Marine Debris Could Linger Years After Helene, Milton | Weather.com
The Weather Channel

Marine debris that is pushed inland following a hurricane can take years to clean.

ByJennifer GrayOctober 23, 2024

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The recovery and cleanup process following hurricanes Helene and Milton will take months or even years to fully complete.

But the cleanup extends well beyond people’s homes and businesses. Marine debris has also found its way onshore, as well as into Florida’s canals and rivers, adding another layer to the cleanup.

“After hurricanes, they create a large pulse of debris in a short amount of time,” explains Ashley Hill, the Florida Regional Coordinator for NOAA's marine debris program.

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Hurricanes are so powerful that they are able to move large amounts of water. The water displacement, combined with the wind and storm surge, pushes trash, plastic and debris that has been floating around the Gulf of Mexico on the Florida coast and inland. All the trash now has to be picked up and removed.

What is marine debris?

Marine debris is any persistent, manufactured or processed solid material that intentionally or unintentionally ends up in our oceans or Great Lakes, according to NOAA.

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Debris generated by Hurricane Milton accumulated on the shoreline of the Peace River.

(NOAA)

“Anything human-made and solid can become marine debris once lost or littered in these aquatic environments,” says NOAA. “Our trash has been found in every corner of our ocean.”

Just one year after Hurricane Irma hit Florida in 2017, more than 250,000 cubic yards of marine debris had been reported removed at an estimated cost of $43 million, according to NOAA.

Hurricanes carry marine debris well inland

Hill explains that the marine debris removal following hurricanes Helene and Milton will take a very long time and is also very expensive.

“We're finding things months, sometimes years after a particular hurricane,” said Hill. “A great example of that is we're getting close to funding projects that will be removing some debris that we still have remaining from Hurricane Ian, which made landfall about two years ago.”

NOAA is able to use aerial imagery to track where the debris came from and which hurricane pushed the debris inland.

Marine debris’ threat to the ecosystem

Marine debris can be anything from microplastics, water bottles and household items, to furniture, appliances and even boats.

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A derelict vessel pushed ashore by Hurricane Milton in Punta Gorda, Florida.

(NOAA)

As this debris is pushed into the canals and rivers, it poses a real hazard to wildlife and their marine habitats.

“It can be really harmful to wildlife through entanglement and ingestion,” said Hill. “It can cause significant habitat damage, especially the larger types of debris, like the vessels, they can significantly impact mangroves, sea grass, corals, and really sensitive habitats.”

On the recreational side, marine debris can be extremely dangerous to boaters.

“Debris might not be seen if the water is not really clear, and that can be dangerous to boaters and fishers that are out on the water,” explains Hill. “They can also negatively impact our economy.”

What can we do to prevent marine debris?

The best way to make sure marine debris isn’t carried inland by hurricanes is to make sure marine debris doesn’t enter our oceans in the first place.

“If you think about an overflowing sink, the first step before cleaning up the water is to turn the faucet off,” according to NOAA, adding that “by preventing plastic marine debris, we can turn the faucet off and keep this problem from growing.”

There will still be tons of debris entering our shores for years due to marine debris that is already in our oceans. However, if we begin to prevent marine debris from entering our oceans now, the amount that will be washed ashore can begin to subside.