Sun Sentinel Broward Edition

Are massive hurricanes new norm?

- Sandi Schwartz, Boca Raton Susan Kaye, Boca Raton

Our stressful evacuation adventure began on Wednesday evening. I knew we better get on the road to drive north before the traffic got too bad, so we packed up and hopped on I-95.

The drive through Florida was very tense. When we finally pulled into our hotel in Savannah, Ga., at 3:45 a.m., we all breathed a huge sigh of relief. We continued on to New Jersey to see family. We are the lucky ones who had the ability to get out when we did.

Irma broke many records and caused a huge raucous: evacuation­s, panic, damage, closures, and tremendous financial costs. But is this just the beginning of a new norm for Floridians? Climate change is clearly stirring up stronger, more frequent storms because of warmer temperatur­es. Denying climate change only puts people in harm’s way. We must call on our elected officials to take some real action to pass legislatio­n for a carbon tax and dividend program as advocated by the Citizens’ Climate Lobby. This is the best way to transform our economy to keep fossil fuels in the ground and focus on green energy, ultimately reducing carbon emissions before evacuation­s and massive storms become all too common. SunSentine­l.com/opinion/ letters

with a return citizens.

We must stand up against climate change denial to build a world which will keep our families safe.

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