Hurricane Michael raged through Florida in October 2018. The hurricane was the first Category 5 hurricane to hit the Florida Panhandle, and the first one in the continental United States since Hurricane Andrew in 1992, and it took its toll.  

Unfortunately, its effects are not entirely in the rear view mirror. Experts say that the environmental effects of the storm are still having an effect on the sunshine state, and will continue to for years to come. Reportedly, some of the effects of the storm that may continue to plague the state in the future include floods and wildfires. As a consequence flood insurance requirements also may increase.

Hurricane Michael hit Florida with winds at over 160 miles per hour, notes NPR. As a result, it felled almost 500 million trees. The fallen trees created dams that caused flooding to occur, as the water had nowhere to go. Some of the flooded areas included areas that had not previously been flooded.

How Does Lost Vegetation Contribute to Flooding?

Additionally, the trees exacerbated flooding in other ways. In reporting on the issue, The Destin Log cites Jim Karels, director for the Florida Forest Service, who explained that trees soak up water from the ground via a process called transpiration. The water moves from the roots up to the leaves.

Because so many trees had been lost in Hurricane Michael, fewer trees are now around to take up water in this way. This means more flooding, and more water diverted into rivers and springs. Florida has many swamps and sloughs. Karels notes that water does not drain quickly through these areas, so when trees are not around to take up water via transpiration, water builds up in these areas and does not drain. 

This increased risk of flooding has implications for homeowners, even if they never end up getting flooded. Typically, people are required to have flood insurance if they live in the 100-year flood zone. The 100-year food zone is an area that has a one percent chance of flooding in a year. However, the increased flood risk caused by Hurricane Michael means that more people may need flood insurance — even those who are not in the 100-year-flood zone. Official recommendations for who should get flood insurance are changing as a result, says The Destin Log, as flood insurance requirements increase.

In horrible irony, wildfires are also becoming more of a real risk — not just floods. With all of the water from floods, it may seem unlikely that fires are a risk. However, because Hurricane Michael brought down trees and other vegetation, that vegetation has now died, is drying, and presents perfect kindling for fires. 

Given the extent of the destruction that Hurricane Michael caused, there is extensive vegetation that needs to be cleared out. On the size of the job at hand, Karels explains “[the area] is very different than it was a year ago, so it takes an extensive amount of people, it’s very hard on the equipment, and a dangerous situation for our firefighters.” Unfortunately, the wildfire threat could be increased for five to ten years, says Karels.

The Destin Log goes on to describe that the wildfire risk poses a risk not just for the areas of forest that might catch fire, but for the areas around them. Reportedly, if the decaying trees do catch fire, they will produce a large amount of smoke that could affect air quality.