Miami’s Republican mayor says this year’s record-breaking hurricanes are likely a result of climate change, and is calling on President Donald Trump ― who once dismissed global warming as a hoax created “by and for the Chinese” ― to acknowledge the connection.
“If this isn’t climate change, I don’t know what is,” Mayor Tomás Regalado told reporters Friday after declaring a State of Local Emergency in his city.
Thousands of Miami residents are among more than 6.3 million Floridians who have been ordered to evacuate as Hurricane Irma charges toward the state ― potentially the largest evacuation in U.S. history.
Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado is pictured in 2014. (Photo: Alexander Tamargo via Getty Images)
Irma decimated the Caribbean island of Barbuda as an extremely powerful Category 5 storm on Wednesday before hitting Cuba’s Camaguey Archipelago on Friday. It was downgraded to a Category 3 storm as it moved north on Saturday morning, but is expected to strengthen back to a Category 4 before reaching the Florida Keys on Sunday morning.
Meanwhile, Hurricane Katia is wreaking havoc in Mexico while Hurricane José, a Category 4 storm, threatens Barbuda, St. Martin and St. Barts ― islands that Irma already devastated. And a little more than a week ago, Hurricane Harvey ravaged much of Houston and its surrounding area, causing unprecedented damage that will take years to repair.
“This is the time to talk about climate change. This is the time that the president and the [Environmental Protection Agency] and whoever makes decisions needs to talk about climate change,” Regalado told the Miami Herald. “This is a truly, truly poster child for what is to come.”
“I don’t want to be political, but the fact of the matter is that this is a lesson that we need protection from nature,” he added. “So, I think this is a lesson for the people to say you know what? We have to be prepared.”
Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R), who on Saturday warned Floridians in evacuation zones that they “will not survive” the storm surge ― now expected to reach as high as 15 feet ― has long expressed skepticism about the causes of climate change. Scott was even accused in 2015 of banning administrators in the Department of Environmental Protection from using the term “climate change” in official communications.
When asked if he believes the mountain of scientific evidence proving the connection between climate change and human activity, the governor has replied: “I’m not a scientist.”
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A freeway is empty as winds and rain in the outer bands of Hurricane Irma arrive in Miami.
A sign is posted on a door at a hurricane shelter in Naples, Florida.
MIRAMAR, FL- September 09: Red Cross sign outside New Renaissance Middle School.
MIRAMAR, FL- September 09: New Renaissance Middle School.
MIRAMAR, FL- September 09: Shelter filled to capacity sign hangs on a fence.
NAPLES, FL - SEPTEMBER 09: Men hold up metal siding as it is placed in front of a business in downtown Naples before the arrival of Hurricane Irma into Southwest Florida on September 9, 2017 in Naples, Florida. The Naples area could begin to feel hurricane-force winds from Irma by 11 a.m. Sunday and experience wind gusts over 100 mph from Sunday through Monday. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
A tourist poses for a picture outside of a shop in South Beach prior to the arrival of Hurricane Irma to south Florida, in Miami, Florida, U.S., September 9, 2017. REUTERS/Carlos Barria
MIAMI BEACH, FL - SEPTEMBER 09: Storm clouds are seen over the beach as Hurricane Irma approaches on September 9, 2017 in Miami Beach, Florida. Florida is in the path of the Hurricane which may come ashore at category 4. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
DAYTONA BEACH, FL - SEPTEMBER 09: Wood storm shutters bear the names of past hurricanes ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Irma September 9, 2017 in Daytona Beach, Florida. Governor Rick Scott has ordered the mandatory evacuation of millions of people from the southern part of the state ahead of the unprecedented storm. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Winds and rain begin to hit the beach as outer bands of Hurricane Irma arrive in Miami Beach, Florida, September 9, 2017. Hurricane Irma weakened slightly to a Category 4 storm early Saturday, according to the US National Hurricane Center, after making landfall hours earlier in Cuba with maximum-strength Category 5 winds. / AFP PHOTO / SAUL LOEB (Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)
Local residents walks along an empty street in South Beach prior to the arrival of Hurricane Irma to south Florida, in Miami, Florida U.S., September 9, 2017. REUTERS/Carlos Barria
NAPLES, FL - SEPTEMBER 09: People gather around the beach in Naples before the arrival of Hurricane Irma into Southwest Florida on September 9, 2017 in Naples, Florida. The Naples area could begin to feel hurricane-force winds from Irma by 11 a.m. Sunday and experience wind gusts over 100 mph from Sunday through Monday. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
A man holds onto his hat as winds and rain begin to hit the beach as outer bands of Hurricane Irma arrive in Miami Beach, Florida, September 9, 2017. Hurricane Irma weakened slightly to a Category 4 storm early Saturday, according to the US National Hurricane Center, after making landfall hours earlier in Cuba with maximum-strength Category 5 winds. / AFP PHOTO / SAUL LOEB (Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)
NAPLES, FL - SEPTEMBER 09: A sign announces that a store is closed in downtown Naples before the arrival of Hurricane Irma into Southwest Florida on September 9, 2017 in Naples, Florida. The Naples area could begin to feel hurricane-force winds from Irma by 11 a.m. Sunday and experience wind gusts over 100 mph from Sunday through Monday. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
MIAMI BEACH, FL - SEPTEMBER 09: A surfer enjoys the waves churned up buy the approaching Hurricane Irma on September 9, 2017 in Miami Beach, Florida. Florida is in the path of the Hurricane which may come ashore at category 4. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
NAPLES, FL - SEPTEMBER 09: Metal siding is placed in front of a business in downtown Naples before the arrival of Hurricane Irma into Southwest Florida on September 9, 2017 in Naples, Florida. The Naples area could begin to feel hurricane-force winds from Irma by 11 a.m. Sunday and experience wind gusts over 100 mph from Sunday through Monday. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
NAPLES, FL - SEPTEMBER 09: People walk through an empty downtown downtown Naples before the arrival of Hurricane Irma into Southwest Florida on September 9, 2017 in Naples, Florida. The Naples area could begin to feel hurricane-force winds from Irma by 11 a.m. Sunday and experience wind gusts over 100 mph from Sunday through Monday. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
MIAMI BEACH, FL - SEPTEMBER 09: Storm clouds are seen over Fisher Island as Hurricane Irma approaches on September 9, 2017 in Miami Beach, Florida. Florida is in the path of the Hurricane which may come ashore at category 4. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
NAPLES, FL - SEPTEMBER 09: People gather around the beach in Naples before the arrival of Hurricane Irma into Southwest Florida on September 9, 2017 in Naples, Florida. The Naples area could begin to feel hurricane-force winds from Irma by 11 a.m. Sunday and experience wind gusts over 100 mph from Sunday through Monday. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
PORT ORANGE, FL - SEPTEMBER 09: Brian Collins wheels cut wood he plans to use to protect the thrid floor of his home past empty plywood racks ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Irma at Lowes September 9, 2017 in Port Orange, Florida. Governor Rick Scott has ordered the mandatory evacuation of millions of people from the southern part of the state ahead of the unprecedented storm. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Winds and rain begin to hit the beach as outer bands of Hurricane Irma arrive in Miami Beach, Florida, September 9, 2017. Hurricane Irma weakened slightly to a Category 4 storm early Saturday, according to the US National Hurricane Center, after making landfall hours earlier in Cuba with maximum-strength Category 5 winds. / AFP PHOTO / SAUL LOEB (Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)
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