Painful issues to address. You have my sympathy. Living in Pittsburgh for most of my 60+ years I’m aware of the flooding history of our three rivers and the extensive mitigation projects over the past century. The catastrophic flood in nearby Johnstown was another lesson in the cost of human folly.
Irrespective of climate change, these communities at sea level will always experience flooding at some point. If there were no climate change at all, this would still happen. When people choose to live on the beach, in a flood plain, on the edge of a landslide cliff, they assume the accompanying risks. We have all these risky situations around here on Whidbey Island. The maps and models shown here are useful for showing people where not to live. But no matter how much data they're given, people will choose these places anyway. They figure everything will be fine, and it will...until it's not.
Yes, the psychology of getting people to accept it and do something about it is another huge problem, one that applies to many of the slow-moving train wrecks we're collectively dealing with.
Painful issues to address. You have my sympathy. Living in Pittsburgh for most of my 60+ years I’m aware of the flooding history of our three rivers and the extensive mitigation projects over the past century. The catastrophic flood in nearby Johnstown was another lesson in the cost of human folly.
It seems we're treated to a new lesson every day.
Sounds grim. There's not really much time left to have conversations about having conversations about dealing with the situation.
Too true.
Irrespective of climate change, these communities at sea level will always experience flooding at some point. If there were no climate change at all, this would still happen. When people choose to live on the beach, in a flood plain, on the edge of a landslide cliff, they assume the accompanying risks. We have all these risky situations around here on Whidbey Island. The maps and models shown here are useful for showing people where not to live. But no matter how much data they're given, people will choose these places anyway. They figure everything will be fine, and it will...until it's not.
Yes, the psychology of getting people to accept it and do something about it is another huge problem, one that applies to many of the slow-moving train wrecks we're collectively dealing with.
May we all float on. 🙏