It rained this past weekend on the Gulf Coast of Florida. Nothing new for the incoming summer season in this area, where “rain or shine” is the coastal living mantra. This time it was a bit different. We just purchased a home on the river of our sleepy little town, and this was our first ‘real’ rain of the season. Sure, we’ve had a few drizzles here and there, but this was a nice summer rain. The light dimmed down, the shadows slowly crept into the house, the pitter-patter on the old tin roof began; it was wonderful. As I sat gazing out the front porch watching was about to ensue I thought to myself, “I wonder how quick the yard will flood”?
It escalated quickly, let me tell you. After no less than 30 minutes there were ducks swimming in my front yard, doing circles around the mailbox. We knew when we purchased this home that it was in an “A ” flood zone. We did all of things you should do, bought flood insurance, re-landscaped so the water would run away from the house, cleaned the storm drains of debris, made sure the gutters were ready for the rains. But this is not quite what I had in mind. Ducks, in the front yard, SWIMMING, after only 30 minutes of a summer rain? What is going to happen when hurricane season starts!? This perplexed me. So I have started to research this a little. With sea levels on the rise, what’s going to happen to my house?
Over the next few weeks of this course I will be researching the plans that Florida (and other coastal states across the United States) has for increasing flood barriers and infrastructure, economic impacts of rising sea levels across different regions, and other coastal impacts of climate change. Rising oceans and floods are not our only foe. There are substantial economic impacts from changes in fish migratory patterns and nurseries, and escalating temperatures and desalinization of the ocean. All of these will impact our coastal way of life, and these shocks can and will be felt nationwide. Please join me, and my new duck friends, on our journey through the economics of climate change on coastal regions.
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