Eleven storms had been predicted, including two intense hurricanes. Thankfully, during the season, forecasters downgraded their prediction, citing the El Niņo weather phenomenon which developed in the Pacific Ocean in June as the cause for the unusually quiet season. The experts say the flow of warm water and the upper-level prevailing winds it spawned disrupted hurricane formation and development.
It must be noted that while El Niņo has been good for the vulnerable islands of the Caribbean Basin, it has produced disaster in several Pacific countries this year. This is a poignant reminder of climate change and the amplifying effects it can have on our environment.
We also cannot ignore the randomness of nature, for even though the official hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, storms have occurred outside this period. Recently, we witnessed the rapid development of Ida from a tropical depression into a hurricane in little more than a day. Sure, we can breathe a little easier, but we cannot afford to let our guard down.
more time to prepare
The absence of a hurricane does not mean we should heave garbage into our gullies and clog them up. It doesn't mean people should continue to make their homes in riverbeds, flood-prone and other vulnerable areas. This period of calm ought to be used to prepare for the next disaster. We must ensure that the key elements of disaster preparedness - response, relief and recovery - are in a state of readiness to deliver these core services when the need arises.
Hurricanes and other natural disasters lead inexorably to loss of life, dislocation of people and property damage. They undermine and reverse development. Although the response from the international community is usually swift and substantial, times of disaster are testing times which put great stress on a country's resources. So protecting our natural environment and planning well for disasters is one of the keys to mitigating catastrophic damage in the future.
Insurers and other businesses, tourism interests, farmers and others in the productive chain must be truly thankful for this reprieve from Mother Nature. And for others who are grateful, perhaps now is the time to consider donating some of the emergency supplies, especially canned goods which had been stockpiled, to those who are in need of food. Don't clear out the cupboards just yet, but remember the season of good cheer is right around the corner.
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