How past hurricanes and tropical storms have affected US elections

Since the country’s founding in 1776, tropical cyclones have caused problems for elections, affecting voter sentiment and occasionally changing election dates.

Although several cyclones affected the November elections, their effects led to changes in the weeks and even months leading up to election day.

Two of the most notable cyclones include Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and Hurricane Sandy in 2012, which caused billions of dollars in damage.

Both cyclones prompted officials to take emergency action, and in the case of Katrina, forced the election to be postponed.

Outside the influence zone, response status served as a motivating force among likely voters.

For example, in 1992 FEMA’s response to Hurricane Andrew in South Florida was largely viewed by the public as inadequate, leading to a sweep of 25 of the state’s electoral votes.

Similarly, in 2012, Superstorm Sandy swept across the eastern United States, affecting the re-election of President Barack Obama.

At the time, a national exit poll showed that the response to the hurricane was an important factor for 15% of voters.

In 2024, Hurricane Helen affected voters in several southern states, but it will likely take months, if not longer, to determine the exact impact on voters. according to political experts.

Here’s a look at some recent ones hurricanes which influenced the US election.

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Hurricane Nicole – November 2022

Nicole is notable for being only the third November hurricane to hit the Sunshine State.

The cyclone formed on November 7 and made landfall only three days later, on November 10.

The National Hurricane Center issued a A hurricane warning is in effect for most of Florida’s east coast on election day before the cyclone hits.

Despite warnings and evacuation notices, most of the effects occurred after the vote, limiting the impact on the electoral process.

A hurricane in the Caribbean has killed at least 11 people Floridaand the damage is estimated at about 1 billion dollars.

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Hurricane Dorian – September 2019

Extraordinary elections to fill vacancies North CarolinaThe 9th Congressional District hearing comes just days after Hurricane Dorian made landfall near Cape Hatteras as a Category 2 cyclone.

The area covers the region south of Raleigh and east of Charlotte and was affected by the outer edges of the hurricane.

After devastating the Bahamas, the hurricane made landfall in the early hours of Friday, September 6.

Through the influences, the state introduced additional hours of early voting to allow affected voters to vote before Election Day on September 10.

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Hurricane Florence – September 2018

A category 1 hurricane hit the state of North Carolina South Carolina in mid-September, raising concerns about early voting during midterm elections.

The This was reported by the office of the State Council of the Republic of Kazakhstan send out absentee passes to counties unable to do so due to flooding and utility outages.

The storm system set a South Carolina record for wettest cyclone, dropping an estimated 35.93 inches over the eastern part of the state.

Florence’s estimated damage was more than $24 million across three southeastern states.

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Hurricane Sandy – November 2012

The The superstorm made landfall near Atlantic City, New Jerseyjust over a week before the November 6, 2012 presidential election.

The storm system had Category 1 hurricane force winds with a maximum storm surge of about 13 feet.

Polling stations in New York and New Jersey suffered major disruptions, but authorities imposed emergency measures to reduce the impact on voters.

In addition to the establishment of temporary polling stations, both New York and New Jersey extended the deadline to request absentee vouchers.

Authorities in the Garden State have even allowed some affected voters to request, receive and send ballots by fax or email.

According to a congressional research reportturnout was down in the Sandy-hit region, but it’s unclear whether the lack of voter turnout was solely the result of the historic storm system.

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Hurricane Katrina – August 2005

The the deadliest hurricane to hit the Lower 48 in the modern era made landfall along the northern Gulf Coast as a powerful Category 3 on August 29.

According to rough calculations, 1,392 people died, and the damage is estimated at about 125 billion dollars.

More than half a million residents of the southeast Louisiana they were reported to have been displaced, which put a strain on the electoral system.

After Hurricane Katrina, several primary elections were postponed, and even with the change in dates, constituencies reported significant declines in participation.