Our climate is in crisis
What do you need from us?
How’d you make out with the hurricane?
Hopefully, the people you care about are OK, your power is back (or was uninterrupted) and damage to your property is minimal.
Judging from anecdotes, photos and video of Dorian’s devastation, not everyone will be able to say that.
This was a wicked storm. We had some rain and strong winds where I live in Newfoundland. We were fortunate this time. A couple of times in the past dozen years, we’ve taken a direct hit and had some damage. It’s frustrating to dry out a basement or cut down a tree you planted as a seedling 15 years ago. I know how those facing a clean-up feel.
We had a team of journalists on deck as Dorian roared across Atlantic Canada Saturday and Sunday. Led by Sheryl Grant, our managing editor for digital, and briefed by SaltWire meteorologist Cindy Day, they worked through the storm and power outages to provide up-to-date coverage online and on social media. As the storm finally left us, more members of our team turned their attention to stories about Dorian’s impact and preparing Monday’s online and print offerings.
Some of the copy you’re reading today was written in the dark, in a makeshift office or with dying battery power.
I appreciated our team’s dedication and efforts throughout the weekend. Informing people to keep them safe and updated is an essential part of what we do. Our journos went over and above. I thank them.
One thing that’s really resonated with me from our coverage this weekend is the number of hurricanes we’ve had since 2000 compared to the 20 or so years before that. According to the infographic, Atlantic Canada’s hurricane history, this region has weathered 17 hurricanes, including Dorion, since the turn of this century. That’s compared to only six in the two previous decades (all half-dozen of those were in the ’90s).
This is further proof our climate — which, let’s face it, was never really that awesome — is changing dramatically. And those predictions are coming true that we’re going to experience destructive and powerful storms more frequently.
And that has me again wondering about you, our readers.
Are you taking the climate crisis seriously?
What are you doing to reduce your carbon footprint?
And, while we’re committed to informing you about storms, changes in our weather and the impact on people, what else do you need from us related to the climate crisis? What would you like us to do differently? What would like to know more or less of? Please drop me a line at the email below. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this.