NARRAGANSETT, R.I. (Ivanhoe Newswire) — April showers may bring May flowers, but they also bring rising waters and flooded streets. According to the National Centers for Environmental Information, last year flooding displaced over 30,000 people in the United States, damaging or destroying more than 200,000 homes and businesses. Flooding impacts go far beyond what we see on the news. Water insecurity, food insecurity, and infrastructure failures are growing concerns.
Streets turned into rivers; homes washed away…
Flooding is the most common environmental disaster in the U.S. — and it’s getting worse.
“We have more moisture in the air, and when you have more moisture in the air, that’s going to come out as rainfall,” said University of Rhode Island coastal resilience specialist Pam Rubinoff.
She says rising seas threaten drinking water and agriculture.
“You have the salt coming into those freshwater wells. And it’s not drinkable at that point,” explained Rubinoff.
So how can we protect our families? Rubinoff says know your risks, plan, and take action. Start by checking flood maps and evacuation routes. Make a plan and identify emergency contacts, meeting points and make sure each child understands what to do in an emergency and practice drills. Also, ask your children what’s important to them.
“Their pets are so important to them. So, what is going to happen to the pets? What do you want to bring?” asked Rubinoff.
In your emergency kit, include leashes for every pet. Make sure to have important documents in a waterproof container and a backup charger for cell phones. And don’t forget your neighbors!
“Somebody might not be able to get out of their house, or somebody might have young children who need more help,” said Rubinoff as preparation can make all the difference.
Humans are contributing to the flooding problem as burning fossil fuels trap the heat in our atmosphere, it also traps water droplets, increasing the volume of water that hits the earth when it rains.
Technology can help too — reporting flooding with photos and videos helps emergency teams respond faster. And something to keep in mind, some of the most overlooked items during evacuations: important documents like birth certificates and insurance policies, extra prescription medications and pet supplies, including food and carriers, are also often forgotten in the rush to leave.
Contributors to this news report include: Marsha Lewis, Executive Producer; Matt Goldschmidt, Videographer; and Bob Walko, Editor.
Produced by Child Trends News Service in partnership with Ivanhoe Broadcast News and funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF).
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