Florence’s Destruction of Agriculture

Hurricane Florence made landfall on August 31 and lasted until September 19th. With the devastating floods from an estimated 8 trillion gallons of rain, it caused many homes to be virtually unusable. Florence was originally a category one hurricane but was downgraded to a tropical depression after making landfall. The storm brought hazardous winds to the Carolinas that caused cities to be even more torn apart than what they already were. In this time, almost one million people were left without power after Florence hit. In the midst of this, the storm took seventeen lives.

Although it destroyed many businesses, families and homes, it also destroyed crops that are the main economy source for the states it hit. In fact, it is said that Farmers in North Carolina will lose over one billion dollars in crops and livestock. Florence also took out 2,800 in swine and 1.8 million in poultry. Consumers will more than likely see a small price increase in their meat products from Florence. These price increases will be mainly seen in local areas that depend on these sources for their economy. Florence also impacted tobacco, which is North Carolina’s most produced crop is facing a major impact as they could have a loss of 100 percent of what is in the fields. In fact, according to Bloomberg they could lose as much as 300 million dollars from this. However, sweet potatoes will also be impacted. Since only 43 percent of sweet potatoes were harvested in North Carolina, the nation’s top producer of sweet potatoes, it looks as though they will have a major loss in the crop. With this information it is clear that Florence destructed agriculture, crops and North Carolina’s economic prosper. However, you can help by donating to places like the American Red Cross to help their relief efforts to better enable farmers to seek stability after loosing what they’ve lost.

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Sources:

Gibbens, S. (2018, September 17). Why Hurricane Florence Was Such a Dangerous Storm. Retrieved September 27, 2018, from National Geographic website: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/2018/09/news-hurricane-florence-east-coast/

Daniels, J. (2018, September 12). From pork to tobacco, farms are in the 'bull's-eye' of Hurricane Florence. Retrieved September 14, 2018, from CNBC website: https://www.cnbc.com/2018/09/12/from-pork-to-tobacco-farms-are-in-the-bulls-eye-of-hurricane-florence.html

Lunsford, M. (2018, September 26). Florence will cost farmers more than $1 billion in lost crops and livestock. Retrieved September 27, 2018, from Citizen Times website: https://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/local/2018/09/26/agricultural-losses-become-clearer-eastern-north-carolina-recovers-hurricane-florence/1410031002/

Vasquez, J. (2018, September 11). Hurricane Florence Heads for Tobacco Country (M. Durisin, Ed.). Retrieved September 14, 2018, from Bloomberg website: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-09-11/hurricane-heads-for-tobacco-country-as-plants-face-risk-of-rot