Many of you may be familiar with the the events currently happening in the eastern parts of the United States, but if you don’t know, I’ll give you a hint. The key word in this post is hurricane. And no, today I’m not going to rant idiotically about some philosophy that doesn’t even make sense to most people. Today I’m going to talk about what is really going on. This isn’t a subject that I should be ignoring just because of my age. I mean I would be a hypocrite if I was just frolicking about in sunny California and be completely oblivious of the fact that there are people all the way on the other side of the country, struggling to not drown, or get trapped, or injured, or, well, die. But then again it’s extremely hard for anyone to ignore this topic due to the fact that it’s all over the news, and online articles. Okay, enough of this. I’m just gonna get it over with.

Hurricane Harvey had came and went, leaving a trail of death and destruction as it departed Houston, Texas. But here’s a little of it’s brief history before I go into the aftermath:

Onset:

Hurricane Harvey was the first major hurricane to make landfall in American since Hurricane Wilma which had happened in 2005. Hurricane Harvey is now the most wettest tropical cyclone on record in the contiguous United States according to many online resources. Harvey managed to develop from a tropical wave to the east of the Lesser Antilles. According to Wikipedia, it reached tropical storm status on August 17. It weakened briefly but then regenerated. traveling and strengthening for an abrupt period of time.  On August 24th it rapidly intensified, becoming a hurricane later that day. Though intensification was slightly stalled from August 24-25. Harvey continued strengthening however, quickly attaining into a major hurricane and denominated as  a Category 4 stature later that day as well as hitting landfall in Rockport, Texas hours later at peak fervency.

The Aftermath:

Hurricane Harvey caused 70 confirmed deaths in the United States. Harvey being named the worst disaster in Texas History, people expecting the recovery of the area and state to take many years.

The floodwaters are told to be dangerous due to the many chemicals that may have been released from the damage mainly E. coli and coliform bacteria. The levels of it are so high that they can even cause a flesh eating disease to lurk in the waters. Creatures that dwell in water seem to bide in the floodwaters in neighborhoods, such as alligators, groups of fire ants and mosquitoes. The floodwaters contain a variety of lethal toxins and carcinogens. The water contains a number of hazards to the environment and human health.

Supplementary Information:

Formed on August 17. 2017.

Dissipated on September 2, 2017.

Fatalities: 70 confirmed in United States: One confirmed in Guyana.

Areas Affected: Windward Islands, Suriname, Guyana, Nicaragua, Honduras, Belize, Yucatán, Peninsula, United States( particularly Louisiana, Texas.)

• Above is a picture of Harvey nearing peak intensity, prior to reaching landfall in southern Texas. On August 24-25.

Not long after the hurricane ended, my school started putting small little boxes labeled Harvey Donations around the campus. During lunch I spotted two girls standing all the way across the Multi Use Room one girl holding a box with a little slit, another girl holding a heart shaped sign saying: Please donate to those who have lost everything to Hurricane Harvey! Any amount is acceptable. I unzipped one pocket from my backpack and slipped out a five dollar bill from my wallet. “What are you doing?” One of my friends asked, he gave me a curious look as I nodded my head towards the direction of the girls with the donation. When he finally reached where my eyes led him, he just nodded.

“I can’t believe I was stupid enough to not bring at least some pocket cash!” He pouted at me as I ruffled his hair. “Hey it’s okay, you can probably donate tomorrow or something. Well at least you want to donate, it seems no one else has the guts to walk up to them and just give money to the people who need it.” I said. “I guess people want to save there dignity.” He said with an edge in his tone. I got out of my seat and stepped over the backpacks that littered the floor along the walkway between the two tables. I walked up to the two girls and simply said “Um, so I just want to donate, um, its not really, uh, that much. Sorry, I wish I could give more.” I said shyly. They both looked at me, one girl locked eyes with me and smiled. I tugged at my jacket pocket and pulled out the five dollar bill. The other girl holding the box said ‘Really? Are you sure?” I nodded my head and slipped the five dollars into the box. I gave them a warm smile before returning to my table.

But just as I sat down, my friend Arwen hopped out of her seat, twenty five dollars in hand. She walked up to the girls as well. I am so proud of her. She basically made my day. But i soon became distracted as we talked about the effects of the hurricane, and we all hoped nothing like this would happen anytime soon.

A few days later, I was standing around with my friends out on the black top under a huge tree. We were just talking because it was the fifteen minute break before second period started. Then one of my friends asked “Did you guys here about Hurricane Irma? You know the one in Florida?” We all whipped our heads around and towards our friend, our minds drinking for more knowledge of the knew topic that has now reached the surface. After school, he showed us a video on his phone. It looked big, and it looked deadly. And just as we thought it would be over and knew storm has arrived. (I’m not going to be adding the deaths this time because I just think it’s just gonna get more depressing)

Onset: Hurricane Irma is and extremely powerful tropical cyclone that has just recently made landfall at the United States as what it is now known as a major hurricane. As well as the most intense hurricane noted in over a decade for the Atlantic ocean. It is also the most intense hurricane to hit since Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Irma developed on August 30, and like Hurricane Harvey, from a tropical wave. Rapidly intensifying after formation it was still on it’s trail, becoming a Category 2 hurricane within twenty four hours. Become a Category 3 hurricane (major hurricane) shortly afterwards. On the 5th of September it became a Category 5 hurricane reaching peak intensity at the mere start of day. It dropped back to Category 3 after reaching landfall in Florida. Weakening to a Category 2 later that day. Hurricane Irma is now the first major hurricane to hit Florida since Hurricane Wilma in 2005.

So Far: It has made catastrophic damage in Barbuda, Saint Martin, Anguilla, Virgin Islands, and Saint Barthelemy as a Category 5 hurricane. Warnings have been sent across different areas were the hurricane will hit in the state of Florida, so people can prepare, and/or flee from there homes and to shelters.

My Point of View: What I hate most about this whole situation is that I’m completely powerless against it. I can’t pick someone up who is run down. I mean what can I do? I live in freaking California. In the other side of the country. So far, the only thing I actually did was donate five crummy dollars. I feel so sad and scared for the people who are experiencing this. Every time I imagine myself in those places, I just get so scared just thinking of it. I give my best to those people out there who are there right now. Even though they can’t see this. Stay strong everyone. And as Albus Dumbledore said in Harry Potter:

“Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, when one only remembers to turn on the light.”