Sadly, there has been a rise in flood related illnesses in communities of color since the hurricanes have happened. After Hurricane Matthew in 2016 and Hurricane Florence in 2018 there was a major increase in emergency room visits for diarrhea, vomiting and nausea. This affected both the older black and Native American community the most. Pathogens are able to spread very quickly in floodwater which also can contaminate drinking water. These contaminants can then lead to the illnesses that cause symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting.
Key Takeaways:
- After two hurricanes, North Carolina saw a large increase in emergency room visits among older Blacks and Native Americans.
- In eastern North Carolina, hog feedlot water lagoons are at risk of overflowing during storms.
- Many Blacks and Native Americans live in close proximity to sources of bacteria.
“Researchers compared data on emergency room visits across North Carolina with maps of flooding, finding that reports of gastrointestinal complications surged in areas inundated by hurricanes.”
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