Prepare for the worst weather
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It’s only a matter of time until a major hurricane hits Hampton Roads, and Virginia isn’t ready for evacuees.
A new report warns that Virginia is not ready for the next major storm that someday will hit Hampton Roads. All Virginians should worry about that conclusion, even those living in the relative safety of the Blue Ridge.
The independent study, which the U.S.Department of Homeland Security funded with a $505,000 grant, identifies a number of challenges related to managing a large-scale evacuation. Shelter systems and capacity are insufficient, planning is lacking, state-local coordination needs to improve, and it is not even entirely clear which state agency would take the lead.
January 4, 2013 - 6:16 AM
Half a million dollars…..
pre-emptive money grubbing….
disband DHS now.
I have yet to figure out why people who are clearly in a flood zone (flooded by whatever means) and choose not to have flood insurance (EVEN IF NOT REQUIRED) expect the government to bail them out.
“History shows again and again
How nature points out the folly of men.”
Godzilla!
Like a lot of other things, this nation needs seriously to confront. The issue of people and business locating in flood zones, hurricane corridors, and below sea level needs to seriously be pondered.
We cannot afford to make large regions “whole” from the limited coffers of federal money time after time. ESPECIALLY those who do not have insurance. If you cannot make that investment to protect yourself to some extent, what do we owe you as taxpayers?
As the typical bleeding heart, I get it, but I also see huge amounts of money we do not have involved.
Right now the carbon dioxide level of Earth’s atmosphere is 390 ppm (parts per million) and rising. But climate scientists have come to the conclusion that if we can LOWER the CO2 level to 350 ppm and hold it at that level, we can put a stop to Global Warming. There are plenty of ways to go about doing this:
1: We can begin weaning ourselves off fossil fuels, and focus more on clean, renewable sources of energy such as wind, solar, hydro, and geothermal.
2: We can put the brakes on deforestation and instead focus on planting MORE trees wherever possible, since forests provide the best, most efficient form of carbon sequestration we’re likely to have anytime soon.
3: The two goals above can be more easily accomplished if we encourage Zero Population Growth (ZPG) … that is, encouraging couples to limit themselves to two children.
But if we resign ourselves to the status quo, just IMAGINE the refugee crisis, not only in Virginia but even farther inland, as our coastline begins to shrink at a faster rate.