More than fifty beaches are shut down across the East Coast due to two major safety threats
More than 50 beaches along the East Coast were closed Saturday due to high bacteria levels and dangerous currents ahead of Hurricane Ernesto.
The National Park Service and NYC Parks have closed all beaches in Brooklyn and Queens due to potentially life-threatening rip currents as Ernesto approaches the U.S. coastline.
The hurricane passed over Bermuda early Saturday morning as a Category 1 storm and is not expected to make landfall in the U.S.
The National Hurricane Center reported life-threatening surf and rip currents along the east coast, saying they will reach Canada later today and move past southeastern Newfoundland Monday evening.
“Our primary focus is on keeping New York residents safe so that the impact of [Hurricane] “As Ernesto approaches New York City, we are closing our oceanfront beaches in Queens and Brooklyn this weekend to protect New Yorkers from dangerous rip currents,” New York City Mayor Eric Adams said last week, according to ABC7.
The National Park Service and NYC Parks have closed all beaches in Brooklyn and Queens due to potentially life-threatening rip currents as Ernesto approaches the U.S. coastline (Photo: Jones Beach Field in NY)
Just a few states away in Massachusetts, more than 50 beaches, including Longnook Beach in Truro, have been closed due to high bacteria levels
Just a few states away in Massachusetts, more than 50 beaches are closed, largely due to high bacteria levels. state dashboard shows.
On 33 beaches, the level of bacteria was so high that it was no longer safe to swim and diseases could develop.
Meanwhile, blooms of harmful cyanobacteria were detected on 13 other beaches.
Other beaches in the Commonwealth are also closed in the “other” category, which may apply due to currents, poor visibility or other hazards.
Weather officials are also warning the public in New England of dangerous currents as a result of Ernesto.
“Even if Ernesto remains well offshore of the U.S. East Coast, beachgoers should be aware that there is a significant risk of deadly rip currents beginning later this week,” the National Hurricane Center said this week.
According to the World Health Organization, thirty people have died from floods this year alone. National Weather Service.
People at risk of swimming in water full of bacteria may experience gastrointestinal complaints, diarrhea and vomiting, the National Institute of Public Health (NIH).
The amount of bacteria has reached an unsafe level for swimming and can cause illness (photo Puffers Pond in MA)
Weather experts are also warning the public in New England and New York to be aware of dangerous riptides due to Ernesto (Photo: Jones Beach Field in NY)
Dangerous bacteria can also lead to fatal sepsis, coma, amputation of limbs and death in the worst cases. (Pictured: stock photo of cyanobacteria in water)
Many waterborne pathogens come from human and animal feces. For this reason, the NIH advises against using toilets that contain water. Children and animal feces should also be kept away.
Algae can also infect the water.
“If there are concerns about the bacteria or other hazards, focus on other activities,” Dr. Dwayne Porter of the University of South Carolina told NIH.
Dangerous bacteria can also lead to fatal sepsis, coma, amputation of limbs and death in the worst cases.
The closure of beaches in Massachusetts due to bacteria comes just two weeks after 30 beaches along the state’s New England coastline were closed for the same reason.
Most were closed due to an excess of bacteria or a harmful bloom of cyanobacteria. In 29 cases, the cause was a bacterial growth.