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Due to the common occurrence of hurricanes in the coastal state of North Carolina, Hurricane recovery in North Carolina is a large component of the state's emergency management efforts. Recovery from these tremendous storms at the local and state level is a large part of the aftermath of a hurricane. Gavin Smith and Victor Flatt stated that "Disaster recovery remains the least understood aspect of hazards management, when assessed relative to preparedness, response, and hazard mitigation." Smith and Flatt also went on to state that the role of the states is even less understood.〔Smith, Gavin, and Flatt Victor."Assessing the Disaster Recovery Planning Capacity of the State of North Carolina." Institute for Homeland Security Solutions. n. page. Print. In recent decades, a growing coastal population has led to hurricanes affecting larger numbers of people and causing greater amounts of damage. North Carolina is no different. During the 1990s North Carolina experienced a number of record setting hurricanes as a result of the increasing population in the state's coastal region. Between 1960 and 1990, Dare County was the 12th fastest growing county on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. ==Physical processes of a hurricane== Coastal storms cause a number of environmental impacts that must be addressed during the recovery process. According to Godschalk, Brower, and Beatley, coastal storms fall into two categories: hurricanes and all other coastal storms.〔.〕 This is because unlike other coastal storms, hurricanes attack with two additional destructive factors. All coastal storms affect the environment through flooding and erosion; but hurricanes provide the additional elements of extremely high winds and storm surge. Hurricane winds can range between 75-200 mph. Storm surges; caused by the decreasing ocean depth paired with strong onshore winds and extremely low barometric pressure associated with a hurricane, span 40–50 miles across, rising 4–20 feet above sea level.〔.〕 North Carolina's shoreline provides natural protection against hurricanes. The state is lined with barrier islands which act as a natural buffer against storm surge. These islands, which were formed from sediment deposited during the last ice age, have been migrating landward since their creation. During a hurricane, these islands flatten out and/or form sand bars to protect itself from the storm's forces. Construction of hard beach structures in coastal areas interferes with these natural geological and ecological processes.〔.〕 Hurricanes cause large amounts of organic matter to be washed into rivers and their tributaries. The decompostion of this material utilizes oxygen that is normally present in the water column. This scenario leads to periods hypoxia, which is when there are low levels of dissolved oxygen. There are also issues with salinity caused by storm surge and areas that receive rapid intense precipitation. North Carolina experienced problems with both hypoxia and salinity when Hurricane Isabel struck the state in 2003.〔(Aquatic Impacts: Impacts on Aquatic Species ), University of Rhode Island: 2010-2011. Hurricanes: Science and Society.〕 There is also an effect on inland vegetation, agricultural, and livestock when a hurricane makes landfall. The high velocity winds of the storm can defoliate forest and wetlands. This affects the amount of light reaching the lower levels of the forest, the forest temperature, and localized humidity. This in turn affects the food available to primary species in the ecosystem. The lack of upper level foliage can also result in the destruction of breeding grounds for certain bird species and a lack of nesting area for migratory bird species. As Hurricane Hugo passed of the Carolinas, if destroyed up to 75% of the upper woody biomass in some forest. In one forest, as a direct effect of the lack of nesting trees, it was recorded that up to 67% of the endangered red-cockaded woodpeckers died.〔(Terrestrial Impacts: Coastal Changes ), University of Rhode Island: 2010-2011. Hurricanes: Science and Society.〕 High winds and periods of intense rainfall can directly damage planted seeds, crops growing in fields, and erode away soil. There are also long-term effects as a result of a lack of soil fertility because of nutrient leaching. North Carolina has experienced severe environmental complications associated with hog farming on several occasions. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Hurricane recovery in North Carolina」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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