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Hurricanes can be dangerous, but cleaning up after a storm can be even more deadly, NOAA says

Lorena Torres, left, and Jorge Larancuent clean up debris from Hurricane Idalia at the Faraway Inn Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023, in Cedar Key, Fla. Idalia made landfall early Wednesday morning along Florida's panhandle. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) (Chris O'Meara, Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The 2023 hurricane season is coming to a close, but if you’ve lived in Florida any amount of time, you know October can be active.

Storm surge, strong winds, lightning and downed powerlines are all things that have taken lives during a storm, but once the storm has passed there’s another threat. 

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Once the storm passes many people are eager to get back to a normal life.

Michael Brennan, Director of NOAA’s National Hurricane Center in Miami, said it’s important to proceed with caution because cleaning accidents are common and water impacts are getting worse.

“The post-storm safety, we lose twice as many people to post-storm events in this country then we have actually lost in the direct effect of the storms, so we want people to be safe after the storm,” Brennan

Car accidents, medical issues, heart attacks, heat-related stress and carbon monoxide poisoning from improper generator use are all common.

Whether it’s a tropical storm or a hurricane, officials encourage you to make sure, that after the storm, you give assessment crews the opportunity to make sure it’s safe to return to your home so that you’re not putting your life in danger after the storm.


About the Author
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Veteran journalist and Emmy Award winning anchor

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