On Friday Aug. 19, Louisiana experienced massive flooding across the state. The floods took 60,000 homes, 13 lives and affected thousands more.

“All of the hotels in the area are booked completely so even if their houses are destroyed, they have to stay in them because they have nowhere else to go,” junior Alexis Garcia-Ruiz  said.

While damage control begins, scientists claim climate change contributed to the disaster. The scientific community says as the ocean gets warmer, more water evaporates and the extra water in the air causes more severe storms.

The flood raised concerns about climate change effects in Florida.

“We’re a coastal environment and as sea level continues to rise, our coastlines are going to be flooded,” AP Environmental Science teacher Pamela Shlachtman said.

On Tuesday, Miami-Dade County residents voted on an amendment to Florida’s constitution providing tax exemptions for renewable energy.

“There’s a slow uptake by the public even when it is encouraged to move in the direction of change,” Shlachtman said. “It is bound to have a positive effect.”

Garcia-Ruiz started a gofundme.com page to raise money for her friend near Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

“I wanted to make sure they had their needs met,” Garcia-Ruiz said. “The donations are just for immediate needs to make their house livable and to replace everything they lost.”

Louisiana’s flooding draws further attention to climate change and its impacts.