NOAA experts predicted an active hurricane season for 2024, and this fall continues to bear that out.
Hurricane Milton made landfall on the Gulf coast of Florida late Wednesday, pummeling many areas still saturated by rain from Hurricane Helene not even two weeks prior. The back-to-back blows have left millions across the state without power, sent flood waters surging, and even blew the roof off the Tampa Bay Rays’ baseball stadium.
“Our hearts go out to those impacted again by this storm through property damage, lack of water access, power outages, or worse, loss of life, all before getting a chance to recover from Helene,” said ASCE President Feniosky Peña-Mora in a press statement from ASCE. “Civil engineers are dedicated to protecting the public with projects that can lessen the impacts of these storms, and we are eager to help communities rebuild as quickly as possible following events like Milton and Helene.”
Hurricane Milton reached Category 5 status as it formed over the Gulf of Mexico earlier this week, effectively shutting down the city of Tampa, forcing evacuations throughout Florida, and canceling ASCE’s annual convention. So when it made landfall as a Category 3 storm Wednesday, there was almost a sense of relief that, bad as it was, it wasn’t worse.
“It weakened because of the high pressure. It weakened very quickly,” said Rafiq Chowdhury, an ASCE Region 1 governor who grew up in southern Florida and is riding out the storm there this week. “It was a direct hit on Tampa and then through a lot of Orlando. You can turn on the news and see the devastation. But luckily, it weakened significantly from what it was in the Gulf. I think that’s the only saving grace.”
Like many ASCE members, Chowdhury planned to attend the ASCE 2024 Convention in Tampa, scheduled for Oct. 6-9. By Sunday morning, though, the storm had grown so quickly and the impending threat so large that ASCE had no choice but to cancel the event.
“I'm sad that we lost out on this convention, but glad that everyone was able to get out quickly and safely,” said Tzufit Boyle, an ASCE Region 5 governor who lives in Boynton Beach and worked on the ASCE Convention Local Subcommittee to help plan the event.
Milton also sent a series of tornadoes across the state – particularly in the middle part of the East Coast – in advance of landfall, causing significant damage and at least five deaths.
As Florida begins its recovery from Milton, and others in Western North Carolina and throughout the Southeast build back from Helene, civil engineers will be at the forefront of making communities more resilient.
“ASCE’s members are ready to offer any assistance to Florida’s recovery efforts and those needed in all parts of the U.S. dealing with environmental catastrophes,” Peña-Mora said. “Our challenges may be growing, but engineers are dedicated to implementing existing solutions and developing advancements for the future that can keep the public safe and allow our communities to thrive.”
Read ASCE's statement on the storm from Society President Feniosky Peña-Mora.
Read more about mitigating flood risk in a special collection in the ASCE Library.
Ways you can help
- American Red Cross – Food, shelter, supplies, and emotional support. Give to the national group's Helene relief efforts.
- United Way – Short-term relief and help for survivors later. Find a local chapter to donate.
- The Salvation Army – Food, shelter, emotional, and spiritual care and other emergency services for survivors and rescue workers. Donate to Helene efforts.
- World Central Kitchen – Chef José Andrés’ teams set up temporary kitchens to serve meals to victims and responders. Donate at their website.
- Americares – Providing post-disaster medicine, personal protective equipment, and medical supplies. Give at its Helene donation page.
- Save the Children – Providing child-focused supplies to storm-hit families including hygiene kits, diapers and baby wipes, plus classroom cleaning kits to schools, and helps restore child care and early learning centers. Give to its Children's Emergency Fund.
- Manna Food Bank – Distributing food to those in need in Asheville, North Carolina. Donate at the website.
- Virginia's Mountain Playground – Disaster relief fund for Giles County, Virginia. Donate and volunteer at the website.
- Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee – Providing "Help After Helene" meals in eastern Tennessee. Donate at the website.
- Mercy Chefs –Hot meals for those in need in Asheville and Newberry, Florida, affected by Helene. Donate at the website.
