🕷️ Crawler Inspector

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Direct Parameter Lookup

Raw Queries and Responses

1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 16 (from laksa195)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa016.int.ahrefs:8124/' \
  -H 'Content-Type: text/plain' \
  -H 'X-ClickHouse-Database: crawler3' \
  -H 'Authorization: Basic YXBpOg==' \
  -d 'SELECT getAhrefsURLFromUnparsed(src_unparsed) AS found_url, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(download_stamp), 0) AS crawl_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(props_url_first_seen), 0) AS first_indexed_time, download_http_code AS http_code, src_unparsed AS src_unparsed, src_root_hash AS src_root_hash, history_drop_reason AS history_drop_reason, meta_title AS meta_title, meta_descriptions AS meta_descriptions, attrs_boilerpipe_text AS attrs_boilerpipe_text, attrs_markdown AS attrs_markdown, attrs_readable_markdown AS attrs_readable_markdown, meta_canonical AS meta_canonical FROM crawler3.page_info_local FINAL PREWHERE (src_root_hash, src_unparsed) IN ((getAhrefsRootHashFromUnparsed(getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-41239383\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-41239383\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/world-us-canada-41239383","crawl_time":1770155110,"first_indexed_time":1529435476,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"com,bbc!www,\/news\/world-us-canada-41239383 s443","src_root_hash":"1643509356818581016","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"Irma: Why Florida avoided catastrophe","meta_descriptions":["Florida had been fearing the worst from Hurricane Irma, but was largely spared. Here is why."],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"12 September 2017\nThe Florida Keys was one of the US areas hit hardest by Irma\nAt the end of last week Florida was bracing itself for one of the most powerful hurricanes ever recorded in the Atlantic, but this week it is clear the US state was spared much of the predicted devastation.\nThis is mostly down to the route of the storm, but is also partly because of how much notice the state had to prepare.\nThe storm was a category five - the highest possible - when it swept over the Caribbean destroying nearly all the buildings on some islands. But when it hit the Florida Keys islands on Sunday, it was down to category four, and it continued weakening over other parts of Florida.\n\"I didn't see the damage I thought I would see,\" said the state's Governor Rick Scott, after flying over the Keys to survey damage.\nHow do hurricanes form?\nA changed route\nIrma went further west than expected. Rather than travelling from the Keys straight northwards to Miami, it moved west and made landfall at Marco Island. That left people on the west coast having to move fast, but it also gave the hurricane time to weaken before hitting a major population centre.\nHurricanes are fuelled by warm moist air, which is best gathered over tropical seas. Travelling over land makes them reduce their strength and speed.\nHowever, the state was not completely spared. Cities like Jacksonville did suffer flooding, and about 60% of homes across Florida were left without power.\nYet the damage did not reach the level predicted, and analysts have cut their estimates of how much the damage would cost to rebuild.\nAllow X content?\nThis article contains content provided by X. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read \n and \n before accepting. To view this content choose \n‘accept and continue’\n.\nMiami's storm surge was small - a \"mere fraction\" of what would it would have been if the storm were further east, a former National Hurricane Center director\ntweeted\n.\nContrast this with the Caribbean, where dozens of people have died. Officials on the island of St Martin officials said six out of ten buildings are uninhabitable, while 95% of buildings have been\ndamaged on Barbuda\n.\nIrma's damage in Florida and the Caribbean\nCuba faces darkness and rebuilding\nGetty Images\nHouses in the Florida Keys were less damaged than expected\nWell-prepared\nHurricane preparation is an annual part of life in Florida, and buildings are generally well-built to deal with the winds.\nAs the hurricane was predicted well in advance, people had a week in which to board up their houses, close the storm shutters and - for the most part - evacuate, as the government recommended.\nThe Caribbean is also hit by hurricanes year on year, and after heavy winds and flooding the damage was severe.\nA government architect from Montserrat, Linda Dias, said, in a\nFacebook post\n, that houses on many Caribbean islands are built to withstand hurricane winds, just not ones at the speed Irma reached.\nAerial footage of damage on the British Virgin Islands\nParadise Lost: St Martin before and after\nBarbuda \"barely habitable\"\nIrma's trail of destruction in Caribbean\nSome island residents are angry that governments in London, Paris and The Hague did not send help to their overseas territories sooner. A British naval ship has since arrived in the Caribbean, while UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and President of France Emmanuel Macron are on their way to see the damage for themselves.\nBritish Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said the UK had responded \"very quickly\" and was making an \"international effort\" alongside the US, France and the Netherlands.\nReuters\nThis bridge, a casualty of the hurricane, once connected Haiti to the Dominican Republic\nThose people who left their Florida homes are\nstarting to return\nto a landscape changed, but not destroyed.\nMany homes are without power and rebuilding homes and business will take time. But as the mayor of Miami, Carlos Gimenez, said: \"Inconvenience is a great thing versus having your home destroyed and your life significantly altered.\"\nIt was undoubtedly an epic hurricane - it travelled 3,700 miles (6,000km), stayed a hurricane for 11 days, and dumped 400mm (15 inches) of rain in some places.\nIt had the fastest Atlantic wind speeds recorded in a decade. But the fact that it lost some of its strength before hitting mainland US is a relief for people in Florida.\nThe BBC's correspondents in the region chart Irma's path of destruction","attrs_markdown":"[Skip to content](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/world-us-canada-41239383#main-content)\n\n[Register](https:\/\/session.bbc.com\/session?action=register&userOrigin=BBCS_BBC&ptrt=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.com%2Fnews%2Fworld-us-canada-41239383)\n\n[Sign In](https:\/\/session.bbc.com\/session?userOrigin=BBCS_BBC&ptrt=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.com%2Fnews%2Fworld-us-canada-41239383)\n\n- [Home](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/)\n- [News](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news)\n- [Sport](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/sport)\n- [Business](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/business)\n- [Technology](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/technology)\n- [Health](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/health)\n- [Culture](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/culture)\n- [Arts](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/arts)\n- [Travel](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/travel)\n- [Earth](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/future-planet)\n- [Audio](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/audio)\n- [Video](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/video)\n- [Live](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/live)\n\n- [Home](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/home)\n- [News](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news)\n  - [US & Canada](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/us-canada)\n  - [UK](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/uk)\n    - [UK Politics](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/politics)\n    - [England](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/england)\n    - [N. 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[Adventures](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/travel\/adventures)\n  - [The SpeciaList](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/travel\/specialist)\n- [Earth](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/future-planet)\n  - [Science](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/innovation\/science)\n  - [Natural Wonders](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/future-planet\/natural-wonders)\n  - [Climate Solutions](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/future-planet\/solutions)\n  - [Sustainable Business](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/future-planet\/sustainable-business)\n  - [Green Living](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/future-planet\/green-living)\n- [Audio](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/audio)\n  - [Podcast Categories](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/audio\/categories)\n  - [Radio](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/audio\/stations)\n  - [Audio FAQs](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/undefined)\n- [Video](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/video)\n  - [BBC Maestro](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/video\/bbc-maestro)\n  - [Discover the World](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/video\/discover-the-world)\n- [Live](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/live)\n  - [Live News](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/live\/news)\n  - [Live Sport](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/live\/sport)\n\n[Home](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/)\n\nNews\n\n[Sport](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/sport)\n\nBusiness\n\nTechnology\n\n[Health](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/health)\n\nCulture\n\nArts\n\nTravel\n\nEarth\n\nAudio\n\nVideo\n\nLive\n\n[Weather](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/weather)\n\n[Newsletters](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/newsletters)\n\n# Irma: Why Florida avoided catastrophe\n12 September 2017\n\nShare\n\nSave\n\nShare\n\nSave\n\nThe Florida Keys was one of the US areas hit hardest by Irma\n\n**At the end of last week Florida was bracing itself for one of the most powerful hurricanes ever recorded in the Atlantic, but this week it is clear the US state was spared much of the predicted devastation.**\n\nThis is mostly down to the route of the storm, but is also partly because of how much notice the state had to prepare.\n\nThe storm was a category five - the highest possible - when it swept over the Caribbean destroying nearly all the buildings on some islands. But when it hit the Florida Keys islands on Sunday, it was down to category four, and it continued weakening over other parts of Florida.\n\n\"I didn't see the damage I thought I would see,\" said the state's Governor Rick Scott, after flying over the Keys to survey damage.\n\n- [How do hurricanes form?](http:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/weather\/features\/24056514)\n## A changed route\nIrma went further west than expected. Rather than travelling from the Keys straight northwards to Miami, it moved west and made landfall at Marco Island. That left people on the west coast having to move fast, but it also gave the hurricane time to weaken before hitting a major population centre.\n\nHurricanes are fuelled by warm moist air, which is best gathered over tropical seas. Travelling over land makes them reduce their strength and speed.\n\nHowever, the state was not completely spared. Cities like Jacksonville did suffer flooding, and about 60% of homes across Florida were left without power.\n\nYet the damage did not reach the level predicted, and analysts have cut their estimates of how much the damage would cost to rebuild.\n\n#### Allow X content?\nThis article contains content provided by X. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read\n\n[X’s cookie policy](https:\/\/help.twitter.com\/en\/rules-and-policies\/twitter-cookies)\n\nand\n\n[privacy policy](https:\/\/twitter.com\/en\/privacy)\n\nbefore accepting. To view this content choose **‘accept and continue’**.\n\nAccept and continue\n\nMiami's storm surge was small - a \"mere fraction\" of what would it would have been if the storm were further east, a former National Hurricane Center director [tweeted](https:\/\/twitter.com\/DrRickKnabb\/status\/906976719361503233).\n\nContrast this with the Caribbean, where dozens of people have died. Officials on the island of St Martin officials said six out of ten buildings are uninhabitable, while 95% of buildings have been [damaged on Barbuda](http:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/av\/world-latin-america-41193528\/hurricane-irma-desperation-and-chaos-on-barbuda).\n\n- [Irma's damage in Florida and the Caribbean](http:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/world-us-canada-41175312)\n- [Cuba faces darkness and rebuilding](http:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/world-latin-america-41235494)\n\n![Getty Images houses seen from above with very little damage](https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/1488B\/production\/_97770148_floridakeys.jpg.webp)Getty Images\n\nHouses in the Florida Keys were less damaged than expected\n## Well-prepared\nHurricane preparation is an annual part of life in Florida, and buildings are generally well-built to deal with the winds.\n\nAs the hurricane was predicted well in advance, people had a week in which to board up their houses, close the storm shutters and - for the most part - evacuate, as the government recommended.\n\nThe Caribbean is also hit by hurricanes year on year, and after heavy winds and flooding the damage was severe.\n\nA government architect from Montserrat, Linda Dias, said, in a [Facebook post](https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/lasdias\/posts\/10155394033080067), that houses on many Caribbean islands are built to withstand hurricane winds, just not ones at the speed Irma reached.\n\n- [Aerial footage of damage on the British Virgin Islands](http:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/av\/world-latin-america-41208637\/hurricane-irma-british-virgin-islands-devastation)\n- [Paradise Lost: St Martin before and after](http:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/av\/world-latin-america-41194219\/hurricane-irma-st-martin-before-and-after)\n- [Barbuda \"barely habitable\"](http:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/av\/world-latin-america-41183962\/hurricane-irma-barbuda-barely-habitable-says-pm)\n- [Irma's trail of destruction in Caribbean](http:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/world-latin-america-41218002)\n\nSome island residents are angry that governments in London, Paris and The Hague did not send help to their overseas territories sooner. A British naval ship has since arrived in the Caribbean, while UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and President of France Emmanuel Macron are on their way to see the damage for themselves.\n\nBritish Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said the UK had responded \"very quickly\" and was making an \"international effort\" alongside the US, France and the Netherlands.\n\n![Reuters bridge with entire section missing](https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/images\/ic\/1024x1024\/p0hq72jn.png.webp)Reuters\n\nThis bridge, a casualty of the hurricane, once connected Haiti to the Dominican Republic\n\nThose people who left their Florida homes are [starting to return](http:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/world-us-canada-41237115) to a landscape changed, but not destroyed.\n\nMany homes are without power and rebuilding homes and business will take time. But as the mayor of Miami, Carlos Gimenez, said: \"Inconvenience is a great thing versus having your home destroyed and your life significantly altered.\"\n\nIt was undoubtedly an epic hurricane - it travelled 3,700 miles (6,000km), stayed a hurricane for 11 days, and dumped 400mm (15 inches) of rain in some places.\n\nIt had the fastest Atlantic wind speeds recorded in a decade. But the fact that it lost some of its strength before hitting mainland US is a relief for people in Florida.\n\nThe BBC's correspondents in the region chart Irma's path of destruction\n\n[Florida reopens storm-ravaged Keys](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/world-us-canada-41237115)\n\n[How badly did Irma hit the Florida Keys?](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/world-us-canada-41234661)\n\n[Irma weakens](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/weather\/feeds\/41234063)\n\n[Irma's trail of destruction in Caribbean](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/world-latin-america-41218002)\n\n[What are the UK's commitments to overseas territories?](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/uk-41203243)\n\n[How do hurricanes form?](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/weather\/features\/24056514)\n***\n- [Home](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/)\n- [News](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news)\n- [Sport](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/sport)\n- [Business](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/business)\n- [Technology](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/technology)\n- [Health](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/health)\n- [Culture](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/culture)\n- [Arts](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/arts)\n- [Travel](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/travel)\n- [Earth](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/future-planet)\n- [Audio](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/audio)\n- [Video](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/video)\n- [Live](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/live)\n- [Weather](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/weather)\n- [BBC Shop](https:\/\/shop.bbc.com\/)\n- [BritBox](https:\/\/www.britbox.com\/?utm_source=bbc.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=footer)\n\nBBC in other languages\n\n### The BBC is in multiple languages\n#### Read the BBC In your own language\n[Oduu Afaan Oromootiin](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/afaanoromoo)\n\n[Amharic ዜና በአማርኛ](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/amharic)\n\n[Arabic عربي](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/arabic)\n\n[Azeri AZƏRBAYCAN](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/azeri)\n\n[Bangla বাংলা](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/bengali)\n\n[Burmese မြန်မာ](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/burmese)\n\n[Chinese 中文网](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/zhongwen\/simp)\n\n[Dari دری](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/dari)\n\n[French AFRIQUE](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/afrique)\n\n[Hausa HAUSA](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/hausa)\n\n[Hindi हिन्दी](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/hindi)\n\n[Gaelic NAIDHEACHDAN](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/naidheachdan)\n\n[Gujarati ગુજરાતીમાં સમાચાર](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/gujarati)\n\n[Igbo AKỤKỌ N’IGBO](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/igbo)\n\n[Indonesian INDONESIA](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/indonesia)\n\n[Japanese 日本語](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/japanese)\n\n[Kinyarwanda GAHUZA](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/gahuza)\n\n[Kirundi KIRUNDI](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/gahuza)\n\n[Korean 한국어](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/korean)\n\n[Kyrgyz Кыргыз](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/kyrgyz)\n\n[Marathi मराठी](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/marathi)\n\n[Nepali नेपाली](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/nepali)\n\n[Noticias para hispanoparlantes](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/mundo)\n\n[Pashto پښتو](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/pashto)\n\n[Persian فارسی](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/persian)\n\n[Pidgin](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/pidgin)\n\n[Polish PO POLSKU](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/polska)\n\n[Portuguese BRASIL](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/portuguese)\n\n[Punjabi ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਖ਼ਬਰਾਂ](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/punjabi)\n\n[Russian НА РУССКОМ](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/russian)\n\n[Serbian NA SRPSKOM](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/serbian\/lat)\n\n[Sinhala සිංහල](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/sinhala)\n\n[Somali SOMALI](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/somali)\n\n[Swahili HABARI KWA KISWAHILI](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/swahili)\n\n[Tamil தமிழில் செய்திகள்](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/tamil)\n\n[Telugu తెలుగు వార్తలు](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/telugu)\n\n[Thai ข่าวภาษาไทย](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/thai)\n\n[Tigrinya ዜና ብትግርኛ](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/tigrinya)\n\n[Turkish TÜRKÇE](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/turkce)\n\n[Ukrainian УКРАЇНСЬКA](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/ukrainian)\n\n[Urdu اردو](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/urdu)\n\n[Uzbek O'ZBEK](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/uzbek)\n\n[Vietnamese TIẾNG VIỆT](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/vietnamese)\n\n[Welsh NEWYDDION](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/cymrufyw)\n\n[Yoruba ÌRÒYÌN NÍ YORÙBÁ](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/yoruba)\n\nFollow BBC on:\n\n- [Terms of Use](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/pages\/terms-of-use)\n- [Subscription Terms](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/pages\/subscription-terms)\n- [About the BBC](https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/aboutthebbc)\n- [Privacy Policy](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/pages\/privacy-policy)\n- [Cookies](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/usingthebbc\/cookies\/)\n- [Accessibility Help](https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/accessibility\/)\n- [Contact the BBC](https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/contact)\n- [Advertise with us](https:\/\/advertising.bbcstudios.com\/)\n- [Do not share or sell my info](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/usingthebbc\/cookies\/how-can-i-change-my-bbc-cookie-settings\/)\n- [BBC.com Help & FAQs](https:\/\/help.bbc.com\/hc\/)\n- [Content Index](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/pages\/content-index)\n- [Set Preferred Source](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/future\/article\/20260128-how-to-make-google-put-trusted-sources-up-top-when-you-search)\n\nCopyright 2026 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. [**Read about our approach to external linking.**](https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/editorialguidelines\/guidance\/feeds-and-links)","attrs_readable_markdown":"12 September 2017\n\nThe Florida Keys was one of the US areas hit hardest by Irma\n\n**At the end of last week Florida was bracing itself for one of the most powerful hurricanes ever recorded in the Atlantic, but this week it is clear the US state was spared much of the predicted devastation.**\n\nThis is mostly down to the route of the storm, but is also partly because of how much notice the state had to prepare.\n\nThe storm was a category five - the highest possible - when it swept over the Caribbean destroying nearly all the buildings on some islands. But when it hit the Florida Keys islands on Sunday, it was down to category four, and it continued weakening over other parts of Florida.\n\n\"I didn't see the damage I thought I would see,\" said the state's Governor Rick Scott, after flying over the Keys to survey damage.\n\n- [How do hurricanes form?](http:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/weather\/features\/24056514)\n\nA changed route\n\nIrma went further west than expected. Rather than travelling from the Keys straight northwards to Miami, it moved west and made landfall at Marco Island. That left people on the west coast having to move fast, but it also gave the hurricane time to weaken before hitting a major population centre.\n\nHurricanes are fuelled by warm moist air, which is best gathered over tropical seas. Travelling over land makes them reduce their strength and speed.\n\nHowever, the state was not completely spared. Cities like Jacksonville did suffer flooding, and about 60% of homes across Florida were left without power.\n\nYet the damage did not reach the level predicted, and analysts have cut their estimates of how much the damage would cost to rebuild.\n\n#### Allow X content?\nThis article contains content provided by X. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read\n\nand\n\nbefore accepting. To view this content choose **‘accept and continue’**.\n\nMiami's storm surge was small - a \"mere fraction\" of what would it would have been if the storm were further east, a former National Hurricane Center director [tweeted](https:\/\/twitter.com\/DrRickKnabb\/status\/906976719361503233).\n\nContrast this with the Caribbean, where dozens of people have died. Officials on the island of St Martin officials said six out of ten buildings are uninhabitable, while 95% of buildings have been [damaged on Barbuda](http:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/av\/world-latin-america-41193528\/hurricane-irma-desperation-and-chaos-on-barbuda).\n\n- [Irma's damage in Florida and the Caribbean](http:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/world-us-canada-41175312)\n- [Cuba faces darkness and rebuilding](http:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/world-latin-america-41235494)\n\n![Getty Images houses seen from above with very little damage](https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/1488B\/production\/_97770148_floridakeys.jpg.webp)Getty Images\n\nHouses in the Florida Keys were less damaged than expected\n\nWell-prepared\n\nHurricane preparation is an annual part of life in Florida, and buildings are generally well-built to deal with the winds.\n\nAs the hurricane was predicted well in advance, people had a week in which to board up their houses, close the storm shutters and - for the most part - evacuate, as the government recommended.\n\nThe Caribbean is also hit by hurricanes year on year, and after heavy winds and flooding the damage was severe.\n\nA government architect from Montserrat, Linda Dias, said, in a [Facebook post](https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/lasdias\/posts\/10155394033080067), that houses on many Caribbean islands are built to withstand hurricane winds, just not ones at the speed Irma reached.\n\n- [Aerial footage of damage on the British Virgin Islands](http:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/av\/world-latin-america-41208637\/hurricane-irma-british-virgin-islands-devastation)\n- [Paradise Lost: St Martin before and after](http:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/av\/world-latin-america-41194219\/hurricane-irma-st-martin-before-and-after)\n- [Barbuda \"barely habitable\"](http:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/av\/world-latin-america-41183962\/hurricane-irma-barbuda-barely-habitable-says-pm)\n- [Irma's trail of destruction in Caribbean](http:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/world-latin-america-41218002)\n\nSome island residents are angry that governments in London, Paris and The Hague did not send help to their overseas territories sooner. A British naval ship has since arrived in the Caribbean, while UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and President of France Emmanuel Macron are on their way to see the damage for themselves.\n\nBritish Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said the UK had responded \"very quickly\" and was making an \"international effort\" alongside the US, France and the Netherlands.\n\n![Reuters bridge with entire section missing](https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/images\/ic\/1024x1024\/p0hq72jn.png.webp)Reuters\n\nThis bridge, a casualty of the hurricane, once connected Haiti to the Dominican Republic\n\nThose people who left their Florida homes are [starting to return](http:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/world-us-canada-41237115) to a landscape changed, but not destroyed.\n\nMany homes are without power and rebuilding homes and business will take time. But as the mayor of Miami, Carlos Gimenez, said: \"Inconvenience is a great thing versus having your home destroyed and your life significantly altered.\"\n\nIt was undoubtedly an epic hurricane - it travelled 3,700 miles (6,000km), stayed a hurricane for 11 days, and dumped 400mm (15 inches) of rain in some places.\n\nIt had the fastest Atlantic wind speeds recorded in a decade. But the fact that it lost some of its strength before hitting mainland US is a relief for people in Florida.\n\nThe BBC's correspondents in the region chart Irma's path of destruction","meta_canonical":null}

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Meta Title	Irma: Why Florida avoided catastrophe
Meta Description	Florida had been fearing the worst from Hurricane Irma, but was largely spared. Here is why.
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Boilerpipe Text	12 September 2017 The Florida Keys was one of the US areas hit hardest by Irma At the end of last week Florida was bracing itself for one of the most powerful hurricanes ever recorded in the Atlantic, but this week it is clear the US state was spared much of the predicted devastation. This is mostly down to the route of the storm, but is also partly because of how much notice the state had to prepare. The storm was a category five - the highest possible - when it swept over the Caribbean destroying nearly all the buildings on some islands. But when it hit the Florida Keys islands on Sunday, it was down to category four, and it continued weakening over other parts of Florida. "I didn't see the damage I thought I would see," said the state's Governor Rick Scott, after flying over the Keys to survey damage. How do hurricanes form? A changed route Irma went further west than expected. Rather than travelling from the Keys straight northwards to Miami, it moved west and made landfall at Marco Island. That left people on the west coast having to move fast, but it also gave the hurricane time to weaken before hitting a major population centre. Hurricanes are fuelled by warm moist air, which is best gathered over tropical seas. Travelling over land makes them reduce their strength and speed. However, the state was not completely spared. Cities like Jacksonville did suffer flooding, and about 60% of homes across Florida were left without power. Yet the damage did not reach the level predicted, and analysts have cut their estimates of how much the damage would cost to rebuild. Allow X content? This article contains content provided by X. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read and before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’ . Miami's storm surge was small - a "mere fraction" of what would it would have been if the storm were further east, a former National Hurricane Center director tweeted . Contrast this with the Caribbean, where dozens of people have died. Officials on the island of St Martin officials said six out of ten buildings are uninhabitable, while 95% of buildings have been damaged on Barbuda . Irma's damage in Florida and the Caribbean Cuba faces darkness and rebuilding Getty Images Houses in the Florida Keys were less damaged than expected Well-prepared Hurricane preparation is an annual part of life in Florida, and buildings are generally well-built to deal with the winds. As the hurricane was predicted well in advance, people had a week in which to board up their houses, close the storm shutters and - for the most part - evacuate, as the government recommended. The Caribbean is also hit by hurricanes year on year, and after heavy winds and flooding the damage was severe. A government architect from Montserrat, Linda Dias, said, in a Facebook post , that houses on many Caribbean islands are built to withstand hurricane winds, just not ones at the speed Irma reached. Aerial footage of damage on the British Virgin Islands Paradise Lost: St Martin before and after Barbuda "barely habitable" Irma's trail of destruction in Caribbean Some island residents are angry that governments in London, Paris and The Hague did not send help to their overseas territories sooner. A British naval ship has since arrived in the Caribbean, while UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and President of France Emmanuel Macron are on their way to see the damage for themselves. British Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said the UK had responded "very quickly" and was making an "international effort" alongside the US, France and the Netherlands. Reuters This bridge, a casualty of the hurricane, once connected Haiti to the Dominican Republic Those people who left their Florida homes are starting to return to a landscape changed, but not destroyed. Many homes are without power and rebuilding homes and business will take time. But as the mayor of Miami, Carlos Gimenez, said: "Inconvenience is a great thing versus having your home destroyed and your life significantly altered." It was undoubtedly an epic hurricane - it travelled 3,700 miles (6,000km), stayed a hurricane for 11 days, and dumped 400mm (15 inches) of rain in some places. It had the fastest Atlantic wind speeds recorded in a decade. But the fact that it lost some of its strength before hitting mainland US is a relief for people in Florida. The BBC's correspondents in the region chart Irma's path of destruction
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This is mostly down to the route of the storm, but is also partly because of how much notice the state had to prepare. The storm was a category five - the highest possible - when it swept over the Caribbean destroying nearly all the buildings on some islands. But when it hit the Florida Keys islands on Sunday, it was down to category four, and it continued weakening over other parts of Florida. "I didn't see the damage I thought I would see," said the state's Governor Rick Scott, after flying over the Keys to survey damage. - [How do hurricanes form?](http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/features/24056514) ## A changed route Irma went further west than expected. Rather than travelling from the Keys straight northwards to Miami, it moved west and made landfall at Marco Island. That left people on the west coast having to move fast, but it also gave the hurricane time to weaken before hitting a major population centre. Hurricanes are fuelled by warm moist air, which is best gathered over tropical seas. Travelling over land makes them reduce their strength and speed. However, the state was not completely spared. Cities like Jacksonville did suffer flooding, and about 60% of homes across Florida were left without power. Yet the damage did not reach the level predicted, and analysts have cut their estimates of how much the damage would cost to rebuild. #### Allow X content? This article contains content provided by X. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read [X’s cookie policy](https://help.twitter.com/en/rules-and-policies/twitter-cookies) and [privacy policy](https://twitter.com/en/privacy) before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’. Accept and continue Miami's storm surge was small - a "mere fraction" of what would it would have been if the storm were further east, a former National Hurricane Center director [tweeted](https://twitter.com/DrRickKnabb/status/906976719361503233). Contrast this with the Caribbean, where dozens of people have died. Officials on the island of St Martin officials said six out of ten buildings are uninhabitable, while 95% of buildings have been [damaged on Barbuda](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-latin-america-41193528/hurricane-irma-desperation-and-chaos-on-barbuda). - [Irma's damage in Florida and the Caribbean](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-41175312) - [Cuba faces darkness and rebuilding](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-41235494) ![Getty Images houses seen from above with very little damage](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/1488B/production/_97770148_floridakeys.jpg.webp)Getty Images Houses in the Florida Keys were less damaged than expected ## Well-prepared Hurricane preparation is an annual part of life in Florida, and buildings are generally well-built to deal with the winds. As the hurricane was predicted well in advance, people had a week in which to board up their houses, close the storm shutters and - for the most part - evacuate, as the government recommended. The Caribbean is also hit by hurricanes year on year, and after heavy winds and flooding the damage was severe. A government architect from Montserrat, Linda Dias, said, in a [Facebook post](https://www.facebook.com/lasdias/posts/10155394033080067), that houses on many Caribbean islands are built to withstand hurricane winds, just not ones at the speed Irma reached. - [Aerial footage of damage on the British Virgin Islands](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-latin-america-41208637/hurricane-irma-british-virgin-islands-devastation) - [Paradise Lost: St Martin before and after](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-latin-america-41194219/hurricane-irma-st-martin-before-and-after) - [Barbuda "barely habitable"](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-latin-america-41183962/hurricane-irma-barbuda-barely-habitable-says-pm) - [Irma's trail of destruction in Caribbean](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-41218002) Some island residents are angry that governments in London, Paris and The Hague did not send help to their overseas territories sooner. A British naval ship has since arrived in the Caribbean, while UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and President of France Emmanuel Macron are on their way to see the damage for themselves. British Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said the UK had responded "very quickly" and was making an "international effort" alongside the US, France and the Netherlands. ![Reuters bridge with entire section missing](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/1024x1024/p0hq72jn.png.webp)Reuters This bridge, a casualty of the hurricane, once connected Haiti to the Dominican Republic Those people who left their Florida homes are [starting to return](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-41237115) to a landscape changed, but not destroyed. Many homes are without power and rebuilding homes and business will take time. But as the mayor of Miami, Carlos Gimenez, said: "Inconvenience is a great thing versus having your home destroyed and your life significantly altered." It was undoubtedly an epic hurricane - it travelled 3,700 miles (6,000km), stayed a hurricane for 11 days, and dumped 400mm (15 inches) of rain in some places. It had the fastest Atlantic wind speeds recorded in a decade. But the fact that it lost some of its strength before hitting mainland US is a relief for people in Florida. The BBC's correspondents in the region chart Irma's path of destruction [Florida reopens storm-ravaged Keys](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-41237115) [How badly did Irma hit the Florida Keys?](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-41234661) [Irma weakens](https://www.bbc.com/weather/feeds/41234063) [Irma's trail of destruction in Caribbean](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-41218002) [What are the UK's commitments to overseas territories?](https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-41203243) [How do hurricanes form?](https://www.bbc.com/weather/features/24056514) * - [Home](https://www.bbc.com/) - [News](https://www.bbc.com/news) - [Sport](https://www.bbc.com/sport) - [Business](https://www.bbc.com/business) - [Technology](https://www.bbc.com/technology) - [Health](https://www.bbc.com/health) - [Culture](https://www.bbc.com/culture) - [Arts](https://www.bbc.com/arts) - [Travel](https://www.bbc.com/travel) - [Earth](https://www.bbc.com/future-planet) - [Audio](https://www.bbc.com/audio) - [Video](https://www.bbc.com/video) - [Live](https://www.bbc.com/live) - [Weather](https://www.bbc.com/weather) - [BBC Shop](https://shop.bbc.com/) - [BritBox](https://www.britbox.com/?utm_source=bbc.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=footer) BBC in other languages ### The BBC is in multiple languages #### Read the BBC In your own language [Oduu Afaan Oromootiin](https://www.bbc.com/afaanoromoo) [Amharic ዜና በአማርኛ](https://www.bbc.com/amharic) [Arabic عربي](https://www.bbc.com/arabic) [Azeri AZƏRBAYCAN](https://www.bbc.com/azeri) [Bangla বাংলা](https://www.bbc.com/bengali) [Burmese မြန်မာ](https://www.bbc.com/burmese) [Chinese 中文网](https://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/simp) [Dari دری](https://www.bbc.com/dari) [French AFRIQUE](https://www.bbc.com/afrique) [Hausa HAUSA](https://www.bbc.com/hausa) [Hindi हिन्दी](https://www.bbc.com/hindi) [Gaelic NAIDHEACHDAN](https://www.bbc.com/naidheachdan) [Gujarati ગુજરાતીમાં સમાચાર](https://www.bbc.com/gujarati) [Igbo AKỤKỌ N’IGBO](https://www.bbc.com/igbo) [Indonesian INDONESIA](https://www.bbc.com/indonesia) [Japanese 日本語](https://www.bbc.com/japanese) [Kinyarwanda GAHUZA](https://www.bbc.com/gahuza) [Kirundi KIRUNDI](https://www.bbc.com/gahuza) [Korean 한국어](https://www.bbc.com/korean) [Kyrgyz Кыргыз](https://www.bbc.com/kyrgyz) [Marathi मराठी](https://www.bbc.com/marathi) [Nepali नेपाली](https://www.bbc.com/nepali) [Noticias para hispanoparlantes](https://www.bbc.com/mundo) [Pashto پښتو](https://www.bbc.com/pashto) [Persian فارسی](https://www.bbc.com/persian) [Pidgin](https://www.bbc.com/pidgin) [Polish PO POLSKU](https://www.bbc.com/polska) [Portuguese BRASIL](https://www.bbc.com/portuguese) [Punjabi ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਖ਼ਬਰਾਂ](https://www.bbc.com/punjabi) [Russian НА РУССКОМ](https://www.bbc.com/russian) [Serbian NA SRPSKOM](https://www.bbc.com/serbian/lat) [Sinhala සිංහල](https://www.bbc.com/sinhala) [Somali SOMALI](https://www.bbc.com/somali) [Swahili HABARI KWA KISWAHILI](https://www.bbc.com/swahili) [Tamil தமிழில் செய்திகள்](https://www.bbc.com/tamil) [Telugu తెలుగు వార్తలు](https://www.bbc.com/telugu) [Thai ข่าวภาษาไทย](https://www.bbc.com/thai) [Tigrinya ዜና ብትግርኛ](https://www.bbc.com/tigrinya) [Turkish TÜRKÇE](https://www.bbc.com/turkce) [Ukrainian УКРАЇНСЬКA](https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian) [Urdu اردو](https://www.bbc.com/urdu) [Uzbek O'ZBEK](https://www.bbc.com/uzbek) [Vietnamese TIẾNG VIỆT](https://www.bbc.com/vietnamese) [Welsh NEWYDDION](https://www.bbc.com/cymrufyw) [Yoruba ÌRÒYÌN NÍ YORÙBÁ](https://www.bbc.com/yoruba) Follow BBC on: - [Terms of Use](https://www.bbc.com/pages/terms-of-use) - [Subscription Terms](https://www.bbc.com/pages/subscription-terms) - [About the BBC](https://www.bbc.co.uk/aboutthebbc) - [Privacy Policy](https://www.bbc.com/pages/privacy-policy) - [Cookies](https://www.bbc.com/usingthebbc/cookies/) - [Accessibility Help](https://www.bbc.co.uk/accessibility/) - [Contact the BBC](https://www.bbc.co.uk/contact) - [Advertise with us](https://advertising.bbcstudios.com/) - [Do not share or sell my info](https://www.bbc.com/usingthebbc/cookies/how-can-i-change-my-bbc-cookie-settings/) - [BBC.com Help & FAQs](https://help.bbc.com/hc/) - [Content Index](https://www.bbc.com/pages/content-index) - [Set Preferred Source](https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20260128-how-to-make-google-put-trusted-sources-up-top-when-you-search) Copyright 2026 BBC. 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Readable Markdown	12 September 2017 The Florida Keys was one of the US areas hit hardest by Irma At the end of last week Florida was bracing itself for one of the most powerful hurricanes ever recorded in the Atlantic, but this week it is clear the US state was spared much of the predicted devastation. This is mostly down to the route of the storm, but is also partly because of how much notice the state had to prepare. The storm was a category five - the highest possible - when it swept over the Caribbean destroying nearly all the buildings on some islands. But when it hit the Florida Keys islands on Sunday, it was down to category four, and it continued weakening over other parts of Florida. "I didn't see the damage I thought I would see," said the state's Governor Rick Scott, after flying over the Keys to survey damage. - [How do hurricanes form?](http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/features/24056514) A changed route Irma went further west than expected. Rather than travelling from the Keys straight northwards to Miami, it moved west and made landfall at Marco Island. That left people on the west coast having to move fast, but it also gave the hurricane time to weaken before hitting a major population centre. Hurricanes are fuelled by warm moist air, which is best gathered over tropical seas. Travelling over land makes them reduce their strength and speed. However, the state was not completely spared. Cities like Jacksonville did suffer flooding, and about 60% of homes across Florida were left without power. Yet the damage did not reach the level predicted, and analysts have cut their estimates of how much the damage would cost to rebuild. #### Allow X content? This article contains content provided by X. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read and before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’. Miami's storm surge was small - a "mere fraction" of what would it would have been if the storm were further east, a former National Hurricane Center director [tweeted](https://twitter.com/DrRickKnabb/status/906976719361503233). Contrast this with the Caribbean, where dozens of people have died. Officials on the island of St Martin officials said six out of ten buildings are uninhabitable, while 95% of buildings have been [damaged on Barbuda](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-latin-america-41193528/hurricane-irma-desperation-and-chaos-on-barbuda). - [Irma's damage in Florida and the Caribbean](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-41175312) - [Cuba faces darkness and rebuilding](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-41235494) ![Getty Images houses seen from above with very little damage](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/1488B/production/_97770148_floridakeys.jpg.webp)Getty Images Houses in the Florida Keys were less damaged than expected Well-prepared Hurricane preparation is an annual part of life in Florida, and buildings are generally well-built to deal with the winds. As the hurricane was predicted well in advance, people had a week in which to board up their houses, close the storm shutters and - for the most part - evacuate, as the government recommended. The Caribbean is also hit by hurricanes year on year, and after heavy winds and flooding the damage was severe. A government architect from Montserrat, Linda Dias, said, in a [Facebook post](https://www.facebook.com/lasdias/posts/10155394033080067), that houses on many Caribbean islands are built to withstand hurricane winds, just not ones at the speed Irma reached. - [Aerial footage of damage on the British Virgin Islands](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-latin-america-41208637/hurricane-irma-british-virgin-islands-devastation) - [Paradise Lost: St Martin before and after](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-latin-america-41194219/hurricane-irma-st-martin-before-and-after) - [Barbuda "barely habitable"](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-latin-america-41183962/hurricane-irma-barbuda-barely-habitable-says-pm) - [Irma's trail of destruction in Caribbean](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-41218002) Some island residents are angry that governments in London, Paris and The Hague did not send help to their overseas territories sooner. A British naval ship has since arrived in the Caribbean, while UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and President of France Emmanuel Macron are on their way to see the damage for themselves. British Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said the UK had responded "very quickly" and was making an "international effort" alongside the US, France and the Netherlands. ![Reuters bridge with entire section missing](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/1024x1024/p0hq72jn.png.webp)Reuters This bridge, a casualty of the hurricane, once connected Haiti to the Dominican Republic Those people who left their Florida homes are [starting to return](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-41237115) to a landscape changed, but not destroyed. Many homes are without power and rebuilding homes and business will take time. But as the mayor of Miami, Carlos Gimenez, said: "Inconvenience is a great thing versus having your home destroyed and your life significantly altered." It was undoubtedly an epic hurricane - it travelled 3,700 miles (6,000km), stayed a hurricane for 11 days, and dumped 400mm (15 inches) of rain in some places. It had the fastest Atlantic wind speeds recorded in a decade. But the fact that it lost some of its strength before hitting mainland US is a relief for people in Florida. The BBC's correspondents in the region chart Irma's path of destruction
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