Florida is a state that often feels tangible impacts of climate change, with strong storms and hurricanes making landfall in the state every hurricane season. However, this year is the first time in a decade that the Sunshine State was spared from experiencing a single hurricane. Jessica Meszaros, a climate change reporter at WUSF, joins Kimberly to explain how Floridians are rebuilding a year after hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton hit the state. Plus, we’ll play a round of Half Full/Half Empty!

Here’s what we talked about on the show today:

“Florida and the U.S. were spared of hurricanes in 2025, but storms are still rapidly intensifying” from WUSF
“Hurricane Helene Response” from US Army Corps of Engineers
“Assessment of Agricultural Losses Resulting from Hurricane Milton” from University of Florida IFAS
“Disaster and insurance costs are rising. The middle class is struggling to hang on” from NPR
“Sorting trash can be dirty and dangerous. Sounds like a job for AI” from Marketplace
“Disney comes to Sora: What you can and can't do with the characters” from Axios
“How fruitcake became a Christmas classic (even if it’s unpopular)” from MSN
“City life is reshaping raccoons – and may be nudging them toward domestication” from The Guardian

Floridians feel the impacts of climate change

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