Hurricane Helene and Milton tore through the Southeast, claiming lives and leaving widespread destruction in its wake. Torrential rainfall and flooding overwhelmed outdated stormwater systems and eroded landscapes, factoring into the property damage, environmental contamination and tragic loss of life. Local officials and industry experts are now urging immediate action to strengthen stormwater management and erosion control. The need for resilient infrastructure and proactive maintenance is critical with climate change’s contribution to more frequent storms.
“Hurricane Helene has tragically highlighted the human and environmental cost of inadequate stormwater management and erosion control,” said Greg Bell, regional manager at The Lake Doctors, an aquatic management services provider. “The widespread flooding and erosion we’ve witnessed are not just infrastructure issues — they are public safety issues. Communities need to be prepared for the increasing severity of these events.”
Industry experts and environmental advocates are calling for action for the use of new technologies and funding for flood prevention measures that are less expensive than rebuilding after disasters. They emphasize the importance of long-term strategies for erosion repair that are more environmentally effective than methods that have failed in the past.
“We can’t control the weather, but we can control our preparedness,” said Jack Moran, CEO of Ecological Improvements. “Regular inspections and maintenance of stormwater and erosion control systems are essential to mitigate the impact of these powerful storms. Governments must update regulations to reflect current climate realities and support the adoption of innovative, effective technologies.”
“Neglecting stormwater and erosion control systems can have disastrous consequences as we have seen with Helene,” said Tucker Clarkson, CEO of The Lake Doctors. “It’s not just about avoiding fines — it’s about protecting lives and property. We must take these issues seriously and invest in infrastructure that can withstand these increasingly common and intense storms.”
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has urged municipalities and property owners to ensure their systems comply and can manage extreme weather events. Noncompliance not only risks significant fines but, as the devastation demonstrates, can magnify the impacts of storms. Ecological Improvements and The Lake Doctors are among the organizations advocating for immediate action and offering their expertise to help communities assess and prepare.
