A political cartoon published October 11, 2024, depicts a climate change denier on a nearly submerged island who finally accepts the science and asks to return to the mainland before the next hurricane. His companion points out that the flooded land is the mainland. The image responds to Hurricanes Helene and Milton, which caused widespread flooding in Florida and North Carolina in September and October 2024. The cartoon uses the desert island trope to illustrate how some skeptics only acknowledge climate impacts after personal exposure to extreme weather. It underscores the irreversible effects of sea level rise and storm intensification already underway.
The cartoon depicts Rep. Andy Ogles standing in a boat in flooded eastern Tennessee, raising a sign demanding DC stay out while a companion holds a sign pleading for federal Helene recovery funds. The scene highlights the tension between anti-government rhetoric and the need for disaster assistance after the hurricane.
The cartoon depicts a family adrift in turbulent waters during a fierce storm, with a large hand emerging from the waves. It responds to 2021 hurricane season flooding in states like Texas, Florida and Louisiana. Heavy rains, lightning and high waves symbolize rising sea levels and extreme weather linked to climate change. The image highlights the need for FEMA support and federal action under the Biden administration while noting partisan divides with GOP positions on climate policy. As of September 2021, recent storms had caused widespread water damage, erosion and rescue operations along the Gulf Coast.
