Florida Communities That Have Been Impacted
The Sunshine State also experiences disproportionate amounts of environmental protection insecurity similar to neighboring states, but in Florida, circumstances may look different due to the differences in region and economy. There have been many instances that have not been addressed for the state to take action, consequently still impacting a lot of low-income communities to this day.
One example in Florida is the burning of sugar fields that takes place in several areas around the Lake Okeechobee region. Sugar farmers burn their fields to get rid of excess and unnecessary organic material that grows within them, according to an article by Michelle Mairena and Kyndall Hubbard from Inside Climate News. This practice lasts from October through May, burning an estimated amount of 400,000 acres of land.
Regarding its environmental impacts, the burning of the fields releases harmful toxins into the air, such as ozone, carbon monoxide, nitric oxide, and black carbon which is also referred to as “soot”. These toxins carry clouds of smoke into nearby communities, taking a heavy toll on their health, especially when these communities are reporting alarmingly high rates of childhood asthma.
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Furthermore, you cannot bring up Florida’s environment without mentioning our infamous hurricanes and how we deal with them. These natural disasters emphasize environmental injustices throughout the state through various categories. Firstly through FEMA funding. A report from NPR explains that ow-income families are more susceptible to damages to their property in the midst of a hurricane because of how vulnerable it is to live in residences where homes can be a lot older and distressed while also being located in hazard-prone areas. So why is it harder for them to receive the funding that is right for them? Compared to more affluent neighborhoods, FEMA denies low-income property owners and renters more frequently. Although they should not serve everyone equally in disasters, because of circumstances, it is clear that those who need the funding are not getting it.
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A report by CBS News In the Tampa area states that for ten consecutive days, a mining facility nearby dumped precisely 215 million gallons of contaminated wastewater into the Tampa Bay. This decision ultimately damaged the local ecosystem, and it had profound impacts on the people who reside near the area. Not only was the main source of water stripped away from the locals but it was contaminated by an industry that does not have to deal with these consequences, leaving all of the burden on the people. Industrial sites near natural settings like huge water sources are more inclined to contaminate them because of the influences that they hold, and the lack of consequences that follow with their actions, eventually encouraging their acts.
