Hashtag: #2017HurricaneSeason
Video: Lizards, Hurricane Winds & Evolution
Researcher Colin Donihue has published a study in the journal Nature that looks at the link between hurricanes and evolution, with the research centered around Hurricane Irma’s effects on lizards in Turks and Caicos last year, with research indicating that trait shifts “may have given those lizard survivors a clinging advantage during the... Read more of this article
Column: ‘The Irma Diaries’ Author Interview
[Written by MP Chris Famous] During my brief trip to Tortola in March, I had the opportunity to meet Angela Burnett, author of the Irma Diaries, which chronicled numerous survivor stories during Hurricane Irma. Angela attended primary and high school in Tortola, then went on to study Environmental Studies and Sustainable Development at Brandeis University... Read more of this article
$144 Billion In Insured Losses Worldwide In 2017
The insured losses from natural and man-made disasters worldwide in 2017 were $144 billion – the highest ever recorded in a single year. This is according to Swiss Re which said, “At USD 144 billion, the insured losses from natural and man-made disasters worldwide in 2017 were the highest ever recorded in a single year. “The main... Read more of this article
Column: U.S. & Caribbean On Climate Change
[Opinion column written by Elizabeth J. Zechmeister & Claire Q. Evans] During the 2017 Atlantic basin hurricane season, six major storms – all of which were Category 3 or higher – produced devastating human, material and financial devastation across the southern United States and the Caribbean. Last year’s above-average storm activity was... Read more of this article
‘Extremely Active’ 2017 Atlantic Hurricane Season
November 30th marked the ‘official’ end of the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season, and while Bermuda was not affected by any major storms, other jurisdictions were not so lucky, and the season matched NOAA’s seasonal predictions for being “extremely active.” The season produced 17 named storms of which 10 became hurricanes including... Read more of this article
3,000 Tourists Cancel Due To Storm Confusion
Following erroneous reports and confusion that Bermuda was affected by the hurricanes this year, more than 3,000 tourists canceled their plans to visit, according to a report by Bloomberg. The story said “Bermuda escaped the 2017 hurricane season untouched. It was people’s hazy grasp of Caribbean geography that hurt it. “In September, while Hurricane... Read more of this article
Column: “Rebuilding Caribbean Will Be Pricey”
[Opinion column written by Masaō Ashtine] November 20 marked the end of the Atlantic hurricane season, but for the Caribbean, it’s only the beginning of a painful recovery process. In early September, Hurricane Irma largely destroyed Barbuda and several neighboring Lesser Antilles islands. Two weeks later, Maria took a final fatal stab at Barbuda... Read more of this article
Tropical Depression “Not A Threat To Bermuda”
Tropical Depression Nineteen is “not a threat to Bermuda”, the Bermuda Weather Service said, with its closest point of approach to Bermuda within 72 hrs iforecast to be 771 nm to the east at 10pm this evening [Nov 6,] however, the BWS noted that “this system may move closer to Bermuda after this time period depending upon its track.” Graphic... Read more of this article
BWS: Tropical Storm “Not A Threat At This Time”
[Updated] Tropical Depression 18 is a “potential threat to Bermuda”, the Bermuda Weather Service said today, with its closest point of approach within 72 hrs forecast to be 363nm to the WNW at 5am on Mon [Oct 30] with the BWS noting that “this system may move closer to Bermuda after this time period depending upon its track.” Graphic... Read more of this article
Column: Hurricane’s Unusual Path To Ireland
[Written by Alexander Roberts] Hurricane Ophelia, by then downgraded to Storm Ophelia, reached Ireland on Monday October 16. At the time of writing there had already been three deaths and countless reports of severe damage to buildings and fallen trees. Unlike other severe storms to reach Ireland and Britain, such as the 1987 Great Storm, Ophelia was... Read more of this article
Column: Links Between Hurricanes, Immigration
[Opinion column written by Dean Yang and Parag Mahajan] In the last few weeks, hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Katia have cut paths of destruction in the Caribbean, Mexico and the U.S. While recovery and reconstruction will be an immense effort in Houston and Miami, it will likely be slower in poorer and smaller countries outside the U.S. There, many people... Read more of this article
RMS: US Insured Nate Losses Below $500M
Based on analysis from RMS, a leading risk management and analytics firm, U.S. insured losses associated with wind and coastal flooding from Hurricane Nate will not exceed USD $500 million. This season, insured losses from U.S. hurricanes are expected to total between USD $75 and $120 billion. The damage resulting from Nate is not expected to constitute... Read more of this article
Video: Live Telethon In Aid Of Hurricane Victims
[Updated with live video stream] Locals will be asked to open their hearts and their pocketbooks this week as Bermuda Broadcasting and the West Indian Association [Bermuda] team up to raise funds for hurricane victims. A live Telethon will be held at the Berkeley Institute this evening [Thursday], under the banner ‘Caribbean Hurricane Relief Campaign... Read more of this article
Hurricane Ophelia Matches 124-Year-Old Record
Ophelia — the 15th named storm of the 2017 Atlantic Season — has strengthened into a hurricane, becoming the 10th consecutive Atlantic named storm to reach hurricane status, matching the all-time record which last occurred over 120 years ago – in 1893. This is according to Dr Phil Klotzbach, a storm researcher at Colorado State University,... Read more of this article
‘Build Greater Resilience To Face New Normal’
The catastrophic hurricanes that ripped through the Caribbean recently were “likely to be the new normal,” and “provided the evidence of the reality of climate change,” CARICOM Secretary-General Ambassador Irwin LaRocque said. The impact of the storms also pointed to the need for the Region to “build greater resilience... Read more of this article
ABIR: Bermuda’s Reinsurers May Pay Out $25B
Bermuda’s global insurers and reinsurers have already begun to pay claims on last month’s hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, and ultimately Bermuda market companies may fund a quarter or more of approximately $100 billion in aggregate insured losses from the events, according to preliminary estimates from the Association of Bermuda Insurers &... Read more of this article
