How to talk about hurricanes now

John D. Sutter
By John D. Sutter, CNN
Updated 6:30 AM EDT, Thu October 11, 2018
PANAMA CITY, FL - OCTOBER 10: Debris is blown down a street by Hurricane Michael on October 10, 2018 in Panama City, Florida. The hurricane made landfall on the Florida Panhandle as a category 4 storm. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
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01:18 - Source: CNN
CNN  — 

Hurricane Michael isn’t a truly “natural disaster.”

Neither was Harvey in Houston.

Nor Maria in Puerto Rico.

Yet we continue to use that term.

Doing so – especially in the era of climate change – is misleading if not dangerous, according to several disaster experts and climate scientists I reached by phone and on Twitter.

“The phrase ‘natural disaster’ is an attempt to lay blame where blame really doesn’t rest,” said Kerry A. Emanuel, a professor of atmospheric science at MIT and a global expert on hurricanes.

President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump and Florida Gov. Rick Scott tour a Lynn Haven, Florida, neighborhood that was affected by Hurricane Michael.
President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump and Florida Gov. Rick Scott tour a Lynn Haven, Florida, neighborhood that was affected by Hurricane Michael.
Evan Vucci/AP
Lisa Patrick is overcome with emotion as she visits the remains of her home in Mexico Beach, Florida, on Monday, October 15.
Lisa Patrick is overcome with emotion as she visits the remains of her home in Mexico Beach, Florida, on Monday, October 15.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
The President and first lady hand out bottles of water to people in Lynn Haven on October 15.
The President and first lady hand out bottles of water to people in Lynn Haven on October 15.
Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images
The Trumps tour damage in Lynn Haven.
The Trumps tour damage in Lynn Haven.
Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images
President Trump flies over the devastation in Mexico Beach.
President Trump flies over the devastation in Mexico Beach.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Mexico Beach residents make their way across a washed-out road on Friday, October 12.
Mexico Beach residents make their way across a washed-out road on Friday, October 12.
Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post/Getty Images
An aerial view shows the devastation in Mexico Beach on October 12. The small beach resort saw the brunt of Michael, authorities say.
An aerial view shows the devastation in Mexico Beach on October 12. The small beach resort saw the brunt of Michael, authorities say.
Bronte Wittpenn/The Tampa Bay Times/AP
Dough Shelby looks out at the destruction from his house in Mexico Beach on October 12.
Dough Shelby looks out at the destruction from his house in Mexico Beach on October 12.
Hector Retamal/Getty Images
Little remains of a burned home destroyed by the hurricane in Mexico Beach on October 12.
Little remains of a burned home destroyed by the hurricane in Mexico Beach on October 12.
Bronte Wittpenn/The Tampa Bay Times/AP
Benny Hobson sits in his recliner on Thursday, October 11, after losing the front wall of his house in Panama City, Florida.
Benny Hobson sits in his recliner on Thursday, October 11, after losing the front wall of his house in Panama City, Florida.
Jabin Botsford/Washington Post/Getty Images
Storm-damaged boats are piled up in Panama City on October 11.
Storm-damaged boats are piled up in Panama City on October 11.
Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images
Elizabeth Hanson, right, and her daughter Emaly hug their neighbor Cindy Clark on October 11. The hurricane heavily damaged their homes in Mexico Beach.
Elizabeth Hanson, right, and her daughter Emaly hug their neighbor Cindy Clark on October 11. The hurricane heavily damaged their homes in Mexico Beach.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Collector cars are covered in debris in Panama City on October 11.
Collector cars are covered in debris in Panama City on October 11.
Jabin Botsford/Washington Post/Getty Images
Tom Bailey walks his bike past a home that was carried across a road and slammed up against a condo complex in Mexico Beach.
Tom Bailey walks his bike past a home that was carried across a road and slammed up against a condo complex in Mexico Beach.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Joyce Fox stands in front of her heavily damaged home in Panama City on October 11.
Joyce Fox stands in front of her heavily damaged home in Panama City on October 11.
Gerald Herbert/AP
A boat sits amid debris in Mexico Beach on October 11.
A boat sits amid debris in Mexico Beach on October 11.
Gerald Herbert/AP
Kylie Strampe holds her 4-month-old daughter, Lola, while surveying the damage in Callaway, Florida, on October 11.
Kylie Strampe holds her 4-month-old daughter, Lola, while surveying the damage in Callaway, Florida, on October 11.
David Goldman/AP
Trees snapped by Michael's winds are seen in Mexico Beach on October 11.
Trees snapped by Michael's winds are seen in Mexico Beach on October 11.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Amanda Logsdon faces a heavy cleanup task at her Panama City house on October 11.
Amanda Logsdon faces a heavy cleanup task at her Panama City house on October 11.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Rescue personnel search Mexico Beach.
Rescue personnel search Mexico Beach.
Gerald Herbert/AP
A man walks through a damaged store in Springfield, Florida.
A man walks through a damaged store in Springfield, Florida.
David Goldman/AP
An aerial photo shows a destroyed boat in Mexico Beach on October 11.
An aerial photo shows a destroyed boat in Mexico Beach on October 11.
Chris O'Meara/AP
A tree sits on top of a Panama City mobile home. Almost all the residents of the mobile-home park rode out the storm. All homes were damaged except one.
A tree sits on top of a Panama City mobile home. Almost all the residents of the mobile-home park rode out the storm. All homes were damaged except one.
Dianne Gallagher/CNN
Kathy Coy stands among what is left of her home in Panama City. She said she was in the home when it was blown apart and is thankful to be alive.
Kathy Coy stands among what is left of her home in Panama City. She said she was in the home when it was blown apart and is thankful to be alive.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
The view from a Panama City hotel room that lost a wall in the storm.
The view from a Panama City hotel room that lost a wall in the storm.
BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/Getty Images
Firefighter Austin Schlarb performs a door-to-door search in Mexico Beach on October 11.
Firefighter Austin Schlarb performs a door-to-door search in Mexico Beach on October 11.
Gerald Herbert/AP
Damaged buildings are seen in Panama City on October 11.
Damaged buildings are seen in Panama City on October 11.
JONATHAN BACHMAN/REUTERS
Debris is scattered in Mexico Beach early on October 11.
Debris is scattered in Mexico Beach early on October 11.
Douglas R. Clifford/Tampa Bay Times via AP
Wreckage is piled up in Mexico Beach, near where Michael made landfall.
Wreckage is piled up in Mexico Beach, near where Michael made landfall.
Zachary T. Sampson/Tampa Bay Times via ZUMA Wire/Newscom
Debris burns in Mexico Beach on October 11.
Debris burns in Mexico Beach on October 11.
Zachary T. Sampson/Tampa Bay Times via ZUMA Wire/Newscom
Haley Nelson inspects damage at her family properties in the Panama City area on Wednesday, October 10.
Haley Nelson inspects damage at her family properties in the Panama City area on Wednesday, October 10.
Pedro Portal/AP
Cars are tossed among the debris in Mexico Beach.
Cars are tossed among the debris in Mexico Beach.
Zachary T. Sampson/Tampa Bay Times via ZUMA Wire/Newscom
Kaylee O'Brian cries inside her Panama City home after several trees fell on it on October 10.
Kaylee O'Brian cries inside her Panama City home after several trees fell on it on October 10.
Gerald Herbert/AP
Floodwaters overwhelm vehicles in Panama City on Wednesday, October 10.
Floodwaters overwhelm vehicles in Panama City on Wednesday, October 10.
Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images
A storm chaser climbs into his vehicle to retrieve equipment after a hotel canopy collapsed in Panama City Beach on October 10.
A storm chaser climbs into his vehicle to retrieve equipment after a hotel canopy collapsed in Panama City Beach on October 10.
Gerald Herbert/AP
A helicopter circles a Panama City neighborhood in the storm's wake on October 10.
A helicopter circles a Panama City neighborhood in the storm's wake on October 10.
Eric Thayer/The New York Times/Redux
A woman and her children wait near a destroyed gas station in Panama City on October 10.
A woman and her children wait near a destroyed gas station in Panama City on October 10.
Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images
A McDonald's sign is mangled in Panama City on October 10.
A McDonald's sign is mangled in Panama City on October 10.
Jonathan Bachman/Reuters
Boats are left damaged in a Panama City marina on October 10.
Boats are left damaged in a Panama City marina on October 10.
Eric Thayer/The New York Times/Redux
People comfort each other outside an apartment building in Panama City.
People comfort each other outside an apartment building in Panama City.
Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg via Getty Images
People make their way through a building's wreckage in Panama City on October 10.
People make their way through a building's wreckage in Panama City on October 10.
Dan Anderson/EPA/Rex/Shutterstock
The powerful hurricane left houses battered in Panama City Beach.
The powerful hurricane left houses battered in Panama City Beach.
Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images
Phlomena Telker stands on the remains of her covered porch in Panama City.
Phlomena Telker stands on the remains of her covered porch in Panama City.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Boats are damaged at the Port St. Joe Marina in the Florida Panhandle.
Boats are damaged at the Port St. Joe Marina in the Florida Panhandle.
Douglas R. Clifford/Tampa Bay Times/TNS/Newscom
Lenora Adams evacuates a motel with her dog as the hurricane comes ashore in Panacea, Florida, on October 10.
Lenora Adams evacuates a motel with her dog as the hurricane comes ashore in Panacea, Florida, on October 10.
Carlo Allegri/Reuters
Rick Tesk, left, helps a business owner rescue his dogs from a damaged business in Panama City.
Rick Tesk, left, helps a business owner rescue his dogs from a damaged business in Panama City.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Wrecked boats sit near a pier in Panama City.
Wrecked boats sit near a pier in Panama City.
Dan Anderson/EPA
A resident of St. Marks, Florida, pulls a cooler out of the floodwaters near his home.
A resident of St. Marks, Florida, pulls a cooler out of the floodwaters near his home.
Chris O'Meara/AP
Pine trees litter a yard in Port St. Joe.
Pine trees litter a yard in Port St. Joe.
Douglas R. Clifford/Cal Sport Media/Zuma Press
Streets begin to flood as high tide approaches in St. Petersburg, Florida, on October 10.
Streets begin to flood as high tide approaches in St. Petersburg, Florida, on October 10.
Dirk Shadd/Cal Sport Media/Zuma Press
Mike Lindsey stands in his Panama City antique shop after it was damaged by Hurricane Michael on October 10.
Mike Lindsey stands in his Panama City antique shop after it was damaged by Hurricane Michael on October 10.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Trees lie on top of a home in Panama City.
Trees lie on top of a home in Panama City.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Bo Lynn's Market is flooded in St. Marks on October 10.
Bo Lynn's Market is flooded in St. Marks on October 10.
Mark Wallheiser/Getty Images
A truck drives along a road in Alligator Point, Florida, that had been washed out by the storm on October 10.
A truck drives along a road in Alligator Point, Florida, that had been washed out by the storm on October 10.
Carlo Allegri/Reuters
Waves hit a house in Alligator Point on October 10.
Waves hit a house in Alligator Point on October 10.
Carlo Allegri/Reuters
The eye of the storm, as seen from the International Space Station on October 10.
The eye of the storm, as seen from the International Space Station on October 10.
NASA/Shutterstock
A woman checks on her vehicle after a hotel canopy collapsed in Panama City Beach.
A woman checks on her vehicle after a hotel canopy collapsed in Panama City Beach.
Gerald Herbert/AP
Mitchell Pope tries to salvage what he can from his mobile home in St. Marks.
Mitchell Pope tries to salvage what he can from his mobile home in St. Marks.
Mark Wallheiser/Getty Images
This boat ran aground at Florida's Quietwater Beach.
This boat ran aground at Florida's Quietwater Beach.
Gregg Pachkowski/PNJ.com/USA Today