Special to the Mirror by Karen Jolly Davis
Hurricanes Florence and Harvey show us what the future holds for coastal communities: surge and extreme rain events that endanger our homes, our businesses and our lives. Protecting our citizens–and our assets–from destructive storms should be one of the town’s top priorities.
Florence floods New Bern (Photo courtesy of Business Insider)
Cape Charles already has longstanding drainage problems. Dumping more water into an inadequate system will eventually result in disaster. And if investors believe that our town is endangered, they won’t locate here. Our real estate values would plummet, and the future of the town grow dark.
We need a detailed resilience plan, which will cost money. We need to upgrade the drainage system, which will cost money. But many resilience measures can be written into our Comprehensive Plan and zoning ordinance, which won’t cost anything except the political will to protect us from flooding.
And therein hides the real difficulty. All of these proposed efforts to protect Cape Charles are in the hands of the town council. We can apply for grants, but we need matching funds that the council must budget. Our Planning Commission can recommend zoning changes that protect the town, but the council must approve them. Our fate will be determined by the political will of our elected officials.
Coastal resilience is a public safety issue. Hesitation, controversy or indifference are luxuries we cannot afford. I urge the council to fully support efforts to protect Cape Charles from disastrous flooding, because the rain is coming.
Karen is so right. As a start, CC can pass a binding ordinance to PROHIBIT any action, by the town or private parties, that would decrease the size of our beautiful, protective DUNES. The dunes serve as a wall against the raging bay and we are blessed to have them. In conversations with employees of our Public Works Department, however, I have heard that there are those in PW who want to “knock them down” to 4 feet high, less than the size of most teenagers. Protecting the dunes which protect us would cost the town nothing – not a penny, and save the moronic expense of “knocking them down.”
Another action that needs to be taken asap is the installation of one-way valves on our rain water drainage pipes into the bay. As they now stand, these pipes empty rainwater into the bay, but when tides are high, actually bring bay water into the town and cause flooding. Backwater Valves (up to 72 inches) can be installed and are available at not to great a cost.
Dunes are like shellfish : more is better .
Time to think big : instead of lowering the dunes ; elevate the boardwalk . There are some good models in New York City for elevated walkways with benches and viewing . ( The existing ground level boardwalk remains available with a bulkhead added on the Bay side to trap the blowing sand . )
The city council, the mayor, and the city manager should devote 110% of there focus and energy on the city drainage issues. Florence is a wackup call that applies to us more than ever. If they don’t devote 110%, it is both misphesence and malpheasence
Bawk bawk bawk…. Guess what I just had for dinner?
I feel like chicken tonight. Like chicken tonight.