As Hurricane Florence bears down on North Carolina, the state may face the consequences of policies minimizing the impact of climate change and allowing extensive development in vulnerable coastal areas.
The approaching storm almost certainly gained destructive power from a warming climate, but a 2012 law, and subsequent actions by the state, effectively ordered state and local agencies that develop coastal policies to ignore scientific models showing an acceleration in the rise of sea levels.
In the years since, development has continued with little regard to the long-term threat posed by rising sea levels. And the coastal region’s population and economy have boomed, growing by almost half in the last 20 years.
—North Carolina, Warned of Rising Seas, Chose to Favor Development
Here are some screen shots of a live video feed, taken from an old Coast Guard tower, showing the effects of hurricane Florence. (The link to the feed no longer seems to work.)
September 13, 2018 at 2.18.51 PM
September 13, 2018 at 2.50.28 PM
September 13, 2018 at 3.15.49 PM
September 13, 2018 at 3.35.24 PM
Here are surfers taking advantage of the waves before the worst comes:
similar to surfers and board riders here – hear that waves are good, so off they go to – maybe put themselves at risk including have to be rescued in very dangerous conditions!
that flag looks like it has been shredded…
Yes, the flag is being torn apart by the wind. That’s why I took screen shots of it before the camera went black.
Doreen and her husband had to evacuate Wilmington. and they just built a new house there. they’d just got to move into it. she’s become a good friend. they were so excited to leave the cold snowy winters of NY and to move to the coast. I hope it’s still standing when they get to return! the internet has made it so that we can have dear friends now over the entire world! a web of caring for others. and fearing for them too.
and those surfers! I never have wanted to do that! even on a good day let alone with a hurricane coming! WOW.
I’m so sorry about Doreen! Fingers crossed for them.
I’ve never wanted to surf, but I can understand why they would do it while the hurricane was still a safe distance away. I hope they left enough time to get to safe ground.
agree, hope that Doreen and family don’t find themselves homeless…etc, fingers x-ed
Wind speeds in excess of 80 MPH have been recorded. I hope that there will not be too much loss of life though property is bound to happen.
The rain is expected to be a bigger problem than the wind. Hurricanes move more slowly now because the arctic is warmer than it used to be so storm systems are more apt to hover rather than moving on fast.