Environmental concerns during hurricane season

The 2020 hurricane season officially gets underway today with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicting a busy hurricane season. NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center says to expect between 13-19 named storms (tropical storms or hurricanes) and 6-10 hurricanes. On the heels of major hurricanes such as Hurricane Florence and Hurricane Michael in 2018, and Hurricane Dorian in 2019, we are sharing information to help contextualize the major environmental and health concerns posed by the hurricanes that will inevitably come this season.

The 2020 hurricane season officially gets underway today with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicting a busy hurricane season. NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center says to expect between 13-19 named storms (tropical storms or hurricanes) and 6-10 hurricanes.

On the heels of major hurricanes such as Hurricane Florence and Hurricane Michael in 2018, and Hurricane Dorian in 2019, Environment America is sharing information to help contextualize the major environmental and health concerns posed by the hurricanes that will inevitably come this season. Our most recent data and graphics from our think tank Frontier Group on potential dangers created by hurricanes — and the flooding that follows:

Materials about coal ash.

Materials about fracking waste pits.

Materials about animal waste lagoons.

Materials about toxic waste facilities.

Materials about oil trains and pipelines.

Materials about Superfund sites (from Hurricane Florence).

Materials about nuclear power plants (from Hurricane Florence).

Authors

Luke Metzger

Executive Director, Environment Texas

As the executive director of Environment Texas, Luke is a leading voice in the state for clean air and water, parks and wildlife, and a livable climate. Luke recently led the successful campaign to get the Texas Legislature and voters to invest $1 billion to buy land for new state parks. He also helped win permanent protection for the Christmas Mountains of Big Bend; helped compel Exxon, Shell and Chevron Phillips to cut air pollution at four Texas refineries and chemical plants; and got the Austin and Houston school districts to install filters on water fountains to protect children from lead in drinking water. The San Antonio Current has called Luke "long one of the most energetic and dedicated defenders of environmental issues in the state." He has been named one of the "Top Lobbyists for Causes" by Capitol Inside, received the President's Award from the Texas Recreation and Parks Society for his work to protect Texas parks. He is a board member of the Clean Air Force of Central Texas and an advisory board member of the Texas Tech University Masters of Public Administration program. Luke, his wife, son and daughters are working to visit every state park in Texas.