Within the first paragraph of Module One there is a reference to Hurricane Katrina. However, today I’d like to talk about Hurricane Ike. Hurricane Ike destroyed the city of Houston and her neighbors on September 1, 2008. After a professional disaster analysis, experts estimate the damage to be around  37.50 billion USD. There were 195 total fatalities. The fastest winds of the hurricane almost reached 143 MPH. There was extensive property damage which we will discuss in future modules. The property damage is what I would like to focus on. Two particular stories that come to mind would come from two different sources. The first is from the New York Times. The first story is titled “The Aftermath of Hurricane Ike”. There were pictures and descriptions of the aftermath of the storm on the website for the New York Times. The second story that peaked my interest came from a source called Fox News.

http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2008/09/15/us/0916-IKE_index.html?rref=collection%2Ftimestopic%2FHurricane%20Ike&action=click&contentCollection=timestopics&region=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=1&pgtype=collection&_r=0

http://www.foxnews.com/story/2008/09/13/complete-multimedia-coverage-hurricane-ike.html

If the risk of living along the coast is so great. What draws so many people to the coast lines?

Intitally I thought maybe people simply like the view, along with the booming economic trade, jobs, and really great sushi. After reading the below article I realized, though all the things listed above are great, there is more. The risk to live in a, ‘danger zone’, is almost easier than not. The federal government is bound by law to pay for most of the cost of fixing storm damage and the national Flood Insurance Program provides consumers in coastal danger zones below-market protection from floods. So if you are not  attached to your belongings and the rewards out way the risk then the hazards of living along the coast line provide a more appealing outcome to people.

Politically speaking a town, city or state might find the cost of additional barriers and preventatie measures more appealing if they knew the federal government wasn’t just going to turn around and pay for all the damages, inevitably enticeing people to continue buying property along the coast. Reformig the governments flood insurance program might be a good start to a long term solution to reducing the trillions of dollars being spent on damages caused by destructive weather.

http://science.time.com/2012/11/20/after-sandy-why-we-cant-keep-rebuilding-on-the-waters-edge/

I live in a suburb of Philadelphia. We get our fair share of rain, it has rained off and on this past weekend but flooding isn’t a major problem except for a few intersections in my township. The locals know to avoid these intersections, especially with flash flooding but with big rain storms there usually has to be a rescue or two. There is never any damage to property around here from flooding,  but if you drive an hr and half to my family’s summer home it is a different story. My parents have a house in Ocean City, NJ. Now the name gives it away as a barrier island. We are very fortunate that we are in the part of town that doesn’t flood. We use to get water in the garage and foyer but they were both easy to clean up and ever since a new drainage system was installed we have not had much flooding. Flooding and ocean levels has been a problem for years. There are parts of town that always flood, even if it’s only high tide with a full moon. However, ever since Super Storm Sandy hit, the flooding problem has turned bitter and and angry. I was in a Facebook group for Ocean City but I ended up leaving due to the heated discussions about the flooding problem. I am curious as to if the part of the island that doesn’t typically flood could flood in the future. We have a large beach and strong set of dunes, but with the changing coast lines and the rise of the sea level, it is interesting to wonder if the flooding would overtake the whole island.  It will be interesting to learn more about coastlines and what changing coastlines could mean for shore towns.

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.

An article on USA today titled “Rising sea levels torment Norfolk, Va., and coastal U.S,” highlights the challenges that Norfolk, VA is facing due to rapidly rising sea levels. The article details how sea level rise is not equal across the ocean with some coastal regions experiencing various levels of increase.  Norfolk’s sea level has risen 18 inches since 1880, and with the city’s faulty drainage systems, water and flooding have become a huge issue.  Norfolk is very flat which adds to the challenges of keeping flood waters out of the city.  When the city experiences heavy rain and storms, it is a slow and challenging process to manage the flood waters.  The article highlights that many streets now flood regularly with higher tides, and many homeowners are facing tough decisions and financial hardships as flooding becomes more frequent.  The city has taken measures, which include new regulations on buildings that ensure they will be build a certain amount of feet above sea level, and the city is also addressing the major issue with their drainage systems.  Another major cause for concern, is the massive infrastructures at risk at the many military bases in the hamptons roads region.  The article highlighted commentary from a retired naval officer who said that during his time in charge, their plans and construction did not account for global warming, and that the piers that house the various ships cannot support future sea level rise predictions as they exist now.

I sought an article out that discussed the impact coastal flooding will have on Norfolk, because in a few short months we are moving back to the Hampton Roads area.  I lived in Norfolk from 2010 to 2013, and experienced the challenges that flooding presents, especially on side streets first hand.  We are meeting with our realtor very soon to look at houses in Moyock, North Carolina, right across the VA line, and one major challenge is finding houses out of the flood zone. As I read this week’s article it made me question some of our potential home choices even further.  We are planning to retire in the house we buy, and I wonder if the flood zone will expand to reach the homes I am considering in twenty to thirty years or even sooner?  This week’s lesson was very informative, and just so happened to come at a time when I am making decisions about living near areas that are vulnerable to sea level rise.  Hopefully, this lesson will help me make decisions based on my needs now in addition to potential future impacts and challenges.

References:

Koch, W. (2013, December 18). Rising sea levels torment Norfolk, Va., and coastal U.S. Retrieved May 21, 2016, from http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/12/17/sea-level-rise-swamps-norfolk-us-coasts/3893825/

I was really interested in how much global warming has an impact on coastal flooding and wanted to learn more, so I found an article from the New York Times called Seas Are Rising at Fastest Rate in Last 28 Centuries. Tidal flooding in American coastal communities is strongly linked to the consequence of green house gasses from human activity. These emissions are due largely to the impact of burning fossil fuels, and its causing our ocean to rise at a fast rate. Not only is New York or Louisiana in danger, but this article talks about how tidal flooding is making places like Miami Beach, Charleston, S.C.; and Norfolk, Va, miserable due to routine flooding. This article has a very powerful quote from scientist Benjamin H. Strauss that says “I think we need a new way to think about most coastal flooding, it’s not the tide. Its not the wind. Its us. That’s true for most of the coastal floods we now experience”. Studies also confirm previous forecasts that if emissions were to continue at a high rate, the ocean would rise as much as three or four feet by 2100. Experts say the situations would only grow worse in the 22^nd century and likely for people to abandon many coastal cities.

I did some more research on our gas emissions, and found another article from the New York Times about president Obamas strategy to reduce America’s greenhouse gas emissions. New rules have been put in place stating that oil and gas companies are required to capture methane that escapes in the drilling process, from storage tanks and pipelines. I think both of these articles are interesting and have a powerful message. We need to save our coastal properties, and find a greener approach for our daily lives. If we continue to live how we are, and burning fossil fuels, millions of people will have to relocate from their coastal homes.

Gillis, J. (2016, February 22). Seas Are Rising at Fastest Rate in Last 28 Centuries. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/23/science/sea-level-rise-global-warming-climate-change.html

Semple, R. (2016, May 13). A Much-Needed Step on Methane Emissions. The New York Times. Retrieved May 19, 2016, from http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/2016/05/13/a-much-needed-step-on-methane-emissions/