Hurricane Melissa’s Fury Exposes America’s Vulnerabilities Amidst Growing Climate Threats

Hurricane Melissa has surged into the annals of history as one of the most powerful Atlantic hurricanes ever recorded, striking Jamaica with brutal sustained winds clocked at 185 mph (295 kph). This ferocious storm is a stark reminder that America stands on the frontline of an escalating climate threat—a threat magnified by decades of government complacency and misguided policies that have left our coastal regions dangerously exposed. While Melissa itself made landfall in Jamaica, its record-setting strength sends ripples straight to American shores. The storm’s wind speeds match those of some of the deadliest hurricanes to devastate the Atlantic basin—the...