Ask HN: How will your society react when the ocean rises into houses?
8 comments
it wont, the city i live in is actually pretty high above sea level, im unsure if its accurate but i once heard that if the ice caps were to melt it would be one of the largest cities still above sea level, so at least we have one positive point!
It's going to happen so slowly they won't need to react very quickly.
Tbh, by that point, the reality of rising sea levels will probably be too much to ignore, not to mention a lot of those who believe otherwise will have been dead by then.
The important way to prepare for it is to lobby lawmakers to change policy before it happens.
The important way to prepare for it is to lobby lawmakers to change policy before it happens.
I'm working ahead of the game in California... looking for property inland just a little bit ;) ... given the commitment the United States is making towards climate change, I should have a nice beach front house in 20-30 years. Now I haven't figured out how to keep it from being submerged passed 40 years from now, but at least those 10 years will be great!
Poorly.
Consider the responses to the Camp Fire (40k displaced in a state with no housing slack), Sandy, Harvey, Florence, Katrina, Michael.
Consider the responses to the Camp Fire (40k displaced in a state with no housing slack), Sandy, Harvey, Florence, Katrina, Michael.
I'm imagining building lots of levees.
In places where sea walls aren't built, people will move uphill. You can prepare by purchasing currently undesirable properties that are at higher elevations in affected metro areas.
This paints a picture of people quietly lifting their furniture and goods, buying a house on a good hill in a good neighbourhood and moving there and life goes on pleasantly.
How will society react as a whole? We're talking about multiple billions of real estate and infrastructure wiped out.
Will it even be possible in a practical way for people to move uphill?
How will society react as a whole? We're talking about multiple billions of real estate and infrastructure wiped out.
Will it even be possible in a practical way for people to move uphill?
It's not easy to lift furniture quietly, but yes, like any other move, because the flooding will be gradual. As far as how society reacts as a whole, look at how the Houston and Baton Rouge metro areas absorbed refugees of hurricane Katrina, a sudden event. I'm only speaking for my country as you asked. Things won't be so peachy in Bangladesh.
I live in the Netherlands, where a significant area is below sea level. While the safety of your house is relevant, I think the bigger question is what would happen to the economy and infrastructure.
That said, I think current alarmist predictions of rising sea levels are overblown, and the change for, say, the next 100 years will be manageable.
That said, I think current alarmist predictions of rising sea levels are overblown, and the change for, say, the next 100 years will be manageable.
And finally, when do you personally think it's going to start happening in a dramatic way in your country?