When a powerful hurricane like Helene hits the coast, the effects can ripple far inland, leading to catastrophic flooding hundreds of miles from the initial landfall. Hurricane expert Jim Best from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign discusses the long-term impacts of these inland floods, the role of climate change, and strategies for building resilience.
The Cascading Effects of Hurricane Flooding
When Hurricane Helene made landfall, it didn’t just devastate the coastal regions – its enormous rainfall also caused catastrophic flooding in the mountainous areas of Western North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee, hundreds of miles away from the initial impact.
According to Professor Jim Best, an earth science and environmental change expert, the extent of the flooding depends on a hurricane’s path, size, moisture content, and speed. “If we look at this flooding event and others worldwide over the last decade, there is clear evidence that floods in many regions are becoming larger in size and more frequent,” he explains. “The impacts are not uniform spatially and will also show different patterns in different areas as we look into the future.”
Long-Term Impacts on Infrastructure and Ecosystems
The effects of these inland floods go far beyond just the initial chaos and destruction. “Beyond the initial chaos that comes with the water is erosion of the land and the transport and deposition of a lot of sediment that changes the landscape and the human infrastructure built there,” says Best.
This sediment-laden floodwater can have long-lasting impacts, altering the layout of water supply networks and damaging bridges, roads, and buildings. Additionally, the sediment can contain pollutants like heavy metals and microplastics, which can be released into the environment. “We must deal with these changes – from washed-out roads to eroded riverbanks, damaged bridges, houses and altered streams and rivers,” Best emphasizes.
Addressing the Global Challenge of Climate-Driven Disasters
The increasing frequency and severity of these inland flooding events is directly linked to climate change. “Changing climate, weather and flood and drought patterns are inevitable,” Best states. “However, these changes combined with increasing human populations mean that the impacts of these extreme events will be felt increasingly across the globe.”
To address this global challenge, Best underscores the importance of continued support for government agencies like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency, which play a vital role in monitoring, modeling, and predicting extreme weather events. Additionally, he emphasizes the need for strategies that restrict construction in flood-prone areas and create more resilient infrastructure that can better adapt to the impacts of flooding.
