Washington. This year’s first cyclonic storm ‘Isaias’ in the Atlantic Ocean has now taken a very formidable form and is rapidly moving towards the Gulf of Mexico in America. Scientists have issued a warning that this hurricane will become most powerful at night, which can wreak havoc in the coastal areas of Florida, Alabama and Mississippi with a destructive speed of about 177 kilometers per hour. The severe stormy winds, torrential rains and sea waves rising about 7 feet high have made this crisis more serious.
Getting strength from the warm water of the Gulf
According to scientific reports, the waters of the Gulf of Mexico are much warmer than normal at this time, which is continuously providing energy to this cyclone and making it more aggressive day by day. This storm has broken the many years old record of becoming a hurricane before September. According to current data, wind speed in the center of ‘Isaias’ has been recorded up to 130 kilometers per hour. As it approaches the coastal areas, its speed may increase to 177 kilometers per hour, making it an extremely dangerous ‘Category 2’ hurricane. When it hits the coast at night, its tremendous pressure will destroy big trees and electric poles. Along with the winds, ‘storm surge’ i.e. high rising waves of the sea is emerging as the biggest threat.
Declaration of emergency and orders to evacuate coastal areas
In view of the extreme seriousness of the situation, the Governor of Florida has declared a state of emergency with immediate effect in 25 counties of the state. Along with this, the Governor of Alabama has also imposed State of Emergency in 40 districts of her state. In view of security, more than 400 holiday cottages and residential houses built near the beach on Dauphin Island, Alabama, are being completely evacuated. Alabama’s famous tourist destination ‘Gulf Shores’ is in the most sensitive situation at this time, where thousands of tourists are present due to the ‘National Shrimp Festival’ organized annually.
Huge impact on tourism and energy production
As soon as the storm alert was received, the administration took immediate action and canceled this big festival, due to which it is proving to be a big challenge for the authorities to safely rescue the tourists trapped there in time. Apart from this, the operation to safely evacuate employees from the oil and gas offshore platforms operating in the Gulf of Mexico is also being carried out on a war footing. Major energy companies like Chevron, Shell and BP have completely stopped crude oil production on many of their major platforms as a precautionary measure. The entire northern Gulf Coast has been put on high alert.
