I have mentioned before that I was born during Hurricane Hazel in October of 1954. On the worst day of that storm 100 millimetres of rain fell, and the flooding killed 80 people. The catastrophe brought about major changes in flood plain management.
Yesterday 120 millimetres fell at Pearson Airport and the city of Toronto was awash in water. Underpasses were flooded, GO train passengers were evacuated by boat, more than a billion litres of sewage-laced water was flushed into Lake Ontario. This certainly wasn't of the magnitude of Calgary and other Alberta communities, but it was significant. More rain fell in Toronto yesterday than any other day since records have been kept.
Can this just be coincidence or is this a result of changing climate? Two cities which are major economic engines grind to a halt because of supposedly freak weather. Scientists keep warning us that this sort of weather will be part of climates change but for most of us it is same-old, same-old. I think of the biblical deluge myth involving an ark. People are warned by God to change their sinful ways but most ignore it until the waters rise.
Do extreme weather events concern you? Do you feel helpless to bring about change? Can faith communities engage in positive conversation and action?
It's got to be clear to even the most closed minded of naysayers that climate change is real.
ReplyDeleteIt will be interesting to see how major cities like Calgary and New Orleans work to prevent catastrophic weather damage in the future. I imagine that if this kind of thing is going to be the new norm, then emergency infrastructure is going to have to be part of future planning from here on in.
Did you see this article in the Globe and Mail? It looks as if Toronto has a plan in place ... a berm ... a bit late for yesterday's deluge - but hopefully it will be ready for another deluge soon...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/toronto/new-toronto-park-doubles-as-flood-protection/article12897840/