Florida’s Red Tide: Killing the Water, Killing the Air
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Rick Scott, under increasing pressure to handle Florida’s brutal red tide, a toxic algae bloom killing hordes of marine animals and causing respiratory issues for some people, Florida’s Republican governor who is partly and correctly blamed for this disaster, finally made the call.
Late Monday, he declared a state of emergency in seven counties along the state’s southwestern coast, setting aside a mere $1 million for cleanups, animal rescues, and research, plus another $500,000 to promote tourism. It’s going to take 5 times that much to fight the red tide.
Florida depends on tourism and without it, the economy would collapse. Unfortunately, travelers aren’t exactly drawn to the 267 tons of dead fish, eels, manatees, turtles, dolphins—even a whale shark—that have washed ashore in the state this year, per Quartz.
Scott said in a statement:
“We will continue to deploy all state resources and do everything possible to make sure that Gulf Coast residents are safe and area businesses can recover,”
It came after Senator Bill Nelson rightly faulted Scott—who is seeking the Democrat’s Senate seat in November—and after thousands joined hands on Florida’s beaches to raise awareness about the Karenia brevis algae boom, per the Washington Post.
Such blooms have been documented since the 1840s and usually last about five months. This one, however, has persisted for 10, per Newsweek, making it the longest-running in more than a decade.
In addition to poisoning the sea water, algae toxins can become airborne, with some people experiencing mild respiratory issues as a result. “It’s like being hit with a tear gas,” one researcher puts it to CNN, with the Post describing burning eyes and throats.
CNN reports a toddler had to visit the emergency room with “upper airway inflammation” linked to the algae on his first day vacationing in the state. No doubt this visit will be one of many as long as the Red Tide persists.
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He is a pig with apologies to pigs. Rick Scott is an idiot, and dangerous to the State of Florida, as has been proven time and again.
Scott’s a pig! Just like most Republicans.