The aftermath of Hurricane Helene, which struck the southeastern U.S. in late September, has raised significant concerns about the toxic contamination of floodwaters. Local officials, academic researchers, and volunteers are warning of potential threats to drinking water, soil, and ecosystems as industrial pollutants may have been released into the environment. The flooding, which caused extensive damage and claimed over 230 lives, has also triggered calls for stricter regulations on the storage of hazardous chemicals in vulnerable industrial areas.
Hurricane Helene was particularly devastating due to the extreme rainfall it brought, flooding vast regions and sweeping through hundreds of industrial sites. These sites included paper mills, fertilizer factories, oil and gas storage facilities, and even a retired nuclear plant in Florida. Researchers from Rice University have highlighted the risks posed by the storm’s path, emphasizing the potential for chemical and biological contamination.
“Hazardous releases remain largely invisible due to limited disclosure requirements and scant public information,” wrote three Rice University researchers in The Conversation. “Even emergency responders often don’t know exactly which hazardous chemicals they are facing in emergency situations.”
Floodwaters are known to carry biological threats, such as E. coli from overflowing sewage systems, and chemical pollutants from industrial sites. Following the storm, concerns have grown about the possible spread of toxic substances into rivers, soil, and groundwater, exacerbating the risks to public health and the environment.
One of the immediate threats in Helene’s wake is the contamination of drinking water. In states like North Carolina, where the storm hit hardest, wells were overrun by floodwaters, making them unsafe for use. The state’s Department of Health and Human Services has advised residents to refrain from drinking well water until it has been tested and treated. Such warnings are critical because floodwaters can carry both biological contaminants, like bacteria, and chemical pollutants from nearby industrial sites.
Yet the National Weather Service cautions that the dangers in floodwaters are not always visible. “What you can’t see can be just as dangerous,” it warned, referring to the hidden contaminants that may affect drinking water and agricultural areas.
Kelsey Pieper, a professor in environmental engineering at Northeastern University, also emphasized that the nature of flooding in mountainous areas, like those in North Carolina, adds another layer of complexity to assessing the risks. “We don’t have a lot of knowledge about mountain flooding, from a hydrology standpoint,” Pieper told Inside Climate News. The flooding mechanisms in these areas differ significantly from coastal regions, with faster water velocities potentially increasing the spread of contaminants.
Flooding from Hurricane Helene also threatens the safety of agricultural crops. Floodwaters can contaminate fields with dangerous pathogens or chemical pollutants, rendering crops unsafe for consumption. This poses long-term risks for farmers and could affect food safety in the region.
Natural bodies of water, often used for recreation or drinking water sources, are equally vulnerable. After the storm, the Virginia Department of Health and other agencies issued warnings for residents to avoid swimming in natural water bodies due to potential contamination from Helene’s floodwaters. The Duke University Superfund Research Center also noted that both biological and chemical contaminants present increased risks in the aftermath of floods like Helene’s.
In the midst of the cleanup effort, grassroots volunteers have stepped up to assist communities in hard-hit areas. However, these efforts come with significant health risks. Volunteers working in flood zones are exposed to potential contaminants, and many lack adequate protective gear. In Marshall, North Carolina, a town along the French Broad River, volunteer Rachel Bennett explained that they are struggling to access essential equipment like gloves and masks.
“We were supposed to get a big shipment of gloves, coveralls, masks, respirators, but we aren’t,” Bennett told the Citizen Times. “So, we’re hoping to get more. Those are the big things because we’re in cleanup right now. We need thick things.” Despite these challenges, volunteers remain committed to the cleanup, even though they may already be exposed to toxins in the water and soil.
A recurring theme in the discussions surrounding the aftermath of Hurricane Helene is the failure of current regulations to adequately address the risks posed by industrial contamination during extreme weather events. Many industrial facilities are not required to disclose detailed information about the hazardous materials they store, making it difficult for communities and emergency responders to assess the potential risks following a disaster.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) mandates that major polluters submit risk management plans outlining “worst-case” scenarios, but many of these plans are inaccessible or heavily redacted, leaving communities uninformed about potential hazards. Adding to this lack of transparency, some states suspend restrictions on pollution releases during emergency declarations, allowing industrial sites to release more toxins without public disclosure.
Rice University researchers have developed an interactive map to identify U.S. regions at greatest risk of chemical pollution from floodwaters. Their work highlights hotspots like Texas and Louisiana, where petrochemical facilities are concentrated along flood-prone areas. They stress the need for more stringent regulations to mitigate these risks.
As climate change accelerates, extreme weather events like Hurricane Helene are expected to become more frequent and intense. The burning of fossil fuels contributes to rising global temperatures, which, in turn, fuels more powerful hurricanes and tropical storms. Environmental experts have warned that without serious action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and implement stricter industrial regulations, communities will continue to face growing threats from both natural disasters and the toxic pollution that follows in their wake.
“Communities should be aware of the risks of hosting vulnerable industrial infrastructure, particularly as rising global temperatures increase the risk of extreme downpours and powerful hurricanes,” the Rice University researchers wrote.
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