Sucks that sentence doesn’t end with “and climate change.”
I just got back from our city meeting on the topic. July 15-16 (Hurricane Beryl) and Aug 17-18 a substantial chunk of our city got flooded. Fortunately, the geography is old lake bed with small escarpments and lots of gullies. The area learned its lesson with 1954’s Hurricane Hazel; flood plains are generally empty, except for a few nouveau riche “Haute Home Depot” houses here and there. High-speed flushing of lives down sudden torrents is not the problem. It’s mostly just high water without much gradient to move it.
Most of the formal presentation came down to commiseration, a quick overview of the city corporate report, and some homeowner 101 notes on water management. The city councilors and works people were around for Q&A, though, which was very helpful. Fire, emergency were there as well.
The city is re-imbursing for new sump-pump installations, and considering adding waterproofing to that. We won’t be reimbursed for re-grading properties, too complicated to deal with compliance (which I understand). Some of the 50+ year old areas are well over their design capacity for storm water. Fortunately the city works are keen to hear about them and get it on the plan. Little areas with a few problems, like mine, didn’t make the Corporate Report, but my councilor encouraged us to drop by his office with details so we didn’t fall through the cracks.
As usual, it’s a matter of showing up, talking, getting on the radar.
(Why does commiseration that have 2 m’s?)
Exactly. We all need to take action, encourage pols as well as our neighbors to make this a priority, and push for solutions. These disasters are becoming more frequent and less predictable:
Finnish climate used to be really mild especially on the coast.
I am thinking there will be a lot of “used to be” in relation to climate in the coming years. Way, way ahead of schedule. This is why the incoming assholes are bound and determined to hamstring the monitoring of the outcome of their fuckery.