in the Atlantic basin.
Additionally, record-warm ocean temperatures in the tropical Atlantic and Caribbean Sea are providing an abundant source of energy to fuel storm intensification.
La Niña, the counterpart to the better-known El Niño, is a periodic cooling of the equatorial Pacific Ocean that can have far-reaching implications for global weather patterns.
During a La Niña event, the Atlantic typically experiences reduced wind shear, a crucial factor that can inhibit or disrupt the development of tropical cyclones. This reduced wind shear, combined with warmer ocean temperatures, creates an environment that is highly conducive to hurricane formation and intensification.
The Atlantic Ocean has been experiencing a prolonged period of above-average temperatures. This oceanic warmth serves as a potent fuel source for tropical systems, allowing them to rapidly strengthen and maintain their intensity as they move across the basin.
Read: ‘Ingredients Are There’ For Busy Storm Season
The combination of La Niña and this ocean heat content represents a concerning synergy that is poised to drive an extremely active 2024 hurricane season.
In addition to the La Niña pattern and warm ocean temperatures, several other factors are aligning to create a perfect storm for heightened tropical activity.
These include reduced Atlantic trade winds, which can inhibit the natural cooling of the ocean surface, and the potential for an above-normal West African monsoon, which can generate the powerful easterly waves that often seed some of the strongest and longest-lived Atlantic hurricanes.
“With another active hurricane season approaching, NOAA’s commitment to keeping every American informed with life-saving information is unwavering,” said NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad, Ph.D. “AI-enabled language translations and a new depiction of inland wind threats in the forecast cone are just two examples of the proactive steps our agency is taking to meet our mission of saving lives and protecting property.”
Read: Hurricane Ian Insured Losses In Florida Near $21.4 Billion
“Severe weather and emergencies can happen at any moment, which is why individuals and communities need to be prepared today,” said FEMA Deputy Administrator Erik A. Hooks. “Already, we are seeing storms move across the country that can bring additional hazards like tornadoes, flooding and hail. Taking a proactive approach to our increasingly challenging climate landscape today can make a difference in how people can recover tomorrow.”
Recognizing the imminent threat posed by the looming 2024 hurricane season, NOAA has been proactively investing in a suite of technological and operational advancements to enhance its forecasting capabilities and communication strategies.
These innovations aim to provide the public, emergency managers, and decision-makers with more accurate, timely, and accessible information to better prepare and respond to these extreme weather events.
Help support the Tampa Free Press by making any small donation by clicking here.
Android Users, Click To Download The Tampa Free Press App And Never Miss A Story. Follow Us On Facebook and Twitter. Sign up for our free newsletter.