The Power of Mitigation
It’s hard to imagine a broader impact scenario for Florida, all those people leaving and then trying to return. Power and support resourced having to be spread throughout the state … yet we were lucky.
But here the degree of mitigation we’ve already implemented is telling. The article below on 9/14 put the damage at $180 Billion. three days later the estimates were between $25 and $43 Billion, less than 1/4th of what was expected. Mitigation through building codes and our own efforts pay off.
The reality has set in and the cleanup has begun, but the full cost of Hurricane Irma has yet to be determined, although some estimate it will reach upward of $180 billion (see Comment above). There never has been a weather event like the massive storm that stretched across our state, and the final figures no doubt will be staggering, from insurance costs to the statewide volunteer force. Hours, dollars and patience currently are being spent on cleanup and recovery efforts – some in larger amounts than others. But…
