Study Confirms New York’s Worst Hurricane Fears

Scientists say rising sea levels and the storm surge from a category three hurricane could leave much of New York underwater by the 2050s. But are officials taking this study seriously?

According to an article on the Environmental News Service website, scientists Cynthia Rosenzweig and Vivien Gornitz, part of a team at NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies and Columbia University investigating climate change. Gornitz presented the team’s findings at the annual meeting of the Geological Society of America in Philadelphia last week.

The article says the pair has been working with New York City’s Department of Environmental Protection since 2004, using computer models to simulate future climates and sea level rise. Recently, computer-modeling studies have provided a more detailed picture of sea level rise around New York by the 2050s.

“With sea level at these higher levels, flooding by major storms would inundate many low-lying neighborhoods and shut down the entire metropolitan transportation system with much greater frequency,” Gornitz told the news service.

The article says New York City officials are testing and refining preparedness plans and emergency response protocols, as well as strengthening coordination between emergency responders at the city, state and federal levels. Two weeks ago, the New York City Office of Emergency Management, OEM and the New York City Department of Homeless Services hosted HURREX, a multi-agency field exercise designed to test the city’s response to a hurricane or large-scale storm.

To read the full article, click here: http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/oct2006/2006-10-26-01.asp