Give hurricane aid to all who are in need

If you long for a sheltered retirement, southwest Florida offers a beautiful spot where the causeway to Sanibel Island hits the mainland, not far from Fort Myers Beach.

But it’s now a former causeway. Beautiful Sanibel, a sandy paradise of gorgeous sunsets, was practically obliterated. Robert Paddor, a former Illinois businessman, had to be airlifted from the island. Like many others who found themselves in the eye of the storm, he declared himself lucky to be alive.

So this tragedy is personal for many Chicagoans and others from northern climes. As we watched Hurricane Ian unfold in horror from our place of safety, we’re glad there was not more loss of life. Certainly, the event was a reminder that evacuation notices should be taken seriously. Plenty of Floridians thought they could ride out the storm, a decision they later came to regret.

In the aftermath, of course, came politics. That’s inevitable in today’s America, especially since Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is a potential Republican candidate for president in 2024.

First we had Vice President Kamala Harris igniting controversy when she said in a conversation with actress Priyanka Chopra Jonas that “we have to address this in a way that is about giving resources based on equity,” a line that some infuriated right-wing critics twisted to say that the Biden administration was planning to dispense hurricane aid according to the color of the survivor’s skin.

That wasn’t what Harris said, and, in fact the transcript also contains her saying, “I know we are all thinking about the families in Florida, in Puerto Rico with Fiona and what we need to do to help them in terms of an immediate response and aid.”

Good. But Harris, who can be politically inept to a staggering degree, still made a mistake in delivering some red meat for her elite, progressive audience at Washington’s fancy Mayflower Hotel, even as hurricane survivors in Fort Myers Beach were sifting through the rubble of their former lives. Better, really, to have been down there with them, lending a hand with the job.

Here’s the reality. It’s tempting to talk about climate change in the aftermath of a hurricane, even if there is no agreement on the level of correlation, given that there is nothing new about hurricanes. Politicians and activists think they have people’s attention. But it’s counter-productive.

Americans expect all hands on deck in a crisis, and they expect help to go to those who need it in the moment, regardless of their race or the contents of their bank accounts. It behooves high ranking officials to shut up about everything else.

You might argue the same about the media. “Gov. Ron DeSantis and other Florida Republicans

rejected major climate laws,” said The New York Times in an especially churlish and clueless gotcha-tweet from dry Manhattan. “Now they’re seeking storm aid.”

Well, duh. Of course they are. As they should. That is their duty to their citizens who just lost most everything, as it is our duty as Americans to come to their aid.

Climate change is real, and it necessitates conversations about how much, and in what form, these communities build back. Hurricane insurance is becoming much more expensive and harder to procure, which is in many ways the market operating as intended, reflecting the growing risk of building on the beach.

It’s only fair that those homeowners bear that risk and make their decisions accordingly. Have no doubt: this problem is increasing and changes in how we protect the planet have to take place.

More people have to be brought along. Harris has to start helping, not hurting that cause. Once people feel safe and have dried out, those conversations can and should begin.

But in the eye of a hurricane? Let’s just all do our best to put politics aside and do everything we can. Finally last week, it looked like those politicians were beginning to get that message.

There but for the grace of God.