Firms gird for climate change

Reprinted  in part from The Boston Globe

 

While little action is expected from Congress on climate change, many businesses in Boston and beyond are taking matters into their own hands, preparing for a warmer world in which severe weather, rising sea levels, and increased flooding threaten property, operations, and earnings.

Developers have moved electrical units from the basements to rooftops of buildings in the Seaport District along Boston Harbor. Utilities in New England have elevated substations several feet above the ground and replaced wooden electrical poles with steel ones that can withstand powerful winds.

Insurance companies, in response to clients, are testing products designed to protect against varied effects of climate change, and providing more coverage against natural disasters. The Hartford insurance company now offers small businesses policies against losses due to widespread power outages, a growing concern as major storms occur more frequently.

A recent federal study warned that the climate in the United States was changing at a faster pace due to the burning of fossil fuels - such as oil, coal, and natural gas - that emit greenhouse gases blamed for rising global temperatures. The Northeast, the study found, would be particularly hard hit as climate change accelerates, baked by heat waves and flooded by rising sea levels and torrential downpours.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Protecting your property from the threat of Spring Flooding

By Deborah Rashti, VP of Marketing and Sales for Servpro of GN/PW, a National Member of CAI

This was some winter!  And the deluge of water that fell from the sky the last day of April was another example of Mother Nature’s wrath.  While we count on spring showers to bring us May flowers, we do not take too easily to the flash flooding that sometimes accompanies it. Last month’s mudslide in Washington State that smothered almost an entire community is one of many examples of how dangerous spring flooding can be. 

When rainwater overpowers drainage systems, basements are easily susceptible to flooding.   Being proactive about keeping our gutter systems clear of debris is one of the simplest ways to minimize this possibility.  Depending upon the surrounding landscape, you may need to do this more than a couple of times a year.

 

Unbenownst to most people, flushing gutters with hose water after removing leaves is a necessary step to make sure debris is completely removed. Since gutters need to hold a tremendous amount of water during heavy rains, the best time to see if they are working properly is 15 minutes after the downpour while it is still raining.

 Overflowing gutters near a home’s foundation is not a good thing.  While it may not necessarily cause flooding in a basement, this overflow can cause erosion around your foundation that could lead to cracking of walls and ceilings.  Adding an additional spout or expanding the width of the spout can easily solve this.

While most of us do not like the esthetics of a spout that extends 10 feet from our home, it really is an excellent way to keep water away.  Depressions of soil around the foundation of our home can be a red flag that there is a water problem.  Catching this early can make a huge difference in the money you’ll save from avoiding a cleanup from flooding.

 Don’t discount the risk of flooding coming from your sprinklers either.  Not only do we not want sprinkler heads pointed at our home, but we also do not need more water after a significant rain.  Adding more water to an already saturated property is opening yourself up to potential problems.    Rain gauges serve an important purpose for our sprinkler systems and having them checked annually is in our best interest.

 
In the event that water is penetrating our basement from a source that lies below ground level, you will need an experienced waterproofer who has an excellent reputation.  This is a tricky problem as hydrostatic pressure can push water through hairline cracks for a multitude of reasons.  You need a good diagnostician to identify why the water is coming in and what is needed to correct the problem.  Don’t even think about putting your basement back together BEFORE this is worked out. 
 
As with anything, proper maintenance is key to minimizing costly repairs later on.  As opposed to pipe breaks, basement’s flooded by rainwater is generally NOT covered by homeowners insurance.  The amount of money involved in getting your basement back to pre-existing condition can be costly.  Simple steps to maintain your home may require a commitment on your part, but may save you money in the end.

 While it is hard to embrace our potential for flooding, keep in mind that much of the country is experiencing severe drought conditions and brush fires are a very real threat to their community.  With careful planning,  we can mitigate the potential loss of flooding due to heavy rains.  Enjoy those spring flowers that we have waited so long to see.   

'Flood fighter' mobile game teaches Asian kids survival tips

Dodging electrocution, drowning and even crocodiles, the Thai virtual hero of a new mobile game called "Flood Fighter" aims to educate children across Asia about the perils posed by Mother Nature.  More than 800 people, including dozens of children, were among the victims of devastating floods that hit Thailand in 2011, affecting 65 of 77 provinces.

The free download for smartphones and tablet computers has proved a hit in a country which in 2012 had almost 130 mobile telephone subscriptions per 100 inhabitants. Just a few weeks after its launch in January, the game topped the charts for educational apps in Thailand, with more than 22,000 downloads.

The concept is simple: the house of lead character Sai Fah, whose name means "lightning", has flooded. He must complete missions during 22 episodes before, during and after the rise in the waters, each one carrying a message of prevention.

Why This Summer Could Be Hot Hot Hot!

Summer 2014 is now emerging as an El Niño summer. The climate prediction center has placed the East Coast, Southeast, and West in an area of very hot weather. How hot would it get? Temperatures heading into an El Niño summer would mean 50% more 90+ degree days in places like Boston, Providence, New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington. High humidity will accompany the heat, with at least 25 days exceeding 100 degrees with the afternoon heat index.

This would also mean bad news for West Coast's wildfire season and a continuation of the current drought in California. Relief for CA wouldn't come until December-February, with Southern CA, Southwest, and Southern Rockies getting more relief in the winter vs. Northern California. 

The pre-El Niño months of May and early June should definitely see a sign of warmer-than-normal temps in the East and Southeast and West, and the core of summer will bring once we get into the core of summer we'll see an El Niño roaster for the East Coast and South. The confidence is trending up with the forecast, and the latest IPC computer modeling shows a 66% chance of an El Niño this winter.

Models can overplay the warming of the oceans due to climate change and the predicted El Niño could be masked like the one in 2012; however, the law of averages shows it's time for the seven year El Niño itch.

Called a Kelvin Wave, an expanding pool of water now 4-6c above normal on the upper surface water of the Pacific Ocean which gets bigger and bigger. Some experts say it's may rival the Kelvin Wave of 1997-98 - the biggest El Niño of all-time. Why is this wave important? As the surface waters start to warm, the pool of water pushes East against the normal West flow of the Pacific. The true indicator of whether we end up with a weak or moderate El Nino will be how far this huge, warm pool of water travels over the Pacific Ocean the next 2-12 months. If the entire pool of toasty water moves Eastward to the West Coast of Mexico and South America, you set the stage for a potential Pineapple Express. Throw in a moisture-laden jet stream from Hawaii and strong El Nino, and the entire southern half of the United States is wet this winter. On the contrary, if the pool of water stays parked in the Central Pacific you get a weak to moderate El Nino. 

If you have summer plans for the beach, or plan on visiting the local lake to cool off, you'll be glad you made that reservation. The areas of the U.S. to see the biggest increase in the heat this summer will be: California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Oregon, Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Georgia, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, DC, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.