Sea Level Impact on Florida Dawning on Policy Makers July 2, 2013

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.