Severe Midwest Flooding and Global Warming

[Guest Aileo Weinmann]

As so many grapple with catastrophic flooding in the central United States, our thoughts and prayers are with those in harm’s way.

 

“The big picture is that global warming is making tragedies like these more frequent and more intense. Global warming is happening now. Our dependency on fossil fuels like oil and coal is causing the problem, and people and wildlife are witnessing the effects.

 

“There are things we can do now to reduce floodplain risk, such as:

 

Review all significant dams and levees for risks and public safety;

 

Increase the nation’s commitment to updating and improving floodplain maps, and incorporating future conditions (including effects of urbanization and global warming factors), and creating stronger zoning rules and increasing wetlands protections that can reduce flooding to keep people and homes safe;

 

Adopting policies that restrict new building and new levees that encourage development in high-risk and often environmentally-sensitive areas.

 

“Although no single weather event can be attributed to global warming, it’s critical to understand that a warming climate is supplying the very conditions that fuel these kinds of weather events: it is a law of physics that warmer air is able to carry more water.

 

“And many of our past solutions, such as basing predictions only on past flooding histories, instead of foreseeable future conditions and relying on levees that give occupants a false sense of security, must be rethought in light of increasing development and global warming.

 

“Science tells us that we are experiencing trends toward more heavy precipitation events, especially in the eastern half of the continental United States during summer.

 

“To get at the root of the problem and avoid continued catastrophes like this, we need to reduce global warming pollution that is fueling a warming climate.”

[Guest Hunger Advocate]

In response to severe flooding that has displaced thousands of Iowa, Indiana and Wisconsin residents, the America’s Second Harvest network of food banks has mobilized to deliver needed resources to the affected communities.

 

As the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization, America’s Second Harvest prepares throughout the year for disasters of all types. As soon has flooding was predicted, members mobilized quickly to provide food directly to families and other disaster relief organizations active in the area.

 

On Wednesday, food bank staff members from the Greater Chicago Food Depository, the Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana, and the America’s Second Harvest national office were dispatched to Iowa disaster locations to assist with on-site efforts.

 

“Our Food Bank’s role is to assist, through the Emergency Management office and other organizations, with product when it is needed,” said Barb Prather, executive director of the Northeast Iowa Food Bank. "We are providing snacks and food to areas affected, and will support the ongoing relief work in Northeast Iowa in the coming months."

 

“Disasters put yet another strain on working families who face hunger issues every day,” said Vicki Escarra, President and CEO of America’s Second Harvest. “Thanks to the immediate efforts of our Midwest food banks, local residents will have emergency food and supplies to help make it through these difficult days.”

 

Click below to find out how you can help the victims in Iowa.

 

https://secure2.convio.net/a2h/site/Donatio...onation=landing