By Michael vivar
At this very moment, Tropical Storm Francine is bearing down on the Gulf Coast of the United States and Mexico.
It’s expected to make United States landfall on 7 p.m. Wednesday as a category 1 or 2 hurricane, striking the coastlines of Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi.
The National Weather Service is providing constant updates on its website and social media accounts.
Travel will inevitably be affected by the storm. Airports and airlines are respectively announcing closures and flight cancellations.
Roads will be dangerous when Francine buffets areas with heavy rain and winds. Once any precipitation begins, those in the area are advised to shelter in place.
Preparation without panic is essential. Residents and visitors unable to leave should keep stocks of non-perishable food and potable water that will last for at least a week.
Additionally, plans to find local shelter should be in place. FEMA and The American Red Cross list local emergency resources on their websites.
Major storms like Francine do not exist in a vacuum and are now seen as inevitabilities. This is due to global climate change.
While having contingency plans for meteorological emergencies is important, it’s equally imperative that human behavior change to mitigate disastrous incidents.
“Twenty-five years ago people could be excused for not knowing much, or doing much, about climate change. Today we have no excuse.“ Desmond Tutu, Former Archbishop of Cape Town