Deep South Center for Environmental Justice

Yesterday, demolition began on homes built atop a toxic landfill in #NewOrleans, making way for a community solar farm that promises clean energy and a safer future. #GordonPlaza #EnvironmentalJustice Learn more: https://conta.cc/4fbK604

As we saw with the recent chemical fire at the BioLab facility in Conyers, GA, petrochemical facilities and their ilk can be ticking timebombs for the surrounding communities. When disaster strikes—whether it be in the form of a fire, a flare, or a spill—it is critical that people are able to either evacuate or take shelter immediately. However, the people who are at the greatest risks from these disasters are often the first forgotten: people with disabilities. That’s why The Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies and People Over Petro teamed up to propose a new set of emergency planning guidelines that center the needs of people with disabilities. The authors say they would like to see the guidance put into practice by municipal governments as well as the petrochemical industry itself. They also hope it can be of use to frontline communities, especially those who engage in mutual aid work. Image: Georgia Public Broadcasting

?? Join our mission! Explore the latest career opportunities at DSCEJ and make a difference! #JobOpening #EnvironmentalJustice https://conta.cc/4fg8WLK

Babcock Ranch—a town in Charlotte County, Florida that touts itself as the first solar-powered town in America—gave refuge to some 2,000 evacuees during Hurricane Milton. Some stayed in the town’s two official shelters, a K–12 school and a sports facility, while others were hosted in private homes. The town is designed to be “hurricane-proof” with all structures built to withstand winds of 150 miles per hour and all electricity lines underground. Also, 90 percent of the area is preserved wetlands, which help to prevent flooding. And it appears that Babcock Ranch stood up to the test: they didn’t flood or lose power during Hurricane Milton. In fact, the only damage they saw was a few downed trees and traffic lights. While communities like Babcock Ranch could provide a model for building in the age of climate change, these sorts of communities are expensive to build and the houses are often cost-prohibitive for lower-income people. We need investments to make climate-resilient construction more affordable because we all deserve to live in resilient communities. Image: NY Times

Yesterday, @EPA's Gulf of Mexico Division awarded DSCEJ the Louisiana Gulf Coast Grantmaking Project (LGCGP)?and?$2.4 million. The LGCGP is designed to build the capacity of environmental justice communities in coastal Louisiana parishes to respond to the impact of systemic inequities, and the devastating impact of climate change and water quality/water justice issues in their communities. Read the Full Release-https://conta.cc/40bxjFZ

Impact Plastics in Erwin, TN and its owner are facing an unlawful death suit after at least three employees died during the flooding from Hurricane Helene. Even after the state issued a state of emergency due to the storm—and even though the facility lies in a flood zone—the company still required its employees to come to work, according to survivors. As the weather worsened, survivors claim that they repeatedly asked to go home, but were instead instructed to move their cars to higher ground. Workers say they were allowed to leave only after the waters had flooded the parking lot. The tragedy hit especially hard for the growing Latino population around Erwin, raising questions about local officials’ inclusion of Latinos in its emergency response. Impact Plastics maintains that workers were allowed to leave and that their jobs were never threatened. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigations is looking into the allegations. Image: CNN

Hurricane Helene’s path included hundreds of high-polluting facilities like paper mills, fertilizer plants, and oil and gas storage facilities. Two weeks later, Hurricane Milton wreaked havoc over more than 100 facilities that contain industrial waste, including coal ash ponds, phosphate fertilizer (should it be facilities? plants?), and power plants. And that doesn’t include the industrial scale livestock operations that raise thousands of pigs, cows, and chickens. Some of these facilities are sited near waterways that have since flooded, which could mean a higher likelihood of chemicals and animal waste leaching into the flooded waterways and the drinking water supply. This type of pollution can carry severe health risks, the likes of which cannot be known until it is safe to do testing. Add to that: sewage. For example, in the Florida city of Leesburg, a wastewater treatment plant failed and sent 2 million gallons of untreated sewage into the streets. Often when there is industrial pollution triggered by a storm, the surrounding community does not find out for weeks, if at all. As the water recedes and rebuilding commences, folks should pay extra careful attention to guidance from local authorities about the safety of their water and air. Image: Inside Climate News

Carbon capture isn’t the climate solution it’s made out to be. The latest @institute-for-energy-economics-and-financial-analysis report predicts a decline in the outlook for #carboncapture due to its high costs and performance issues that make it uncompetitive with renewable energy solutions. As we strive to fight #climatechange and reduce emissions, it's crucial that we focus on viable solutions — and CCS simply doesn’t meet the moment. Check out the full report here: https://lnkd.in/gd2VHjCb

FREE Training & Certification in: HAZWOPER, Asbestos Abatement, Lead Abatement, 10 hour OSHA, Mold Remediation, Construction/Weatherization. APPLY TODAY! www.dscej.org/ecwtp #FreeTraining #OSHACertification #TWIC

On Wednesday, Hurricane Milton made landfall in Florida as a dangerous Category 3 storm, affecting many of the same areas still reeling from Hurricane Helene. Before landfall, Milton rapidly intensified into a Category 5 storm, but thankfully weakened before hitting land. A wave of tornadoes preceded the storm, causing damage across the state. Millions of people are still without power throughout the state & rescue efforts are underway. Hurricane MIlton launched one of the biggest evacuation efforts in Florida’s recent history. Back-to-back, rapidly intensified hurricanes are a worrying sign of worsening climate change and should be a wake up call for elected leaders to act on climate!