We Must Prepare for Extreme Weather

After Superstorm Sandy, New York and New Jersey were hit with billions of dollars in costs.  The beaches could not hold back the ocean water from getting into residential communities or even New York City.  Now, both Governor Cuomo (New York, D) and Governor Christie (New Jersey, R) want to waterproof the most vulnerable areas of their respective states.

Both Governors requested 42 billion dollars in aid from the government to pay for damages, as well as prepare for future storms.  This includes waterproofing the electrical system, subway system, and even sea gates.  Since a new report released by the U.N. Governmental Panel on Climate Change reported ocean levels rising 60% faster than what was measured in 2005, both governors are planning for future, and more common, superstorms.

Sea-level researchers Robert Kopp and Benjamin Strauss calculate that a five-foot increase would produce Sandy-like floods in New York approximately every 15 years.  So, if extreme weather is expected to hit the coasts and the rest of the United States, are we prepared?  The answer is an unfortunate no.  "A 2011 survey found that only 13 percent of American municipalities had even completed climate risk assessments."

Hopefully, we will not need another extreme storm to wake us up to the reality of climate change.  We've already been warned.

Source: http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.1195049.1351695367!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_635/breezy-point.jpg

"Keeping The Oceans Back." Washington Post 2 Dec. 2012. Global Issues In Context. Web. 6 Dec. 2012.

Will extreme weather from climate change encourage the government to act and demand that all cities be prepared?