The world has been preoccupied in recent months with the man-made devastation still unfolding in Syria, which has triggered an unprecedented migration crisis in Europe.
But Hurricane Joaquin is Mother Nature’s way of reminding us that she is capable of wreaking horrific devastation too. And, when Mother Nature charts her path of wrath, all one can do is get out of the way … or pray.
The Bahamas
Joaquin hit these islands, which are like perennial sitting ducks, with the full force of its Category 4, 130 mph winds.
Much of the damage was centered in the southeastern Bahamas, particularly Crooked Island, Acklins Island, Long Island and San Salvador. The storm ripped roofs from homes, flooded main roads and farms, spoiled wells for drinking water and forced the closure of small airports, creating a logistical nightmare for rescue and relief efforts.
As of late Sunday, the storm had claimed one life, according to Bahamian officials, who reported that the man died when the roof of his home on Long Island collapsed as a result of high winds, said the Rev. Keith Cartwright of the Anglican Diocese of the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
(The Miami Herald, October 4, 2015)
Thank God no one in my immediate family was in its path. My prayers go out to all fellow Bahamians who have been affected.
The Carolinas
Yet, remarkably, Joaquin reserved most of its devastation, from passive-aggressive rainfall, for the Carolinas.
Floodwaters inundating South Carolina after unprecedented rainfall have resulted in nine deaths, more than 500 road and bridge closures and hundreds of rescues of people trapped in their homes by the rising water, officials said on Monday…
More than 2 feet of rain have fallen in the past three days in some areas of South Carolina, and moderate to heavy rain persisted on Monday in the already saturated northeastern corner of that state and southeastern North Carolina, the National Weather Service said.
(Reuters, October 5, 2015)
South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley made news by declaring this a “1,000-year” rain event. Meteorologists at the Weather Channel say it’s no exaggeration.
My prayers go out to all who have been, and are still being, affected there. Not least because of Breaking News about Katrina-like breaches in dams across the state, which are bound to compound Joaquin’s damage … and increase its death toll.
The El Faro
Apropos of getting out of the way, one wonders why the captain of the cargo ship El Faro didn’t do just that. Everyone had due notice of Joaquin’s path and wrath. Yet, inexplicably, he went full steam ahead from Jacksonville, right into the “teeth” of this hurricane.
A cargo ship missing since Thursday with 33 crew members on board was believed to have sunk 15,000 feet in the teeth of Hurricane Joaquin, which began strengthening and moving closer to its path almost as soon as it set to sea.
One ‘unidentifiable’ body, in a survival suit, was found Sunday in a 225-square-mile debris field of wood and cargo [Coast Guard Captain Mike Fedor said].
The Coast Guard planned to focus on finding ‘people in the water,’ he said. ‘We are not looking for the vessel any longer.’
(CNN, October 5, 2015)
It would be a miracle if anyone survived this apparent shipwreck. Therefore, barring that, here’s to them resting in peace … in Davy Jones’s locker.
* This commentary was originally published yesterday, Monday, at 7:16 p.m.