NRDC Statement: A Year After Sandy, We Must Strengthen Our Communities
NEW YORK (October 28, 2013) – As our nation marks the one-year anniversary of Superstorm Sandy tomorrow, we must better prepare our communities for future storms, and reduce the climate change pollution that is turbocharging our weather.
A September report released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration found that the odds of a Sandy-like disaster happening again in New York City have increased by 50 percent. The same report finds that parts of New York and New Jersey could experience Sandy-like impacts from even routine storms as frequently as every two years by the end of the century, if we don’t take action now to reduce climate change pollution.
A statement follows from Frances Beinecke, President of the Natural Resources Defense Council:
“A year after Sandy, our region has proven once again that we are resilient. Yet, we must not forget the lessons we learned in those terrifying hours last October. Our communities are vulnerable. And storms and flooding in our region are only predicted to become more frequent and intense.
“We must prepare to weather the storms of the future. That means not just rebuilding, but doing it smarter. We must ensure future development respects Mother Nature, and boosts her natural defenses. We must protect our critical infrastructure, public health systems and vulnerable populations. And we must address the root causes of climate change.
“The best way to honor the memory of the victims of the terrible storm that tore through our region a year ago is by doing everything we can to ensure it never happens again—while at the same time making sure we are better prepared if it does.”
Additional information:
- Top 10 list: NRDC has prepared a list of the Top 10 actions our government leaders can take to make our communities more resilient to future storms: http://bit.ly/1eouUZh.
- Expert blogs: NRDC experts have been blogging on various aspects of the rebuilding process here: http://bit.ly/16iffoU.