The Southern United States is often depicted as a sunny paradise that attracts an influx of tourist in the summer months. Who wouldn’t want to get away and breathe in that salty air? However, the summer also holds the dangerous threat of severe weather in the shape of hurricane season, which lasts from June through November. Each year, citizens brace themselves for whatever may be thrown at them, but this year, the intensity of the storms took everyone by surprise. Meteorologists have been tracking the increasing severity of extreme weather for years, and it has only grown more threatening with the rise of climate change. “Tornado Alley,” or the areas in the US most subject to tornadoes, is slowly moving eastward into the Midwest. Fires rage in northern California and Colorado, forcing evacuations. Floods are washing away infrastructure and whole towns. People’s lives are being threatened, which makes now a crucial time to understand why the climate is changing and what we can do to prevent further disasters.

          Hurricane Helene and Milton slammed into Florida in back-to-back high-category storms. Currently, it is estimated that around 300 people died. Helene landed as a Category 4 storm late on September 26th in north Florida and became one of the deadliest storms to hit the US in the past 50 years. The storms swiftly spread north into the Appalachians with unprecedented flooding and strong winds. North Carolina was also struck hard, with over 300,000 without power and some without a home. Cities like Asheville and Chimney Rock faced near destruction from record-breaking rainfall and flooding. To make matters worse, Milton hit the coast on October 9th as a Category 3 storm. Milton weakened soon after but continued the devastating effects of Helene with widespread tornadoes. Ahead of the second storm, Florida declared a state of emergency, urging citizens to evacuate.

          The question many people are asking is why the weather has become this bad. The consensus of scientists is climate change. Earthjustice, a nonprofit organization focused on environmental law, explains in their article “How Climate Change Is Fueling Extreme Weather” that human activity strongly contributes to climate change. We burn fossil fuels that release massive amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere daily, spiking global temperatures. This increase has led to intense hurricanes, destructive wildfires, droughts, rising sea levels, and record-breaking snowfall. The United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)’s sixth climate report says that humans have “warmed the planet by 1.1°C since pre-industrial times” and that if the temperature rises above 1.5°C, these climate disasters will only worsen. The IPCC claims we need to reduce emissions “by 43% by 2030 to limit warming to 1.5°C.” NASA agrees with these assertions, arguing that climate change may affect our production of corn and wheat by 2030. Because of the temperature increase, rainfall shifts, and elevated surface carbon dioxide, corn crop yield could decline by 24%, while wheat could grow by 17%. These statistics could severely impact production levels and food consumption in the coming years.  

          Big corporations are often cited as the number one cause of climate change, which is still true. They use more power and produce more emissions through manufacturing than anyone could imagine. But, with the development of artificial intelligence, it is more important than ever for individuals to be aware of their carbon footprint. According to the International Energy Agency, one request made through ChatGPT (2.9 Wh per request) requires ten times the electricity of a Google Search (0.3 Wh of electricity). Creating images requires even more energy than that. The microchips that power AI also require rare materials, often gathered in environmentally destructive ways, and the data centers consume tons of water daily. It is nearly impossible to avoid AI, as it is integrated into search engines, phones, and editing software. While some companies employing AI are attempting to decrease their need for energy, people must limit their use of unnecessary AI so as not to strain our already limited resources. It is also vital to demand regulations for measuring the environmental impact of AI and making their programming more efficient, as it is now a part of our daily lives.

          Along with being conscious of our AI usage, we can do everyday things to reduce our carbon footprint and help people impacted by extreme weather. Society must hold big corporations accountable for their destructive actions against the Earth, reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and natural gases, and switch to clean energy, like solar and wind. In our daily lives, we can use less energy by turning lights off when not using them. We can walk or take public transportation instead of driving everywhere. It is also important to realize how crucial nature is in the fight against climate change. The Earth’s soils, oceans, animals, and plants have absorbed 54% of human greenhouse gases during the past ten years. A way to make real change and impact policy is by speaking up and letting our representatives know we care about the planet so we do not constantly worry about entire towns being wiped out by extreme weather. We also need to provide help to people who have already been hurt. The Red Cross has opened donations and volunteer opportunities to help Hurricanes Helene and Milton survivors. Local Red Cross volunteers from Evansville are stationed in places like Florida and Georgia, assisting citizens to find shelter, meals, and healthcare, whether physical or mental. We must also be mindful of information shared online, as misinformation about FEMA’s aid to survivors rebuilding efforts is being spread.

          All these statistics might make us feel helpless, but as individual citizens, we must do what we can to limit our impact on the environment and not be swallowed by negativity. Extreme weather is scary and will only worsen if we don’t work together and make a change. Educating ourselves and each other is the first step in helping prevent the climate crisis, even if we cannot feel the immediate effects. Be a voice for the Earth because it cannot speak up for itself.