With the confluence of the Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) impacting hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses, and the Kincade, Getty and other fires raging up and down California, my thoughts and prayers go out to all those impacted. Among us there are BRMA members who are displaced from their homes, and many others supporting their colleagues and their organizations, friends, and loved ones. I cannot stress enough the importance of being prepared for an evacuation at short notice. Please take a moment to check your go-kit is packed, key documents are at the ready, the car is fueled up, and you have some cash on hand. You never know when you might have to leave in a hurry.
It’s widely acknowledged that climate change is behind these current events but rising sea level is also of great concern. Global mean sea level rose 11–16 cm in the twentieth century, and is likely to rise by 20-30 cm by 2050. This according to a new report by Climate Central (a US-based non-profit news organization) published in October, which estimates 200 million people will be living in areas that are projected to be below high-tide lines come 2100. Our October Meeting highlighted what the Bay Area can expect with coming climate changes and sea rise, and what is being done to combat the impacts. If you missed it, you can read a meeting summary HERE and view the slides in the members-only area of the website. Also check our resources section for some great reports and valuable information.
San Francisco’s Embarcadero Seawall was built over one hundred years ago. Nowadays it protects the Embarcadero Historic District and underpins the Embarcadero Promenade. The seawall supports many of the city’s iconic destinations, parks, and local businesses. Furthermore, it supports key utility and transportation infrastructure including BART, Muni, and ferry networks, and serves as a critical emergency response and recovery area. But, from time to time the Embarcadero floods. In November 2018 San Franciscans voted to fund the Embarcadero Seawall Program with the goal of improving seismic performance and providing near-term flood protection, with the longer-term goal of planning for sea level rise of 6 feet by 2100.
San Francisco International Airport was originally built in 1927 in a cow pasture at the end of the San Francisco Bay! It’s runways sit approximately 10 feet above sea level. They, the terminals and other buildings are currently protected by a series of earthen berms and smaller sea walls built mainly in the 1980s. Today they provide about 3 feet of protection from flooding. Amid concerns that rising sea levels will flood runways and buildings in the coming years, the San Francisco County Board of Supervisors approved a fiscal plan in September to build a major new sea wall around the entire airport to guard against 3 feet of sea level rise, plus another two feet for big waves during storms to protect the airport through 2085!
We are already planning a meeting to address the PSPS shut-offs and new lessons learned from the fires in 2020.
Before then be sure to join us for our upcoming webinar on 11/21 and annual meeting and luncheon on 12/05 (see details below). I sincerely hope you’ll take advantage of both!!
