Hurricane Polo threatens Southwest U.S. with flooding. See its path.

Hurricane Polo, a Category 3 storm, was poised to make landfall on Monday night, threatening Mexico’s Baja California Sur and Sonora with “life-threatening winds and flash floods.” The U.S. National Hurricane Center reported that Polo’s maximum sustained winds were around 111 mph. The storm was expected to hit Baja California Sur by Monday evening, move into southern Sonora by late Monday night or early Tuesday, and then continue into the U.S., bringing heavy rain. Flood watches were issued for 11 states, including Arizona, New Mexico, and parts of Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, and Texas, affecting over 14 million Americans. The National Weather Service warned of significant flash flood threats across the Southwest U.S. and Central Plains, with potential rainfall of 3 to 6 inches from Arizona to Texas and as far north as Iowa. Major cities like Phoenix, Albuquerque, Dallas, Oklahoma City, and Omaha could experience flash flooding. Although Polo was expected to weaken as it moved inland, it would still be strong enough to be classified as a hurricane upon reaching mainland Mexico. QUESTION: How might communities better prepare for the increasing frequency and intensity of hurricanes like Polo in the future?