To the Editor:

Three weeks ago a tropical depression began to develop off the coast of West Africa. Hardly major news. Two weeks later, Hurricane Beryl has set all sorts of records as the first Atlantic storm ever to reach Category 5 status in June.

Beryl made landfall three times, wreaking havoc in Houston, Texas, and creating major flooding in New Hampshire and Vermont, never mind the damage caused in the Caribbean and Mexico. As of July 15, a total of 40+ fatalities have been confirmed, and preliminary damage estimates are more than US $6 billion. Hundreds of thousands of people in Texas remain without power, in conditions of oppressive heat…

You no longer need to get your weather information from the Weather Channel — just tune in to the 6 O’Clock News Headlines or check out the YouTube videos!

The heat dome that has covered a lot of the South West and the entire West Coast of the country for the past month, broke calendar records in Nevada, Arizona, and California after baking Mexico for most of May. Temperatures in Las Vegas reached 120° F. Temperatures soared to 118° F in Phoenix, and 128° F in Death Valley. The Washington Post reported additional records in Fresno, Amarillo, Reno and Flagstaff amongst other cities.

According to NASA, heat waves like this one have become more frequent in the United States in recent decades, doubling in number between 1980 and 2023, from two to four per month.

For those that think California and Texas are a long way away, it’s worth remembering that the top five food-producing states for the entire US include California, Iowa, Nebraska, Texas and Minnesota and the leading farm products: cattle, corn, soybeans, milk and other dairy products, chicken, pigs and wheat … don’t take kindly to prolonged periods of excessive heat, droughts, forest fires, flash floods or hurricanes! If we think food prices are high now, let’s see what the farmers have to say about this season’s crops etc and the impact on our grocery bills in 2025.

What about closer to home? Are you thinking about a summer vacation in “Tropical”… Fairfield County? If so, the forecast is likely to be: partly sunny, temperatures in the upper 80s/low 90s, high humidity, afternoon thunderstorms, potentially damaging winds, flash flood warnings and air quality alerts. Sure sounds like Florida!

It can only be a matter of time before Tarzan is spotted in Newtown, swinging from the vines suffocating the trees. By the way, have you tried gardening in this weather?

It’s time to pay attention to Mother Nature and demand our Politicians do too. Your votes matter. Our farmers, families and friends will thank you.

Remember, she’s only just starting to warm up!

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Do It For Your Grandchildren!

Frank B. Gardner & Neil P. Randle

Sandy Hook