The Atlantic hurricane season begins on June 1 and, with 2020 expected to be unusually active, people of coastal areas are closely monitoring the weather. Flooding is frequently the most harmful result of tropical storms, and it can disproportionately harm ecosystems and vulnerable populations.
Currently, researchers studying the effects of two recent hurricanes in North Carolina’s water quality in the journal Environmental Science & Technology of the American Chemical Society (ACS) recommend interventions to safeguard vulnerable areas.
Flooding-related water quality issues can endanger both human and animal health. Sewers, hazardous waste dumps, agricultural fields, and animal feeding operations may overflow due to rising waters, releasing contaminants into nearby rivers.
There are flood danger maps to help prevent buildings from being built in flood plains, however, the charts aren’t always accurate. As a result of two recent hurricanes, Danica Schaffer-Smith and colleagues wanted to see how effectively the maps actually predicted floods. Additionally, they sought ways to strengthen the region’s ability to withstand future storms and identify risks to water quality.
The researchers created a computer system that, using satellite pictures, mapped the North Carolina regions that were inundated by Hurricanes Florence and Matthew in 2018 and 2016. They discovered that during both storms, hurricane flooding occurred outside of the flood hazard zones designated by the state.
The team discovered greater effects on neighborhoods with higher proportions of senior citizens, individuals with disabilities, unemployed people, and mobile homes when they matched the flooded regions to the socioeconomic characteristics of the residents there.
Within the inundated areas, the researchers mapped numerous potential sources of water pollution, such as industrial discharges, swine and poultry farms, hazardous waste sites, and wastewater treatment facilities.
According to the researchers, some measures, such as government property buyouts, forest restoration, or wetland conservation, could help decrease the effects of upcoming hurricanes.
