Ian Leaves Broken Hearts, Hopefully It Can Also Open Eyes Mike Silvers, CPRC, Silvers Systems Inc. and FRSA Director of Technical Services I’m writing this article roughly a week after Hurricane Ian battered the state as one of the largest and deadliest hurricanes to hit Florida since 1935. Coincidentally, last month I discussed the potential of a similar scenario to Ian and the impact it could have on Florida’s ongoing property insurance crisis as well as its post-hurricane economy (see October FRM - If You’re Not Concerned, You May Not Be Paying Attention – floridaroof.com/frm10-22p16). I talked about a major storm hitting a highly developed area such as metropolitan Miami or the Tampa Bay region. As Ian approached, it looked as if that might happen. My family watched with great concern as the path at one point had the eye passing over our home in Manatee County, which is on the south end of Tampa Bay. But as the storm progressed, it started moving more toward the east, just as Hurricane Charley had done in 2004. We were obviously relieved that we wouldn’t see the worst of the storm, but those feelings of joy were mixed with some guilt knowing what our neighbors to the south were about to endure. I am heartbroken by the devastation Ian caused and even more so by the staggering loss of life left in its wake. So many of us live near the coast because we are drawn here by the beauty and serenity that the marine environment offers. To think that the 12
FLORIDA ROOFING | November 2022
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4 Harvey
130 mph 937 mb
Laura 150 mph 939 mb
5
4
Ida 150 mph 931 mb
Michael 160 mph 919 mb
Category 4 and 5 US Gulf Coast Landfalls Since 2017
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Ian 150 mph 940 mb
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Irma 130 mph 931 mb