5 Cities Doing Big Things to Reduce Their Risks From Extreme Weather: Report

By: By Terrell Johnson

Published: October 25,2013

 

 

 

 

 

Spencer Platt/Getty Images

A newly built protective sea wall stands in front of beachfront property on Oct. 9, 2013, in the Queens borough of New York City. Nearly a year after Superstorm Sandy devastated the area with severe flooding and wind damage, the Rockaways and Belle Harbor have made great headway in rebuilding the iconic beach community.

From this September's historic Colorado floods to the upcoming anniversary of Superstorm Sandy, there's been no shortage of extreme weather events over the past year that show why the world's major cities need to become more resilient in the face of climate change.
The Center for American Progress released a report this week on the cities across America that are doing just that, highlighting the steps five major cities are taking after experiencing major natural disasters in the recent past, and which are especially at risk from climate change-related dangers such as sea level rise:

Houston

Massive flooding in July 2012 prompted the launch of Rebuild Houston, a city-wide effort to build better streets and drainage systems with the goal of reducing the impact of floods on homes and businesses throughout the city.
The city also has assembled a Water Conservation Task Force to tackle its long-term water needs, which were tested by a severe drought in 2011. The task force is charged with diversifying Houston's water supplies and cutting consumers' water bills through measures like rainwater harvesting, desalination and using greywater and recycled water for irrigation.

Los Angeles

Extreme heat and drought are two of the biggest climate-related risks Los Angeles is expected to face in the next few decades, risks the city is preparing for by updating building codes to encourage "cool" roofs, pavements that reflect heat rather than absorbing it, and the creation of new parks and green spaces that will increase tree cover.
The city also plans to combat drought by improving energy efficiency and reducing its overall water consumption with low-flow toilets, water faucets, and shower heads. See more at Climate Change in Los Angeles.

Miami

Miami faces climate-related threats on several fronts: from rising sea levels, warming temperatures, hurricane storm surges, and saltwater intrusion into its drinking water. As the Center for American Progress notes, these factors make the city's property more vulnerable to the risk of floods than any other city in the world.
In response, local officials have put together a Miami-Dade Climate Change Action Plan, with the aim of preparing for its impacts by mapping out the areas of the city most in danger from sea level rise and storm surge, as well as water conservation efforts to reduce the demand on its main fresh water sources, like the Biscayne Aquifer.

New York City

Few events have shown the vulnerability of New York City to climate-related disasters like last year's Superstorm Sandy, which added fresh urgency to Mayor Michael Bloomberg's June announcement of a $20 billion effort to upgrade infrastructure and coastal protections, including massive new levees, flood walls, and gates in strategically placed locations around the city.

Salt Lake City

Drought is seen as the most important climate-related risk facing Utah's largest city, which gets 90 percent of its drinking water from surface sources, according to the Center for American Progress. With less rainfall expected in future decades, Salt Lake City will likely face drier conditions and a heightened risk from wildfires.
In response, by 2015 the city is working to set aside 10 percent of its surrounding watershed lands and groundwater, and also create road and trails within the watershed restoration project areas. See more at Salt Lake City's Guide to a Sustainable City.
See the full report, Storm-Ready Cities at the Center for American Progress.