Sea rise threatens Florida coast, but no statewide plan

[Zorro]

America's oldest city is slowly drowning.

St. Augustine's centuries-old Spanish fortress and other national landmarks sit feet from the encroaching Atlantic, whose waters already flood the city's narrow, brick-paved streets about 10 times a year — a problem worsening as sea levels rise. The city has long relied on tourism, but visitors to the fortress and Ponce de Leon's mythical Fountain of Youth might someday have to wear waders at high tide.

"If you want to benefit from the fact we've been here for 450 years, you have the responsibility to look forward to the next 450," said Bill Hamilton, a 63-year-old horticulturist whose family has lived in the city since the 1950s. "Is St. Augustine even going to be here? We owe it to the people coming after us to leave the city in good shape."

St. Augustine is one of many chronically flooded communities along Florida's 1,200-mile coastline, and officials in these diverse places share a common concern: They're afraid their buildings and economies will be further inundated by rising seas in just a couple of decades. The effects are a daily reality in much of Florida. Drinking water wells are fouled by seawater. Higher tides and storm surges make for more frequent road flooding from Jacksonville to Key West, and they're overburdening aging flood-control systems.

http://news.yahoo.com/sea-rise-threatens-florida-coast-no-statewide-plan-151332834.html

[leftofcool]

1. Yep, no body gives a damn except for a few of us.

You think the GOP might take a second look at global warming if the entire city goes under water? Oh wait, it would be the "will of Gawd."

[DetlefK]

3. "Ocean goes in... and stays in. Can't explain that!"

I wouldn't be surprised when that explana... oh wait, that's already a line used by global warming deniers: "Nobody knows the cause."


"Tide goes in, tide goes out."
"Fuckin' magnets, how do they work?"
"If you grind the plant-particles, this releases the healing energy. Now, if you dilute them in water and shake them..."

[DirkGently]

2. Rick Scott won't even say "climate change."

Last edited Mon May 11, 2015, 11:07 AM - Edit history (1)

Here's his adviser cracking up a room of Florida state senators laugh because he literally won't say the words.


http://crooksandliars.com/2015/03/senate-testimony-top-rick-scott-adviser

This is the level of reason we're dealing with.

[BillZBubb]

4. Hard to feel sorry for the majority of Florida.

They keep electing right wingers to control their state government.

As the situation worsens, Florida will be at the front of the line begging the Feds to literally bail them out.

[Cirque du So-What]

8. To be fair

a good percentage of voters in Florida belong to a demographic who have a reasonable expectation that they will expire before the feces impact the vanes of the rotary air impeller. Not their problem.

[SoCalDem]

5. Once upon a time

you could drive that rickety (then) coastal road and stop almost anywhere, scamper down a soft sandy berm and be in the ocean in minutes.. It was a great way to get antsy kids to settle down on a long road trip down to Miami

When builders started getting greedy local governments to allow them to BUILD on every patch of sand they could find, the handwriting was on the wall..

If there is property (expensive property) to protect, the jetties & sand replenishment stuff started in and Floridians are paying the price now

[Arugula Latte]

6. SHHH! Ixnay on the imateclay angechay alktay!

[appalachiablue]

7. K & R. Adore old charming St. Augustine & all of Florida's natural beauty & heritage. Real shame.