The Ogeechee river still hasn’t fully crested yet in the Savannah area. All the roads around my home are now closed, either completely or to thru traffic. We’re not at risk of flooding, but others aren’t as lucky.
River records were broken in Ellabell and Richmond Hill. And this with us getting only about 10 inches of rain from tropical storm Debby, instead of the 20 or more originally predicted.
Climate change isn’t creating more hurricanes, but the ones we get last longer and drop more rain. Debby is only the beginning, I hate to think what will happen when that 20 inches of rain comes.
Add to this, the leaders in our area and their very poor planning. They sacrifice all in the name of growth. They’re allowing development on wetlands and into marshes. The wetlands are nature’s sponges; they help control how much water floods the streets and how quickly it flows into the river.
The new developments have these little stormwater lagoons that are supposed to take the place of the wetlands. Well, as we found out this week: they failed.
The hurried and excessive development is putting stress on infrastructure, including road access and stormwater management. And all they’re doing now, is starting a study to see how to fix it. A study.
By allowing this uncontrolled growth, more homes will be put at risk, and we’ll be dealing with increased river and stormwater flooding at the same time climate change is raining sea levels and increasing rainfall during tropical cyclones.
Flood insurance. We’re supposed to be completely out of any risk zone, but I’m not sure I can bank on this assumption now.