NewsTracker Answers for week of Oct. 03, 2022

Q: Florida’s death toll continued to rise as rescuers searched the wreckage from last week’s Hurricane Ian, one of the strongest and costliest storms to ever hit the United Sates. Where is Florida?

Circle the area on this map


Q: The 1900 Galveston hurricane was the nation’s deadliest storm, killing between 6,000 and 12,000 people. Galveston is in which state?

A. Florida

B. Louisiana

C. South Carolina

D. Texas


D. The Galveston hurricane is the deadliest natural disaster in U.S. history. Most of the deaths occurred when a 12-foot storm surge swept over Galveston Island near Houston. But, more deaths occurred as the storm continued north through Texas and many other states.


Q: Galveston is what type of island?

A. Atoll

B. Barrier

C. Fluvial

D. Tied


B. Barrier islands like Galveston are sandy coastal landforms formed by wave and tidal action parallel to the mainland. Barrier islands absorb energy during storms and protect coastlines. Barrier islands along Florida’s Gulf Coast suffered some of the worst flooding and damage from Hurricane Ian.


Q: Andrew, a Category 5 hurricane in 1992, was the costliest storm in Florida’s history. But, many believe that Category 4 Hurricane Ian has caused more costly damage because the state has grown so much since then. About how much has Florida’s population increased in the last 30 years?

A. 15%

B. 30%

C. 60%

D. 120%


C. Florida’s population grew from 13.4 million in 1991 to 21.7 million in 2021, or about 63%. During the same period, the overall U.S. population increased about 31%.


Q: How can a warming climate impact hurricanes like Ian?

A. Make storms stronger

B. Make storms wetter

C. Raise sea levels

D. All of the above


D. Oceans are growing hotter as greenhouse gasses block solar radiation from escaping back into space. It also causes glaciers to melt and ocean water to expand, raising sea levels. The heat drives more water evaporation, feeding tropical cyclones to become stronger in a shorter period of time and contain more moisture.