Atlantic Storm Reaches the United States

In 2008, Hurricane Ike hit the Atlantic with 145 mph winds that caused 103 direct fatalities. A recent storm in the Atlantic with similar characteristics, has killed approximately 900 people.

Hurricane Matthew, a category 4 hurricane- severe damage to well built homes, trees blown over, 130-156 mph winds- with wind speeds as fast as 140 mph, has struck Haiti with damage for the past week. Some areas have even reached a rain level of 40 inches.

The hurricane has been considered a category 1, 2, 3, and 4 storm.

This hurricane has received lots of attention but not just because of the storm itself. On the storm radars, the storm looks like a smiling skull. This went viral on social media like Twitter and Instagram.

As of two days ago, the storm had reached four states leaving them to pick up the debris and struggling with flooding. Hurricane Matthew even closed down Walt Disney World which is huge since it has only closed down four times since its grand opening in 1971. These closures have all been due to hurricanes.

The United States was able to dodge most of the storm but now North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, and Georgia are going through floods and damages. So far, nineteen people have died in the United States.

The damages have reached up to four billion to six billion to repair. These expenses don’t even include water damages. About 770,000 homes and businesses were left without power. Areas where the storm hit are now starting to clean up the mess.

“Matthew, the strongest hurricane to hit the region in a decade, destroyed tens of thousands of homes in Haiti, leaving more than 60,000 people staying in temporary shelters,”  reported BBC NEWS.

Hurricane Matthew was a huge tragedy to the U.S., but it doesn’t compare to the damages and impact it left on Haiti. Some areas were completely destroyed. The number of fatalities has risen to 1,000. To make it worse, there is a cholera outbreak resulting from the storm.

“Hurricane Matthew may be off the map, but it is still with us,” North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory said Sunday. The storm is no longer considered a hurricane, but still very dangerous.

Ways you can help the suffering victims in Haiti is donating to the Red Cross, Save the Children, and The Salvation Army, you can donate food and water since there are food shortages, and you can donate blood and can volunteer.