The risks posed by factory farms during extreme weather events don’t stop at farmed animal suffering though, they extend to the environment as well.

Manure lagoons are notoriously problematic—their noxious odors and water-polluting toxins have prompted of hundreds of lawsuits—but are especially so during hurricanes. Normally these lagoons are slowly drained via pumpage onto agricultural fields, where frequent runoff occurs, or sometimes directly into adjacent waterways, which poison local groundwaters, decimate wildlife, and threaten public health.

These lagoons are not capable of withstanding the excess rain or flooding from tropical storms, however, and frequently breach and overflow, directly releasing ton of their toxic sludge into the neighboring communities. Particularly threatened are the primarily low-income, communities of color that largely surround factory farms, constituting a major environmental justice issue. The antibiotic resistant pathogens and hazardous chemicals released by floodwaters wreak havoc in these already devastated areas.

This all boils down to one simple truth: Factory farming must end.

Better infrastructure, storm preparedness, and relocating facilities in flood zones is needed, but these are only the first steps in a larger systemic shift. We need to stop our reliance on cheap animal protein and encourage a transition to more sustainable farming methods. Fortunately, we are seeing policymakers take notice and introducing solutions.

The Industrial Agriculture Accountability Act (IAA) is one such legislative effort aimed at holding agribusinesses accountable for the risk they pose to both animals, communities and the environment.

The IAA would require corporations to develop disaster preparedness plans for their faculties and ensure they bear the cost of cleanups in the aftermath of natural disasters. By supporting the IAA, we can push for meaningful changes that protect our food system from natural disasters and mitigate further impacts caused by industrial agriculture.

Take Action

Support policies that require agribusiness create disaster prevention plans like the Industrial Agriculture Accountability Act. Send your message to Congress now.