Sea Level Rising

3.281 feet equals 1 meter

Commissioner McVoy brings up sea level rising and global warming and every time he does, the eyes roll and the groans begin. You know who they are--Lake Worth bullies. The rest of the commission usually sits there politely but unenthusiastically. Now and then you will hear a smart-aleck comment from someone. There is only one other commissioner who understands this very real problem but that is as far as it goes.

The average elevation in Florida is 6 feet and in some areas only 3 feet according to Keith London, commissioner in Hallandale Beach. According to Climate Central, the sea has already risen more than a foot in south Florida over the past century and new research by Climate Central shows that some 2.4 million Floridians are at risk of flooding from even a moderate hurricane-driven storm surge. The odds of a catastrophic 100-year flood by 2030 are now 2.6 times higher than they would have been without global warming.  NOAA says that there is strong evidence that global sea level is now rising at an increased rate and will continue to rise during this century.

As some of those supposedly in the know and who are always pushing growth and development on the coasts,  here is an article which says Forget global warming and melting polar caps – groundwater extraction is causing cities to SINK beneath sea level. A major cause for severe land subsidence is excessive groundwater extraction related to rapid urbanization and population growth. One in four are skeptical of global warming and those are the folks who roll the eyes and moan a little. Planners should understand everything about sea level risings.

Who knows, but I leave it up to scientists and experts who say that parts of Florida will disappear right off the map.

See the sea level rising map.
Corner of S. Golfview and 2nd Avenue South  on a heavy rainy day