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Adaptation

bike path, Exploration Green, Clear Lake City, Texas

Flood Control in South Houston…

Note from The Climate Advisor:  This article is republished with permission from the Texas Tribune.  The photo below shows a retention pond under construction.  I have seen the pond and it’s done. This pond is just one small part of the whole complex.  It’s very nice, with lots of people from the neighborhood out walking, running and biking around the old golf course in the evenings.  Clear Lake had minimal flooding during Harvey, maybe this system of canals and retention ponds helped.   In search of a flood fix, one Houston community turned to a golf course By Katie Riordan, The Texas Tribune… Read More »Flood Control in South Houston…

Five Ways You Can Fight Climate Change Without Washington’s Help

Legislation, policy and diplomacy are the best ways to fight climate change.  President Obama had a great impact through policy and diplomacy. But now Trump comes along and puts in place one of the most anti-environmental cabinets ever.  The next four years will see a roll back of environmental protections of epic proportions — at a time when we can least afford it.  So what avenues do we have to pursue positive change? Here are five ways that YOU can fight climate change without Washington’s help… 1. Lead by Example When you lead by example your life is a model for others.  That… Read More »Five Ways You Can Fight Climate Change Without Washington’s Help

The Sky's The Limit

What’s Hot in Climate Change, Jan 2017

It’s been a while since “What’s Hot” was posted, and a lot has happened.  Trump is now President of the US, for better or worse.  What the impact will be is not entirely known, although he has installed possibly the worst cabinet imaginable with respect to the environment.  Scott Pruitt, former Oklahoma Attorney General and industry shill, caps the list of robber barons as the newly nominated head of the EPA .  Although in typical Trump fashion he is sending mixed signals.  He recently cancelled the Transpacific Partnership, which may actually be a good move for the environment, because the TPP would… Read More »What’s Hot in Climate Change, Jan 2017

How to prepare for and survive a flood

This article is taken from a previous, longer article about the health impacts of flooding.  Here we focus mostly on flood preparation and recovery. A recent study titled Increasing Vulnerability to Health Effects before, during and after Floods, observed the following  in people who had experienced a major flood… Males had a higher risk of dying due to risk taking behaviors Females had a higher risk for anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress Young children, the elderly, and those with a chronic disease (e.g. heart disease, lung disease, etc) had a higher chance of getting sick or sicker Poor people have bad outcomes… Read More »How to prepare for and survive a flood

surviving winter storms

Who Survives Extreme Winter Storms?

Winter kills.  Extreme cold weather affects the elderly and very young children who can’t keep themselves warm, the homeless living on the street, and the poor who have to choose between food or heat.  Also, people who get trapped in their cars, or end up in an auto accident due to slippery roads, are also paying the price of extreme winter weather. The homeless are especially at risk.  When I was in medical school during my vascular surgery rotation at the Veteran’s Administration Hospital, one night we amputated both feet of a homeless veteran due to massive frostbite and gangrene.  This happened in a big… Read More »Who Survives Extreme Winter Storms?