It is the classic definition of what scientists say happens with climate CHANGE.
HOTTER air holds more moisture, so it can release more rain at faster rates - at one point during Memorial weekend we got 1 inch of rain in a mere 5 MINUTES! Unheard of. During Allison it took a day to get 12 inches. We are now getting that in 6 hours!
Hence we will be getting more 100 year and 500 year events, annually!
We are now FEELING the effects. This past few years in Texas we have seen both extremes - Extreme DROUGHT (covering 95% of the state at one point) then extreme FLOODING. No in-between.
Tornadoes have now hit such rare places such as Mexico and Maine. The Pacific has had a record number of monster CAT 5 hurricane/typhoon storms in the last two years. 120 degree temperatures in India is melting asphalt into black pools of molten rock.
The planet is sending us a message. But you can't see it if you never leave Austin, TX or pay attention.
Victims of Houston's Flooding, hometown of Author
Ignoring it will not improve our situation. WHERE is our Texas PLAN to DEAL with it?
We need a crash program to attack climate change before we commit species suicide with our only living planet in this galaxy.
Turning Earth into hot-house Venus by continuing our relentless release of billions of carbon and methane emissions will make your heirs future a dark one. I don't have any kids; my motivation for yelling is to avoid humans looking stupid by extincting themselves. We humans are the proverbial frogs in water who doesn't notice it is getting hotter and hotter, until he's a goner.
The good news is that if ever decide to use them, humans have these marvelous BRAINS that are quite good at finding solutions IF they are put to use.
Methane leaks must be stopped. We need a crash conversion to solar and wind from our dirtiest sources first - zero coal use to start. I have witnessed how many JOBS are CREATED by addressing these issues with technology. (I went to China as a young attorney in the early 80's to sell them pollution control technology for coal plants).
We will also need to start converting to PERMEABLE PAVEMENT - so that the rain will soak through our cement surfaces inside of becoming more run-off as it happening. As we have grown and laid more cement, we cut off a chance for the moisture to go underground instead of building up to a Tsunami of water seeking an avenue of escape on our flat dinner-dish terrain. Permeable pavement looks like pavement, but lets the water soak to the ground below, reducing runoff.
The other great threat is wind-borne debris thrown our windows by more frequent hurricane-force winds. Glass is the weakest link of our biggest asset. When winds break it the internal pressure causes uplift on the roof, and that leads to structural failure and damage. Not to mention mold, water damage, etc. We humans are relying on a technology that hasn't changed in 5,000 years. It is time to upgrade that too. We need to do multiple things AT ONCE.
We CAN fix this, but it will take committing to using NEW technology along with our human brains, which are remarkable when we use them to solve issues instead of creating problems.
Contact your legislator and send this link with a request Texas establish a CLIMATE CHANGE DEFENSE PLAN.
Your kids lives and our future depends on it. More than you think.
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