Flood, Cedar Rapids, IA
AIR
Leaking and flooding of homes promotes the growth of mold. Mold triggers allergic reactions and asthma attacks, and may cause asthma in young children.
WATER
Heavy rain overwhelms city sewer systems. Storm sewers overflow, pouring rainwater and raw sewage into our streets. 860 billion gallons of untreated sewage are dumped into US waterways each year.
Most urban gastroenteritis outbreaks are caused by fecal contamination of drinking water after heavy rain.
Most urban gastroenteritis outbreaks are caused by fecal contamination of drinking water after heavy rain.
FOOD
HEAVY RAINS cause crop loss and high food prices. Families who can't afford healthy meals suffer increased rates of diabetes and anemia. Storm runoff carries toxins like MERCURY and PCBs into rivers and lakes where they concentrate up the food chain, causing cancer in adults and developmental disabilities in children.