More than 17,200 customers affected by power outages in Florida as Hurricane Ian nears the state.
strengthened into a Category 4 storm as it barreled toward Florida Wednesday, with the center of the storm on track to make landfall on the state's west coast as soon as this afternoon.The National Hurricane Center has warned of “life-threatening storm surge, catastrophic winds and flooding in the Florida Peninsula," with millions under evacuation orders.the forecast track appeared to show the storm hitting south of Tampa.
Florida has 24 such phosphogypsum stacks, most of them concentrated in mining areas in the central part of the state. About 30 million tons of this slightly radioactive waste is generated every year, according to the Florida Industrial and Phosphate Research Institute. “A major storm event like the one we are bracing for can inundate the facilities with more water than the open-air ponds can handle,” Ragan Whitlock, staff attorney for the Center for Biological Diversity environmental group, said in an email Tuesday. “We are extremely concerned about the potential impacts Hurricane Ian may have on phosphate facilities around the state,” Whitlock added.
A leak in March 2021 at a stack called Piney Point resulted in the release of an estimated 215 million gallons of polluted water into Tampa Bay, causing massive fish kills. State officials, overseen by a court-appointed receiver, are working with a $100 million appropriation to shut down that long-troubled location.
Hurricane Ian is expected to make landfall in southwest Florida on Wednesday before cutting through the state, close to many of the gypsum stacks.
Argentina Últimas Noticias, Argentina Titulares
Similar News:También puedes leer noticias similares a ésta que hemos recopilado de otras fuentes de noticias.
Ian reaches hurricane strength, could become 'catastrophic' Category 4 storm targeting FloridaHurricaneIan was forecast to intensify rapidly into a major hurricane, Category 3 or greater, as soon as late Monday, AccuWeather said.
Leer más »
Hurricane Ian nears Cuba on path to strike Florida as Category 4 storm | amNewYorkHurricane Ian moved near the Cayman Islands and closer to western Cuba early Monday on a track to hit Florida as a major hurricane this week.
Leer más »
Hurricane Ian nears Cuba on path to strike Florida as Category 4Hurricane Ian was growing stronger as it approached the western tip of Cuba on Monday, on a track to hit the west coast of Florida as a major hurricane as early as Wednesday.
Leer más »
Hurricane Ian to reach Category 3 before hitting Cuba, turning toward West FloridaThe storm may slightly weaken before hitting Florida.
Leer más »
Hurricane Ian tracker: Potentially 'life-threatening' Category 1 storm on path toward FloridaHurricane Ian strengthened overnight and was upgraded to a Category 1 hurricane as its exact track remains uncertain.
Leer más »