Southwest Florida governments not planning for sea rise

[n2doc]

Billions of dollars in coastal homes and infrastructure are being threatened by rising sea levels, but you wouldn't know it by the actions of local governments.

Other parts of the state are underway with planning and preparations. Southwest Florida is not and that could be costly.

Sea level rise is a slow, creeping process — only millimeters a year right now — but the rate is accelerating, according to many scientists.

Southwest Florida is at particular risk. The flat topography, porous bedrock and heavily developed coast mean just a few inches of sea level rise could have disastrous consequences.

more

http://www.news-press.com/story/news/2014/08/02/southwest-florida-governments-planning-sea-rise/13532083/

Prepare or not, they will have to deal with it. One can hope we won't be forced to spend billions trying to save doomed communities before having to face reality and abandoning them.

[nookworld]

1. how much will the oceans rise this decade?

[Agschmid]

3. Ask someone living in Miami...

[KurtNYC]

2. Insurance companies are suing local governments like this

Now a major insurance company is suing Chicago-area municipal governments saying they knew of the risks posed by climate change and should have been better prepared. The class-action lawsuits raise the question of who is liable for the costs of global warming.

Filed by Farmers Insurance Co. on behalf of itself, other insurance companies and customers whose property was damaged by the surge of storm water and sewage overflow, the lawsuits allege the governments of Chicago-area municipalities knew their drainage systems were inadequate and failed to take reasonable action to prevent flooding of insured properties.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2014/05/19/climate-change-get-ready-or-get-sued/

[hobbit709]

4. The difficult art of mud breathing is in their future. Adapt or die.

[oldandhappy]

5. Florida has already lost low-lying land.

These folk will wait and wait and then there will be a sudden reaction of 'oh no' 'oh no' and then a request for the government to save them. I hope the insurance companies cut off insurance for people in areas with less than ten feet of elevation. But will not happen. Our taxes and our insurance payments will go down that drain. Mercy, I am sure negative this morning. Sorry! I wish we could get out heads around reality!

[Cirque du So-What]

6. Perhaps they're counting on being dead before the deluge

By the time catastrophe strikes, people will be too busy dealing with disaster to curse their names.