Climate Change and Water Safety: The Interconnectivity of Climate Change in our Lives
Millions of Americans are at risk because of flooding, storms, and wildfires. Climate-related risks are happening where they did not happen in the past. In New York City, we now experience “sunny day flooding”, a phenomenon that has nothing to do with rainfall; but everything to do with super tides.
Florida and Texas have borne the brunt of this type of extreme weather for several years. Home prices in both states have declined between 3-5%.
Think of how it must be for people in these areas to have felt the full impact of multiple tropical storms, nor’easters, major winds, and a pandemic over the past several years. How many households, if they could afford to, have said: ”enough” packed up and left.
How does all of this relate to water safety?
It highlights that our world is becoming more and more watery and that water impacts us in many different ways. There is much more obvious interconnectivity in what is happening in the turbulence of nature that affects us on a global basis; a national basis; a local basis and a personal basis.
We need to develop a much deeper knowledge of, and better relationship with, water. Even in New York City, we see the results of rising water levels when water actually flows down Water Street in lower Manhattan or, a more common occurrence on the Rockaways, when the ocean travels three miles overland to meet the bay. And of course, not a single borough escaped damage due to Superstorm Sandy in 2012.
We see some governmental acknowledgment of these fundamental challenges in mandating flooded areas to be better protected against climate actions. Still, we don’t see our most valuable and perhaps most vulnerable public asset, people protected with as much zeal.
A part of that protection is mandating the training of water safety as part of our curriculum for grade K-12. At the Swim Strong Foundation, we developed Know Before You Go, a water safety education series that can be delivered to a variety of age groups. Our youth will inherit this more watery world and they need to understand how to safely and competently navigate it. See https://www.
If you live in New York State, urge your Senators and Assembly Members to Support Bills S2207/A728 and Vote YES! Find your elected official here: https://secured.
Shawn Slevin. E.D.
