Shelter from the storm
In the 1980s the United States suffered from a billion dollar weather disaster at the rate of one every four months.
This year we are experiencing one of these events about every three weeks.
Out west the fires continue to rage, and look what happened this summer in Hawaii, as killer fires roared over the island of Maui, killing scores of people and making thousands homeless.
Here on the mainland the heat was unprecedented, setting never before records for death from the relentless heat in the Southwest and southern states. We were lucky from the hurricanes this year except that flooding from Tropical Storm Hillary caused widespread destruction in California and Arizona.
Unprecedented flooding also took place earlier this year in Vermont and terrible storms engulfed Europe along with devastating heat.
Across the planet climate change is taking its toll and the 750 climate scientists that gathered for our Congressional Climate Assessment continue to warn of more storms and more disasters. Some are beginning to listen but others still deny, and recent light has been shed on large oil companies and their past efforts to downplay the severity of continued use of fossil fuels.
The famous Hockey Stick Graph showing the earth’s warming since the Industrial Era has now been widened to show that Mother Earth is actually warmer than it has been in thousands of years. When the Hockey Stick came out in 1999 there were not many believers, however as the storms grew more furious and more frequent scientists continued to do research, and at a meeting just a year ago over 1,200 climate scientists were in agreement we have a problem and time is beginning to run out.
Some progress is being made and at least there is growing awareness of the problems presented by our warming earth. Simply put, a warmer planet makes for warmer oceans and warmer oceans contain more energy to fuel more severe and frequent storms.
While the evidence is not overwhelming, there appears to be a lot more articles and discussions on people taking a long, hard look before moving into harm’s way. After this summer in Phoenix who would want to move there? The same may be true for the southern states. In the west it’s the fires and along the coast and Florida the danger from hurricanes and sea level rises.
The real estate industry is keeping a low profile on these issues, however some Mid-West and Northeast States are ramping up advertising efforts to encourage folks to think about living in four-season climates. In the past month I have seen articles touting the merits of Detroit, Milwaukee and even Buffalo.
What about adding Southwestern Pennsylvania to the mix?
Certainly we are not as cold as the three above mentioned cities; and far nicer in the summer than most of the south and southwest. Just look at how nice our fall weather has been, sunny, pleasant days after clear, cool mornings.
Climate change brings spring to us some two weeks earlier and fall lingers several weeks later than in the past. Even winters are not what they were decades ago and last winter we only had one visit from the Polar Vortex and very little snowfall.
Lastly let us not forget the affordable housing that exists here compared with much of the country.
Last month there was mention of a small hydrogen energy plant in this area. On a recent trip to Pittsburgh I was truly amazed at the amount of construction on our roads, bridges and infrastructure along with a new airport. US 40 going up and over our mountain was paved this summer as were lots of streets and roads in our area.
Add to the mix our lakes, rivers, trails, parks, history and natural beauty and I think we can offer shelter from the storms of climate change.
What’s not to like about our home?