After Florence, Farm Animal Death Toll Could Be in Millions
*By Max Godnick*
Florence may be over, but floodwaters from the hurricane are still wreaking havoc in North Carolina ー and not in just the usual ways.
The state's hog-waste lagoons, some of which are larger than Olympic swimming pools, are now either overflowing or in real danger of being breached. That poses an immediate danger to the surrounding communities ー and the planet as a whole.
"The potential for groundwater contamination is massive," said Zoë Schlanger, an environmental reporter at Quartz.
The storm, which was eventually downgraded to a tropical depression, caused [at least 110](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/19/climate/florence-hog-farms.html) "reservoirs" to release their contents into the environment.
North Carolina is the second-largest hog-farming state in the country, with close to 10 million pigs producing about 10 billion gallons of manure each year. In the counties where most of the state's pork production takes place, hogs outnumber humans, each one producing two to five times more waste than people do each day.
Rain and floodwaters have rendered many of the affected facilities unreachable for the farmers eager to check on their livestock and assess the damage.
Schlanger said some areas still expect more flooding, which could worsen the already-rampant contamination.
"In certain places, it's going to get better. In certain places it's going to get worse," she said.
While there's nothing that can be done to contain the waste that's already been released, Schlanger said officials can prepare for the future by rethinking the industry's infrastructure.
After all, Schlanger said hog-waste has been a "daily health issue" for people in the state long before Florence.
One of the most-vulnerable counties is Duplin, where most of the farms in the state are located.
"They say even without the storm, the smell is horrendous," Schlanger said.
It's one of North Carolina's poorest counties and has a predominately black and Latino community, which she said poses a "very specific environmental justice issue."
But the problem isn't just with contamination ー there's also a significant economic impact.
According to the North Carolina Department of Agriculture, over 3 million chickens and turkeys and 5,500 hogs drowned during Florenceー a significant loss in inventory for the thousands of farmers who rely on the animals for their livelihoods.
"This will be devastating mostly for the small family farmers who are contracted by much larger companies," Schlanger said. "Those farmers often take on a lot of debt to run these operations."
For full interview [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/pig-manure-lagoons-flood-after-florence).
Lydia Simmons, founder of 'Moms Official Objective' or 'M.O.O.,' joins Cheddar News to discuss nutritional and hormonal support products for every stage of womanhood.
Plant-based hair extension company Rebundle recently raised $1.4 million in a pre-seed round led by M25. The company based in St. Louis says it is revolutionizing hair extensions with more comfort and less waste. Rebundle's braiding hair is made from a non-toxic, biodegradable plant, which the company says is better for the scalp and the environment. Rebundle Co-Founder and CEO Ciara Imani May and Co-Founder and CMO Danielle Washington joined Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
The metaverse platform Decentraland hosted its first wedding over the weekend. The union was overseen by Rose Law Group, at the firm's virtual property, hosting witnesses including 2,000 guests. The ceremony endured some technical glitches before being completed.
Alex Monaco, Host of 'The Bettor Half Hour,' joins Cheddar News to discuss what viewers can expect from MSG's 'Bet-A-Palooza,' and what casual sports fans should know about sports betting.
Actor, singer, and dancer Joey Fatone can now add chef to his repertoire, partnering with Schlotzsky’s, a pizza and sandwich restaurant franchise, to introduce the "Fatone Calzone." The triple threat entertainer joined Cheddar News to talk about the partnership as well as a potential NSYNC reunion. "So, it's like everybody's kind of everywhere. It's that moment of saying, do we want to get together? Do we do it? And how is it going to be done? You know, that kind of stuff. So, who knows? Never say never. Never say never," he explained.
The gaming industry has been under the spotlight so far this year following some big mergers and acquisitions. This week featured earnings of three major gaming companies, but also Meta and for the latter, things are not doing too hot. Joining Cheddar News to break it all down was Kenny Rosenblatt, President and Co-Founder of Arkadium.
Former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores has filed a lawsuit against his old team along with the Denver Broncos and the New York Giants. Flores alleged that the league has been following racist practices in its hiring process. Former NFL quarterback and Sports Analyst and Commentator, Lester Ray Ricard Jr, joined Cheddar to discuss more.
Although this week's weather is predicted to be less severe than the 2021 storm, Texans are preparing for the worst - stocking up on supplies and emptying shelves in grocery stores, once again. Some Texans still have not recovered from last year's tragedy, and are heading into the next few weeks with anxiety for what's to come. Leslie Beyer, CEO of the Houston-based energy workforce & technology council, joins Cheddar News to discuss if the Texas grid will fail again.
