Hurricane Florence has wreaked havoc in North Carolina, with the effects lasting nearly two weeks after it hit near Wilmington on September 14 and stayed for days. The catastrophe resulted in a devastating flooding. Now, North Carolina’s ocean waters are apparently unsafe for swimming due to hurricane impact.
A non-profit environmental group North Carolina Coastal Federation informed residents and visitors that North Carolina’s ocean waters are unsafe for swimming due to hurricane impact.
The group explained that “massive amounts of polluted runoff are still flowing into coastal waterways all along areas of our coast impacted by heavy rains from Hurricane Florence.”
According to the federation, the 30 inches of rainfall has affected groundwater levels that have reached a record high. This produced runoff, the group said, adding that this brings “high levels of bacteria and other pollutants that come from natural and human sources.”
“Excessive rains and flooding can cause high levels of bacteria in the water that can make people sick,” said J.D. Potts, manager of the North Carolina Recreational Water Quality Program, in a release.
“The public continues to swim in the ocean and sounds despite these advisories,” said Todd Miller, executive director of the federation. “We feel it’s vital to let people know that the state has not yet tested any waters to determine if they are safe for human contact.”
The federation said the water won’t be safe for swimming until it is tested by the state and deemed safe for recreational uses.
Be the first to comment