#HURRICANE FLORENCE DRIVER#

These topics have been under the environmental magnifying glass for years. Hurricane Florence magnifies the hazards presented by these two toxic problems. North Carolina has battled against two toxic presences for years: coal ash and hog waste. As the flooding progresses, more side effects surface in addition to the immediate threat of water. Many homes and businesses have already been lost to this flooding unfortunately, so have many lives. Even as Hurricane Florence dissipates, residual impacts will still occur and water levels will continue to rise. Over 1.5 million citizens have been ordered to evacuate as water levels rise and the risk of flooding increases because of the slow nature of this hurricane.

Hurricane Florence has decimated much of eastern North Carolina and parts of South Carolina. This was just a glimpse of Hurricane Florence and the devastation it brought to our great state. Impacted community members gave us directions to get home.

#HURRICANE FLORENCE DRIVER#

Rain poured down for what felt like hours, and we wandered through flooded streets until a Department of Transportation driver led us out of the storm. On our return home, we saw the face of the storm: a tornado, formed outside Fayetteville and flooding the Cape Fear River, blocked our way. We arrived at the shelters, met by resilient and bright-eyed citizens who showed no fear in the face of tragedy. Once sturdy houses now seemed to float as though they were islands. Flooded cars were stranded on the roadside.

We set off in a packed truck - and quickly began to see the effects of the storm. My partner and I met with citizens in Raleigh to deliver supplies in Roland and Lumberton. When Hurricane Florence landed, relief efforts were already in motion.

Hurricane florence