Today is a hats off prize for innovation! I was watching The Whole Story by Anderson Cooper, which isn’t researched or reported by Anderson Cooper, I think he just created the show. One of the episodes was about the extreme weather that has been occurring the past couple of years due to climate change. What I loved the most were the communities featured that didn’t run from it, but adapted to be ready for extreme weather in the future. I personally am concerned for the animals and plants not able to adapt fast enough and are dying off. I love the biodiversity the United States enjoys. But honestly, if humans can’t adapt, how can we expect anything else to?
This featured community impressed on many levels. First, they create their own power. They rely on solar power for the entire community and laid the power grid themselves. Second, they use the environment as a resource by preserving it. They are wise enough to know that a healthy habitat keeps them safer and healthier. Their water systems draw from the water around, but put it back without all the chemicals in it so the plants can do their job and naturally purify it. The landscape is all native plants, which really isn’t a big deal since they have so many native plants to choose from in Florida. But what really knocked my socks off was how they designed the whole community to withstand hurricanes. The past two hurricanes have not knocked out the power nor destroyed any homes there. The surrounding nature, layout of the town, and wise construction techniques make this community hurricane proof.
So, why aren’t others doing this? Yes, it costs a lot of money up front to do it right. But how many times have you seen pictures and videos of distraught people staring at their flooded home, being rescued from a roof top, or looking at the devastation left behind? The government then pours millions of dollars into rebuilding these towns, while insurance companies are pulling away because they can’t foot the bill anymore. It’s not once or twice a year. It’s becoming a regular thing. I know one town leveled by tornado didn’t receive the federal funds to help rebuild for five years. So, for five years downtown was empty. That’s hard to recover from.
Humans need to be smarter. If we don’t want to change our ways to help clean up the environment and climate, then we better get smart enough to live with the results. The weather is going to continue to give us forest fires, drought, floods, heat domes, tornados, and hurricanes in places not expected. Be smart and be ready. Get creative and use solutions in non-traditional ways. Some people are already doing it, but more need to get on board.
