In 1900 Americans didn’t want to live on or near the coast. Besides port cities, It was considered remote, unhealthy/feverish, and the land was poor for agriculture. South Florida was mostly unused swampland. Beaufort County South Carolina has gone from 30,000 residents in 1900 to about 250,000 now - and over 2.5 million tourists a year.
Hurricanes have become more destructive purely because now there is so much more on the coast to be destroyed.
Bears repeating. Miami got lucky this time, but it's only a matter of time before a major hurricane comes ashore on Miami Beach, causing massive losses.
My father tells stories of living through the 1938 Hurricane that recarved the south shore of Long Island. At the time it was mostly farmland. A repeat of that today would also cause unparalleled devastation.
Excellent point. Are hurricanes today considered more destructive because we talk about how much property damage or how many human lives are affected??