And Irma (the hurricane) didn’t even hit here

Quite a photo from Miami and just one example of how ill prepared we truly are for a hurricane. This crane is supposed to withstand sustained winds of 145 m.p.h. There was no wind even half that speed when this crane took a dive. One wonders just who is accountable both from an operator’s viewpoint and that of the government regulator overseeing construction. Certainly seems shoddy.

Then there are the more basic components which seem less than up to the challenge of hurricanes. The video is of Brickell, a major artery in the city. Keep in mind that this is happening before any substantial rainfall and without any hurricane-level winds.

The failing crane and the flooded street in much less than hurricane conditions should be a solid warning to everyone. But it probably won’t be. The challenge of truly creating an infrastructure and machinery capable of withstanding hurricanes is likely just too daunting and costly to ever be pursued fully and completely.

For those of  you who live in the Miami area you have led a charmed life for well over a decade. Maybe that’s the point. Some begin to have a sense of false bravado, thinking they have handled hurricanes quite well, thank you very much. But the fact is that no one handles a direct hit from a hurricane very well. Most with that false sense of bravado have been on the outskirts of a hurricane. Being in what would be considered a strong structure and yet being pummeled anyway by a hurricane that threatens to crush all around you usually cures one of bravado.

But as St. Petersburg and/or Tampa are possibly devastated by Irma, the building along the Atlantic coast will no doubt continue, as will more and more people be moving into the area. It seems to have worked again this year, the twelfth year since Wilma. Of course, next year will be the 13th year since Wilma. Just glad I’m not superstitious.