Title: The Environmental Effects of Natural Disasters - The Environmental Blog
Headings: The Environmental Effects of Natural Disasters
The Environmental Effects of Natural Disasters
How Natural Disasters Can Damage Infrastructure and the Environment
Hurricanes Can Cause Water Contamination
Wildfires Can Have a Lasting Impact
Natural Disasters Can Have Serious Effects on the Environment

Content: The Environmental Effects of Natural Disasters - The Environmental Blog
The Environmental Effects of Natural Disasters
July 28, 2020
Within seconds, natural disasters can destroy buildings, tear up roads and upturn normal life. The damage these events cause, however, isn’t just limited to people and their property. When recovery begins, you often have to contend with what happens to the environment. Erosion, destruction of wildlife, water contamination and release of carbon dioxide are all real environmental threats that can be caused by natural disasters. Long after a hurricane, landslide, earthquake or wildfire has ended, the ecological effects these disasters cause can linger. How Natural Disasters Can Damage Infrastructure and the Environment
If you’ve ever followed the news coverage of a major hurricane, you’ve probably already seen some real-world examples of how natural disasters can harm the environment. Power plants, gas stations and factories flooded by a storm surge can release toxic chemicals and other waste into local water sources — potentially killing wildlife or even making some areas uninhabitable. Hurricanes also tend to accelerate coastal erosion. Storm tides can both pull and deposit massive amounts of sediment in or from coastal areas. Over time, this can threaten the stability of coastal structures and contribute to habitat loss.