The heavy rain expected from Hurricane Florence could flood hog manure pits, coal ash dumps and other industrial sites in North Carolina, creating a noxious witches’ brew of waste.
The tainted water might wash into homes and threaten drinking water supplies.
Coverage of Hurricane Florence on Globalnews.ca:
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Satellite images show Hurricane Florence as it nears U.S. coast -
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Tracking Hurricane Florence before it hits Carolinas, Virginia -
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Emergency preps before Hurricane Florence hits Carolinas, Virginia -
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Hurricane Florence to hit Wilmington by late Wednesday -
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Gas shortages emerge in North Carolina as people prepare for Hurricane Florence
Computer models predict more than 3 feet of rain in the eastern part of the state, a fertile low-lying plain veined by brackish rivers with a propensity for escaping their banks.
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Longtime locals remembered when it happened before.
READ MORE: A Category 4 storm could devastate the East Coast, simulation shows. Florence is pushing Category 5
In September 1999, Hurricane Floyd came ashore near Cape Fear as a Category 2 storm that dumped about 2 feet of water on a region soaked days earlier by Hurricane Dennis.
The result was the worst natural disaster in state history. Dozens of people were killed and whole towns left underwater.
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