The Associated Press video above explores the story of sea level impacts on one of the world’s most vulnerable metro areas, Miami and South Florida.
Last week, Dark Snow Project hosted Rolling Stone writer Jeff Goodell, whose latest piece “Goodbye Miami” is a rather overwhelming exploration of what everyone who looks at the evidence knows – Miami is one big storm away from becoming unviable as a place to live, and the State of Florida is dangerously exposed to insurance risks from the inevitable destruction of coastal property when, not if, the next giant hurricane comes ashore.
The effects of sea level rise from climate change are not a problem for the next generation – as Superstorm Sandy showed us, they are beginning to take a toll even now as infrastructure designed for sea levels of 50 to 100 years ago crumbles under warming-enhanced extreme events that are made much more powerful even by a few inches of sea level rise. Jeff’s article begins with one of the more memorable images in the annals of climate journalism.
When the water receded after Hurricane Milo of 2030, there was a foot of sand covering the famous bow-tie floor in the lobby of the Fontainebleau hotel in Miami Beach. A dead manatee floated in the pool where Elvis had once swum.
Jeff’s account of his trip to the ice sheet with DarkSnow is due out on July 16.
Stay tuned.
As a New Orleanian, I know my city is doomed. But here in ruby red Louisiana you just don’t speak of such eventualities. But it’s not only political, here are strong social taboos barring people from speaking about the bull in our china closet as well.
It’s human nature I suppose – “Don’t speak of scary things that you have no control over. Just do your individual best to make the world better” – is the way I hear it. But I know that line of thought disallows the possibility of marshaling necessary political courage for necessary political action.
It’s strange that doomsday “Christians” (it looks nothing like Christianity to me) seem immune to such taboos as they drone on about end times and judgements from the supernatural realm.
Hi Stephen,
During and after Hurricane Katina I did a media trawl and created a timeline. You might have some interest in this. Or not…. 🙂
http://www.occupybendor.org/news.php?1758
At least some of the photos are quite striking. 🙂
Thanks Ray.
I scanned over your PDF for like an hour last night, and I didn’t even make a dent on the piece in its vast entirety. Pretty interesting about the events behind the Newman song. Doesn’t look like the banker-class was any less class conscious than they are these days.
Yes Andrew, I have a couple of timelines like the one Ray produced, but none that cover all the dishonest political dealings in such depth a Ray has done. I too was amazed at the great quality of Ray’s work. But even Ray’s very detailed record doesn’t tell the whole story of the corruption, arm twisting and naked political patronage that I witnessed going on back then. I always knew the things like what I witnessed were going on, but the way the aftermath of that storm was handled opened my eyes about the nature of government (on all levels – city, parish, state, federal) in so many ways.
Thanks again, Ray.
I had read Goodell’s story earlier and what struck me was the level of denial that he found. No one wanted to admit that in 20 years or less, Miami would be unliveable, even though it’s obvious. Their Hurricane Sandy moment is coming, and soon.
Hi Wes,
While the end for Miami is in sight, I think putting a 20 year time frame on it expresses more certainty than exists. I’ve taken to thinking about the unthinkable in term of probabilities.
Miami will probably try to rebuild after the first major hurricane to send a storm surge across the entire region. I think it will take at least two massive storms to finally bankrupt the region and force people to move along. The probability of this happening in the next century is something I’d probably put at 1 in 10 odds.
Since 1851, there have been 37 major land-falling hurricanes in Florida, but only three took a direct shot at Miami. (The Great Miami Hurricane, 1926, Hurricane King, 1950, Hurricane Andrew, 1992).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Florida_hurricanes
What left the biggest impression on me from that article was the response of the legislators to local requests for help in building up the infrastructure ahead of expected sea-level rises. Their response was a 1/2 hour lecture on the bible and how these folks need to go back and read the bible because God said he wouldn’t flood the Earth again. If the folks making decisions in Florida are all like that, then Florida has NO HOPE, and you might as well start planning your escape now.
Stupid Cnuts… 🙂