After the Storm: How Disasters Pour Debris Into the Sea

When a hurricane or tsunami strikes, part of what it destroys ends up in the ocean. Natural disasters — hurricanes, tropical storms, tsunamis and landslides — can generate a tremendous amount of marine debris, and it can stay a problem for years.

How it gets there

High winds, heavy rain, storm surge and flooding can pull large structures, household belongings and outdoor items into nearby waters.

Debris that stays close

After Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and after post-tropical cyclone Sandy, some of the debris stayed in shallow water. There it creates hazards for people, blocks navigation channels and threatens natural resources. It has to be assessed and removed quickly to keep shipping routes open, make boating and recreation safe, and protect sensitive ecosystems.

Debris that crosses the ocean

Strong tides and currents also carry debris out to sea, where it can drift for months or years before reaching land again. The 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan destroyed whole communities and created an estimated five million tons of debris. Much of it stayed along Japan's coast, but some washed into the Pacific Ocean. Some of that wreckage eventually sank to the ocean floor — yet debris from the disaster still occasionally turns up on U.S. and Canadian shores.

Sources

Based on "How do natural disasters contribute to marine debris?" from NOAA's National Ocean Service, a work of the United States government in the public domain.