By Gavin Mendoza, News Editor
Hurricane Ian swept across Latin America and the east coast of the United States in late September and early October, and two Northwestern students have connections to people impacted by the record-breaking storm.
Hurricane Ian first struck Cayo Coast, Florida, and was the deadliest hurricane to hit the state since 1935, killing nearly 120 people. The hurricane leveled homes, apartments and businesses, destroying more than $50 billion worth of property.
Bryan Guerrero, a Northwestern senior health and sports science major who is originally from the Dominican Republic, said his immediate family wasn’t personally affected. However, he knows how tropical storms can hurt communities.
“My family did not have to evacuate,” Guerrero said. “It affected a lot more people who live around big rivers and the beaches and coasts.”
Guerrero grew up in the Dominican Republic but moved to Braintree, Massachusetts, for high school.
“The damage was a big impact on the community and every one the storm touched,” Guerrero said. “Everything is completely flooded.”
Guerrero said that, while storms hit communities and families hard, the best of humanity is often put on full display in a storm’s aftermath.
“The community helps each other by coming together and always sharing needs, especially for the people that were hit by the storm the hardest,” Guerrero said.
Joseph Frisby, a senior business administration major from Denton, Texas, said some of his friends in Florida have been affected by the storm.
“The hurricane hit our family friends in Sarasota, Florida,” Frisby said. Sarasota is located on the east coast of Florida in the Gulf of Mexico.
“The house they live in had the shingles completely torn off, and the screens protecting their pool were torn off and had damage in other areas,” Frisby said. “The damage and impact the storm has had on their community is not only going to take time to replace the material things, but maybe more time to help heal their spirits.”
The storm was disastrous for some people, Frisby said.
“It really makes you think and be thankful for everything you have,” Frisby said. “Those affected will stay in my prayers.”