(Venice, Florida) Floridians hit in turn by hurricanes Helene And Milton react in different ways to the traumatic events of recent weeks: between resignation and conspiracy theories.
Mila Blash and her husband live in Oregon, but they just bought a vacation home in the Venice area, where the hurricane Milton made landfall during the night from Wednesday to Thursday. On Friday, they set up their beach chairs in the sand of Venice Beach to spend a few hours there.
“It’s my dream to live here, but now I wonder if it was a good decision,” says Mme Blash. The couple remained in their home during the hurricane, despite evacuation orders.
PHOTO MARTIN TREMBLAY, THE PRESS
Venice Beach and surrounding areas were particularly affected by the hurricane Milton. Restoring power, cleaning up debris and rebuilding damaged homes will be “a long road,” local authorities said Friday.
“It was a little scary, the noises from the house told us that it was too windy for her,” says the woman, who adds that she prayed during the passage of Milton.
When it comes to the fact that climate change plays a role in the number and increasing intensity of hurricanes, Mila Blash says there is a lot of “controversy about what’s happening.”
“I believe the government could change the path of hurricanes to save citizens; others do it, but they don’t want to do it. There must be a reason, maybe it’s because there’s an election soon,” says Mme Blash.
“I’m just saying what middle-class people think,” she adds.
Conspiracy theories abound
It also echoes a conspiracy theory that has circulated among many Donald Trump supporters, according to which hurricanes Helene And Milton would have been created to help the Democrats’ re-election next November.
Republican elected official Marjorie Taylor Greene has affirmed more than once on social networks that the American Oceanic and Atmospheric Observation Agency (NOAA) authorizes programs that “control the weather”.
American meteorologists have reported receiving death threats following the spread of such theories. A University at Albany professor who specializes in the study of hurricanes and cyclones, Kristen Corbosiero told the Associated Press that “if meteorologists could stop hurricanes, they would.”
Climate change, by warming the seas, makes the rapid intensification of hurricanes more likely and increases the risk of more powerful hurricanes, scientists have been warning for years.
PHOTO MARTIN TREMBLAY, THE PRESS
This residential complex, near Siesta Key, was destroyed by fire following the passage of the hurricane Milton.
Herman Darling, who came to the beach to see how it had been changed by the passage of Miltonheld a speech which at times borrowed from the false ideas circulating.
“Other countries, I believe, have the power to redirect weather phenomena now. When I moved here in 2009, there had never been a hurricane. We had five,” says Herman Darling.
But in the process, he cites the ozone layer and global warming.
“We could have warned, but we didn’t. We should not use fossil fuels,” says Mr. Darling who, like his wife, will vote for Donald Trump next November.
PHOTO MARTIN TREMBLAY, THE PRESS
Like many others, Dwayne Ernst waited in line for nearly an hour to fill up with gas. In the absence of electricity, he uses it in particular to power his generators, which keep food, “but also beer”, cool.
Ethan Hisey and Michael Carmody, both 18, clear a bench that was completely covered by sand due to the force of the hurricane. As their school is closed, they came to spend the day at the beach.
“Climate change is a problem. Especially with the use of cars, oil, oil platforms. But it keeps the economy going. You have to deal with it,” says Ethan Hisey. The young man says he believes that we can still do something to reverse the trend, without commenting on possible solutions.
PHOTO MARTIN TREMBLAY, THE PRESS
The facade of Steve Dohanish’s mobile home in Laurel did not withstand the hurricane. The man believes a tornado touched down in the area.
The two friends, who will vote for the first time in November, say they would like there to be a middle path between Republicans and Democrats. But their choice is now made: they will vote for Donald Trump.
From “nonsense to the news”
Many Floridians evoke God to explain how their homes remained intact despite the passage of two hurricanes, or to explain their origin, but few do it with as much ardor as Linda Wilson, who invites us to sit with her in front of his house to chat.
Do I want to experience hurricanes? No. But will I leave a place I love because God decides he needs to rebalance nature?
Linda Wilson, hurricane victim Milton
“I absolutely don’t believe in climate change,” also says this retired kindergarten teacher.
PHOTO MARTIN TREMBLAY, THE PRESS
Linda Wilson says she “absolutely doesn’t believe” in climate change. She was cleaning up hurricane damage on Friday Milton in front of her house. Many trees have fallen on his land in recent years due to storms.
She and her husband were staunch Democrats for 50 years, but voted for Donald Trump as soon as he ran for president. Today, their grounds are dotted with signs from his campaign and celebrating the date of the assault on the Capitol by his supporters, January 6, 2021.
She believes the media exaggerated the dangers of the hurricane Miltonbut nevertheless followed the instructions of the authorities and evacuated his house to take shelter during his stay.
“When I was at the hotel, my son, who has a doctorate from Oxford University, called me to tell me that my house was going to be flooded. What right does he have to tell me that? He heard this nonsense on the news,” says M.me Wilson.