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Climate change wreaks havoc in gardening, fishing and just living

New Castle News · last updated

Climate data show there were 90 major disaster declarations across the United States in 2024 according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Looking back over 30 years of data, the International Institute for Environment and Development, says the annual average from 1995 to last year was 55.

The IIED says those 90 declarations — from hurricanes to wildfires to tornado outbreaks — equate to about one every four days in 2024.

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Daphne Larkin (right) and Chuck O’Rear stand in front of their home with sister Constance Romero in the Sherwood Forest neighborhood of Transylvania County.

 Laura Denon/Transylvania Times

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Mickey Pellillo, right, and student Andrew Humphrey, left, were among several volunteers working April 19 to remove fallen trees from the walking and biking trails at Bluefield City Park in Transylvania County. Pellillo, leader of the volunteer teams, estimated as many as 300 trees that were toppled last September onto the trails by Hurricane Helene have been removed, but about 50 more still needed to be. 

 Staff photo by Tara Wyatt

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Story continues below video

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Capt. Al Cottone of Gloucester, Massachusetts, releases his catch, mainly skates, onto the stern of his boat.

 Sttaff photo by Paul Bilodeau

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