In a 2 week span, the country watched in awe as two deadly hurricanes intensified literally overnight. These massive storms battered the South with damaging tornadoes, high winds, and sweeping flood waters. Hundreds of peoples have died from the hurricanes, and thousand more suffered property damage, injuries and illnesses. Floodwaters in Florida have led to a rise in waterborne infections including cellulitis and bronchitis. Health officials are warning residents of another kind of infection risk from water: vibrio. This aggressive bacterial infection can result in amputation, skin removal or death. People working to remove debris are also at risk for infection if they have open wounds or get cuts from working in these areas.
These health impacts are largely a result of record-breaking storm surges which were made worse by climate change. Hurricane Helene’s wind speeds were 11% higher and the rainfall totals were 10% greater because of global warming. The warm sea surface temperatures that allowed both hurricanes to intensify so quickly were 200-500 times more likely because of climate change.
Full Story: The Atlantic, HealthDay, Washington Post
