Climate Change

Climate Stories | Youth Report: Are Hurricanes Frightening or Exciting?

When 12-year-old youth reporter Isobelle Hughes moved from England to coastal Onslow County, North Carolina, she didn’t know what to expect from hurricanes. They didn’t have them in England. Today, Hughes explores what storm chasers and scientists have learned about hurricane patterns, and how the storms will impact her new home. Climate Stories | Youth…

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The History, Creation and Importance of Artificial Reefs in NC

Look to the coast of North Carolina and you may find something a bit unexpected – artificial reefs. These manmade reefs mimic the characteristics of real reefs in order to provide a home to ocean life. In this episode, Jordan Byrum, an artificial reef coordinator with the NC Division of Marine Fisheries, discusses the history,…

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Why Biogas Won’t Make Hog Farms Sustainable

Hog farms have been polluting the environment of Eastern NC for decades. And over the past few years, owners of these operations have started touting biogas as a way to make hog farms more sustainable. In this episode, Kemp Burdette, the Cape Fear Riverkeeper, explains why biogas isn’t the sustainable solution that it’s being made…

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Schools as Hurricane Shelters during Covid-19

Amanda White, high school Chemistry teacher and president of New Hanover Association of Educators, lets us in on educator efforts to ensure a safe start to the school year. She also discusses the worries teachers have with schools being used as shelters from Hurricane Isaias, with sick or symptomatic people not being turned away, when…

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Duck, NC’s Hurricane Preparations

Christian Legner is the Public Informations Officer of Duck, NC. She speaks about what her town prioritizes when hurricane season is in full effect, and how this changes with COVID-19. Hurricane Isaias hit Coastal Carolina a few days ago. Christian speaks about how her town dealt with the damages and evacuations.

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New Zones Show Who is Most At Risk This Hurricane Season

North Carolina is predicted to have an above average hurricane season this year, meaning an increase of evacuation orders is on the horizon. In this episode, Katie Webster, Assistant Director of Planning for NC Emergency Management, talks about the state’s new “Know Your Zone” program that hopes to streamline these evacuation orders. To find out…

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Increasing Temperatures Worsen Health Disparities in NC

North Carolina’s low-income communities of color already face higher rates of chronic diseases like heart disease. And with the threat of increasing temperatures due to climate change, these disparities will only worsen. In this episode, Marian Johnson-Thompson, a virologist and environmental justice advocate, talks about how climate change will worsen health disparities, and why these…

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Environmental issues disproportionately impact ENC’s low-income communities of color

From hog lagoons to sewage sludge to wood pellet plants, low-income communities of color in Eastern North Carolina experience a wide array of environmental injustices. Naeema Muhammad, an organizer and activist, has been fighting against these injustices for over 20 years and has experienced the emotional toll that comes with such activism. In this episode,…

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After Flooding, a Biologist’s Story

Ana Zimmerman is a biology professor at the College of Charleston. She’s also a flood survivor. Over the course of a few years, her home was repeatedly flooded after major storms. The effect of repeated floods caused major damage to her home, and left her with struggles that weigh on her both personally and professionally…

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Hurricanes Affect River Systems and Water Quality in Coastal NC

Larry Baldwin is the Crystal Coast Waterkeeper and the Advocacy Director of the White Oak New River Keeper Alliance. He’s an advocate for improving the health and quality of water systems throughout coastal North Carolina. Baldwin has experienced a number of hurricane and says they can actually be a good thing for river systems. But…

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