Lessening the Impact
of Hurricanes
by Rick Randolph
Disasters are predictable, but not when, where or how they
occur. What is predictable is that that they WILL occur and that has always
been the case for Haiti. On October 4th, Hurricane Matthew struck the eastern
end of the southern peninsula of Haiti with 140 mph winds, a strong storm surge
and devastating winds. The same day, I flew as part of the Heart to Heart International
advanced team to assess the damage to our existing programs in Haiti and to
provide assistance in the worst hit areas. The damage was immense.
350,000 people lost their homes and were in need of assistance, over 1000
people lost their lives and 100% of the crops in the province of Grand Anse
were destroyed. With the disrupted water and sanitation, cholera is now
stalking the land and will probably cause more loss of life than the direct
effects of the hurricane.
Hurricanes are a natural occurrence and have plagued mankind as
long as we have lived near the oceans. What isn't natural is the increasing
intensity and frequency of these storms. Up to 90% of the excess heat due to
global climate change is stored in the upper levels of the oceans. Hurricanes
are triggered by the atmospheric disturbances caused by the warm ocean water.
The more heat in the ocean water, the more energy available to grow the
hurricane. With the continued rapid warming of our planet, we are growing and
will continue to grow increasingly severe hurricanes.
This mostly affects the poor. In the developing world, the
poor live clustered to the ocean’s shore on the least desirable and most
vulnerable land. They are typically the last to leave the path of a
hurricane because of the difficulty in getting the news to them and their
desire to protect their unsecured possessions. Their loss of life becomes
another disaster that is again sadly predictable.
Jesus said that the poor will always be with us, not as a
statement of resignation, but a reminder that our responsibility to care for
the least of these among us will never be over. For Haiti, this means doing all
we can to slow global climate change and to help protect those who cannot
protect themselves. Hurricanes will occur but we must work to lessen their
impact. This is our call.
Rick Randolph, MD, is the Chief Medical Officer of Heart to
Heart. For the past two decades, he has provided primary care, disaster
response and public health in the US and globally. Rick holds a certificate in
Public Health in the Developing World. Rick and his wife, Jo, are members
of Grace Covenant Presbyterian, Overland Park, KS, an Earth Care Congregation.
PEC is grateful for their ongoing and invaluable eco-justice work
in the congregation, presbytery and with PEC and Environmental
Ministries.
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