Media Advisory: EDF Experts Available for Interviews on Hurricane Ian

(ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Sept. 29, 2022) — Yesterday, Hurricane Ian slammed into the Florida coast, packing 155 mph sustained winds and a storm surge of up to 18 ft in some areas. Sadly, this is the new norm, EDF experts say. Hurricane Ian is yet another reminder of how climate change is making violent storms more frequent—and much more intense.

As you consider Ian coverage, EDF has experts on the ground who can speak to the challenges Floridians face in the aftermath of the storm, what is to come for other coastal communities in the storm’s path, and why we know that storms like Ian will happen again and again.

• EDF Florida Director Dawn Shirreffs, based in Tampa Bay, is an expert in regional resilience and in Florida’s environmental challenges and policies. She will say that Florida needs to take a dual-pronged approach to both build its coastal resilience and mitigate climate change as the root cause of these stronger storms.
• Climate Scientist Dr. Tianyi Sun is a PhD in Climate Dynamics. She will say that climate change is making strong hurricanes like Ian intensify faster, happen more frequently, and cause more damage.
• Economist Dr. Carolyn Kousky is a disaster recovery specialist and expert on flood insurance. She will say that federal aid and insurance programs are often limited after major storms like Ian, and that equity is important to consider during recovery efforts.

With search and rescue efforts underway, EDF’s priority is the safety and well-being of all those in the storm’s path, including first responders, staff, and partners. We are actively monitoring the situation, with staff on the ground, to ensure their safety and to communicate what is happening to our broader network of staff and leadership.