Once again, a powerful tropical storm (soon to be Hurricane Ida) is approaching the northern Gulf Coast and residents are fleeing to higher ground. One feels for these people, especially those who were born and raised in the coastal lowlands and now have jobs dependent upon that environment.
But the climate is changing and both the frequency and intensity of these destructive storms is likely to increase over the coming decades. To continually rebuild on land that is at or below sea level takes both an emotional and a financial toll. Indeed, one wonders when insurance companies will deny coverage in these high risk zones and when the Federal Government will follow.
We humans have created this crisis and now must live with the consequences. As the sea level continues to rise, coastal lowlands and barrier islands will become uninhabitable. Perhaps it is time to begin a permanent exodus from the Gulf and let nature take back her beautiful but ever-changing beaches and wetlands.
