There are simply no words

Americans didn't have a name for a new destructive hurricane

This year, hurricanes of all stripes literally lined up to finally blow away the remaining optimism from self-confident Americans. The impacts of the elements have so tired the inhabitants of the continent that they not only don’t have enough swear words, but they don’t even have letters in the alphabet left to describe what nature has been doing to them in the last few months. Traditionally, before the start of the storm season, forecasters compile a list of names that will be used to name future storms. The list consists of 21 names based on the number of storms and hurricanes in the record year 1933. However, this year the names were taken before the end of the season, which usually closes on November 30. And scientists from the US National Hurricane Center had to name the next storm, which had already formed over the Caribbean Sea, by the first letter of the Greek alphabet - “Alpha”. But while Alpha was still gaining strength, another, more powerful storm, Wilma, had already reached the American coast and struck the state of Florida, causing mischief along the way in Mexico and Cuba.

Mexicans, who have just begun to calculate losses after Vilma's two-day visit, have already called the storm a disaster that has caused irreparable damage to the country's tourism industry. The cyclone caused the greatest damage to the Caribbean coast of the state of Quintana Roo, known as the “Riviera Maya.” According to the authorities, it will take at least six months to restore the infrastructure at least partially. The disaster caused damage to hotels, amusement parks, nature reserves and archaeological centers. According to preliminary data, Hurricane Wilma caused the death of seven people in Mexico and five in Haiti.

Not satisfied with these consequences, the storm moved on. Wilma's approach to Florida was marked by the appearance of four tornadoes in the southern part of the state. At the same time, one of them formed near the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral, because of this it had to be hastily closed. The tornadoes caused destruction, but no one was killed. "Wilma" reached the coast of Florida at 6.30 am on Monday (14.30 Moscow time). Moreover, by this time it had slowed down and dropped from the original five points to three. However, meteorologists have no illusions about this. Despite the fact that Wilma has weakened, scientists do not advise residents of the state to relax, since, according to their forecasts, most likely the hurricane will not only regain its former strength, but will also become even more powerful. Although even without this, the picture looks threatening: the wind exceeds 200 kilometers per hour, waves up to 2.5 meters high hit the coast, and all this is accompanied by heavy rain. And the so-called “eye” of the hurricane (the zone in the very center clearly visible on photographs from weather satellites) is 96 kilometers in diameter.

It is curious that the unpleasant experience that Americans had this year after New Orleans did not teach them caution. Despite repeated mandatory evacuation orders from authorities, many Florida residents are hoping to sit out the hurricane in their homes. Meanwhile, alarming news has already begun to arrive from the Florida Keys, where almost 80% of the population ignored the warning from the authorities and remained to wait out the disaster at home. According to eyewitnesses, flooding began there.

But among this ominous news, there is one that will certainly please Americans. The insidious “Wilma” made a concession to the storm-plagued country and bypassed oil production areas in the Gulf of Mexico. Thanks to this, oil prices immediately dropped, despite the hurricanes raging around.

Nina GUGUSHVILI