Article from Route Fifty website: New studies find cities most vulnerable to climate change disasters—heat waves, flooding, rising seas, drought—are the least prepared. Direct link to the study: How Climate Change Will Impact Major Cities Across the U.S.
Too many aspects are commingled to allow for a realistic picture of municipal vulnerabilities and viable preparations.
Resolutions are pro forma without earmarked funding and dedicated staff. Illustrative: Last week’s hurricane had Broward County, Florida announce they had 31 emergency shelter but only staff for a half. This translates to half the shelters were ready for the evacuation.
Flooding equates to contagious disease. Epidemiological matters require the political subdivisions such as Seattle and Montgomery County, metro Washington, D.C. as only a neighborhood of a large area. The infected driver of an automobile can be far away from the flood and still serve as a vector.
The correlation of a city’s demographic bloc of “poor” with higher vulnerability is just too academic. Many citizens with the economic means do not have insurance, emergency supplies, and current immunizations. Most all socio-economic classes neglect to get a – free – flu shot.
I love humor. Thank you, Wash Post for telling of weather patterns that “scientists do not completely understand”.
The common denominator is to prepare at all political levels with resiliency being more regional than municipal. Flooding upstream involves the downstream political subdivisions. Contagious diseases involves all of us.
So far, we’re on the right route. It takes time.
Please tell me who you are.
Good afternoon Claire,
I’m in Gloucester County, VA (across York River from Yorktown). Retired now, had been a reserve Federal Emergency Manager with OET, USDOT ages ago. Now I’m active in Citizens Corps, and some other orgs. Had once written a short article on emergency sheltering for a national mag.
*** the web is never going to replace a conference room or Golden Corral meeting for discussions.
~ Bob
OK. thanks for the background.
A blog or facebook group seems to be the best we can do these days to facilitate discussions.
Regards,
Claire