State officials in North Carolina are
concerned about the quality of drinking water after Hurricane Florence decimated the area, killing more than
5,500 pigs and 3.4 million chickens and turkeys—making this storm
far more deadly than Hurricane Matthew in 2016.
concerned about the quality of drinking water after Hurricane Florence decimated the area, killing more than
5,500 pigs and 3.4 million chickens and turkeys—making this storm
far more deadly than Hurricane Matthew in 2016.
According to The Washington Post, the state’s many pig factory farms with their massive waste lagoons
are a main concern, as floodwaters caused some lagoons to overflow and
contaminate drinking water.
are a main concern, as floodwaters caused some lagoons to overflow and
contaminate drinking water.
The North Carolina Department of Environmental
Quality received reports of 22 lagoons overflowing and leaving floating animal
excrement everywhere. Four additional lagoons experienced structural damage,
and a whopping 55 were at or near capacity.
Quality received reports of 22 lagoons overflowing and leaving floating animal
excrement everywhere. Four additional lagoons experienced structural damage,
and a whopping 55 were at or near capacity.
According to state regulators, because of the
high risk of contamination, “utilities that serve more than 600,000 customers issued
warnings to boil water before drinking it. To make matters worse, the EPA
reported that seven sewage plants were not operating.
high risk of contamination, “utilities that serve more than 600,000 customers issued
warnings to boil water before drinking it. To make matters worse, the EPA
reported that seven sewage plants were not operating.
During Hurricane Matthew, which struck the
region in 2016, at least 14 manure pits in North Carolina flooded. And 1999’s
Hurricane Floyd flooded dozens of hog lagoons, causing half a dozen lagoons’ containing walls to fail.
Liquid waste from the lagoons was blamed for algae blooms and fish kills after
winding up in estuaries.
region in 2016, at least 14 manure pits in North Carolina flooded. And 1999’s
Hurricane Floyd flooded dozens of hog lagoons, causing half a dozen lagoons’ containing walls to fail.
Liquid waste from the lagoons was blamed for algae blooms and fish kills after
winding up in estuaries.
Overflow from these open-air manure pits is
spreading animal blood and fecal matter throughout the impacted region. And
with North Carolina’s factory farms holding more than 9 million pigs combined,
they produce about 10 billion pounds of liquid animal waste each
year. That’s enough urine and feces to fill 15,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools. Let
that sink in.
spreading animal blood and fecal matter throughout the impacted region. And
with North Carolina’s factory farms holding more than 9 million pigs combined,
they produce about 10 billion pounds of liquid animal waste each
year. That’s enough urine and feces to fill 15,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools. Let
that sink in.
If that doesn’t make you sick to your stomach,
consider this: While factory farmers fled the impending storm with their
companion animals, millions of farmed animals drowned in cages and crates
unable to escape rushing floodwaters. See, unlike companion animals, who by law
must be included in government evacuation plans during natural
disasters, farmed animals are afforded no legal protections.
consider this: While factory farmers fled the impending storm with their
companion animals, millions of farmed animals drowned in cages and crates
unable to escape rushing floodwaters. See, unlike companion animals, who by law
must be included in government evacuation plans during natural
disasters, farmed animals are afforded no legal protections.
Natural disasters are a tragedy, but for
animals trapped at factory farms, life itself is tragic. Spending much of their
lives in filthy, unnatural conditions, many are crammed
into cages or crates so small the animals can barely move. Most undergo painful
mutilations without painkillers. All are violently killed.
animals trapped at factory farms, life itself is tragic. Spending much of their
lives in filthy, unnatural conditions, many are crammed
into cages or crates so small the animals can barely move. Most undergo painful
mutilations without painkillers. All are violently killed.
The factory farming industry, which willingly
leaves trapped farmed animals behind to drown, sees animals as nothing more
than commodities and their deaths as nothing more than “lost profits.
leaves trapped farmed animals behind to drown, sees animals as nothing more
than commodities and their deaths as nothing more than “lost profits.
Fortunately, we can end our support of the
industries that legally neglect and abuse animals by switching to a
compassionate vegan diet. Get a copy of our free Vegetarian
Starter Guide today. And check out our Pinterest
page with hundreds of vegan recipes!
industries that legally neglect and abuse animals by switching to a
compassionate vegan diet. Get a copy of our free Vegetarian
Starter Guide today. And check out our Pinterest
page with hundreds of vegan recipes!
