Hurricane Irma made landfall on the continental US early Sunday, bringing devastating wind and rain to the Gulf Coast side—and tip of—southern Florida. Apparently Florida’s ad hoc armada of citizen shooters pumping lead into the great storm’s clouds didn’t help.
Florida Man Ryon Edwards thought it would be funny to start a Facebook page titled “Shoot at Hurricane Irma.” It was pretty funny, until it was evident that a lot of people loved the page—tens of thousands of Facebook users—and there might be a few among them who would actually waste their ammo on clouds.
The Sheriff’s office in Pasco County, Florida even felt the need to put out a tweet.
To clarify, DO NOT shoot weapons @ #Irma. You won't make it turn around & it will have very dangerous side effectshttps://t.co/CV4Y9OJknv
— Pasco Sheriff (@PascoSheriff) September 10, 2017
There are many problems with randomly targeting whirling storm clouds, chief among them being the issue with fired bullets inevitably coming back to earth again. It makes sense that law enforcement would be concerned about this.
Ryon Edwards confessed to Time that he was “amazed that anyone could see it as anything else than a joke.”
@JustonStrmRider tearing it up! pic.twitter.com/VhC97GZJBa
— Simon Brewer (@SimonStormRider) September 10, 2017
Irma is such a dangerous storm humor may be just as good a weapon as bullets to deal with it.
Recent video and photos from Florida demonstrate there isn’t a gun anywhere that could get you out of this.
Intense wind and rain on Miami Beach. Trees down. #HurricaneIrma is here — and we're not even getting the eye. Wind hasn't let up. @wsvn pic.twitter.com/qsEmE6FAGi
— Brian Entin (@BrianEntin) September 10, 2017
Eyewall and Storm Surge !! #HurricaneIrma #KeyWest pic.twitter.com/jI9kItZWqJ
— Mike Theiss (@MikeTheiss) September 10, 2017
These winds are punishing and water is rising. The view in Brickell. #HurricaneIrma pic.twitter.com/c0OKy5D9gR
— Joey Flechas (@joeflech) September 10, 2017
https://twitter.com/TheRealKLawson/status/906880506981208064
This is NE 30th street in Miami right now.
Biscayne Bay waters have surged over the seawall, flooding the street. #HurricaneIrma @NBC6 pic.twitter.com/ru6xiTcPnn
— Michael Spears (@MikeSpearsJr) September 10, 2017
Two parrots seek shelter at the edge of a 22nd-floor window at Dadeland Marriott in Kendall #HurricaneIrma https://t.co/xLEiDeiNHl pic.twitter.com/eRxicdzRSW
— WPLG Local 10 News (@WPLGLocal10) September 9, 2017