The world is quickly heating up. Greenhouse gasses are trapped in the atmosphere, thereby making the world hotter than it was before. Climate change and global warming are often used interchangeably nowadays and for good reason. Both are responsible for many of the worst disasters we have faced as of late and probably of much more in the years to come, agrees Dave Davidson from Northern Attitude. However, global warming actually precedes the other. The accumulation of greenhouse gasses results to the changing of climate patterns. It is the reason why the natural calamities we experience nowadays are far stronger and unpredictable than in the past. Rising global temperatures consequently cause the sea level to rise because ice caps are melting faster than it did over the past century. It also resulted in an increase in rainfall and flooding in various parts of the globe. Like any other nations experiencing the wrath of Mother Nature, America has experienced its fair share of catastrophes over the years. The country had more floods last year than any given year on record.
(Via: https://www.usatoday.com/story/weather/2017/01/04/floods-natural-disasters-2016/96120150/) We can no longer just shrug off our shoulders and ignore global warming. The quality of our lives will forever be connected to the climate. Severe flooding can result in loss of human lives, deterioration of health, damage to property, loss of livestock, and destruction of crops that is worth millions to billions of dollars just all wiped out.
(Via: http://edition.cnn.com/2017/04/25/us/north-carolina-flooding/) Flooding can be catastrophic especially with sudden and powerful flash floods that happen with such short notice that can destroy homes, structures, bridges and vehicles. Your home is no longer your safe haven as it can not always protect you from the force of these raging waters. Your health is also at higher risk because floods can contaminate bodies of water with chemicals and other toxic substances that are spread by the water’s current. You can easily become homeless as well. The Louisiana flood during the onslaught of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 is the worst experienced in America followed by Hurricane Sandy otherwise known as “Superstorm Sandy” that hit the East Coast in 2012 and the second costliest storm in the history of America. Those two hurricanes brought with it severe flooding that wiped out cities and communities and left thousands of families homeless and completely dependent on federal assistance. All Americans can see the trend quite clearly now. Calamities are getting worse and destruction is costlier than ever. 19 major floods hit the United States in 2016 alone. Will the number go up this year when the Trump government decided to cut back funding on various government agencies he considers not that relevant in rebuilding the greatness of his America? It includes budget cuts on the arts, education and various environment programs established by the Obama administration to help counter the threat of continued global warming and climate change. The following post Flooding In America Is At An All Time High was originally published to SEMP.us Blog from https://www.semp.us/flooding-in-america-is-at-an-all-time-high/
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