Hidden Environmental Hazards Remain After Hurricane Irene

Hurricane Irene roared up the East Coast of the United States bringing high winds and catastrophic rainfalls for days after initially making landfall in Cape Lookout, North Carolina on August 27^th. Damage from wind and water according to a report published by Yahoo! News, may total as much as $7 billion. Damages to roads, bridges and buildings are obvious, but there are other significant impacts caused by the storm and the resulting floods that may be less obvious to the eye, yet still have significant effects upon the area and the people who live there as well.

Food Supply Contamination

Vegetable gardens and commercial food crops that were exposed to inland flood waters should be considered a total loss and destroyed even if they remained in place after the flooding. Flood waters generally contain both bacterial and chemical contaminants that are hazardous to human health. These materials render vegetables exposed to the waters unsafe for human consumption in many cases. As I drove through Vermont shortly after Hurricane Irene had passed, I saw wastewater treatment plants that had been entirely underwater, releasing untreated sewage directly into the overflowing river that ran beside the plant. This contaminated river then washed over fields and gardens along its flood plain, contaminating everything it touched.

Mold Exposure Risk

Similarly, houses that were exposed to the flood waters left in Hurricane Irene's wake are at severe risk of becoming hazardous to occupants even if the structure of the building survived intact. Bacteria-laden flood waters coming into contact with sheetrock, insulation and any materials that can hold moisture make those materials a perfect environment for the growth of harmful mold that can cause severe health problems or even death with prolonged exposure to the air-borne spores. Each of the homes and businesses affected in this way is an environmental hazard to those living or working inside until it is completely restored and contaminated materials are removed and replaced.

Hurricane Debris Containing Hazardous Materials

Even as these hazards are cleaned up, however, those undertaking repair efforts must remain vigilant. Prior to 1978, many, if not most, homes were painted using a lead-based paint which, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, can be very hazardous to those working on removal or demolition if proper precautions are not taken.. Likewise, asbestos was a commonly used material for such things as roofing shingles, siding materials, insulation and ceiling tiles prior to 1970 says the EPA. The rushed demolition and disposal of damaged or flooded buildings in areas where many older buildings exist, puts those doing the work at significant risk of exposure to these hazardous substances. Furthermore, much of the debris from rebuilding efforts is likely to end up in general landfills, leaching lead and other contaminants into area groundwater if time is not taken to properly identify them on a case by case basis.

While those affected may be in a hurry to repair the damage caused by Hurricane Irene and get back to living a normal life, it is wise to remember that not all the hazards associated with the storm have receded with the flood waters.