Coast Mayors to attend Rising Tides Conference in New Hampshire
They are part of a delegation of elected local leaders from coastal statesattending the Rising Tides Summit<http://www.risingtides2015.com/> in New Hampshire on October 23-25, to express concern over the rapidly increasing impacts of coastal flooding/sea level rise and ensure that national leaders are more responsive to the issue.
With more than 123 million Americans living in coastal shoreline counties, sea level rise has become a national concern. Coastal flooding is causing increasingly costly impacts on businesses, infrastructure, private property along America1s shorelines, and affecting tourism.
"Mayor McDermott and I were in office during Hurricane Katrina ten years ago, and Mayor Hewes was a State Senator at that time, so we have been involved from both the local and state government, as well as from a personal standpoint," said Mayor Moran.
"A huge issue for our residents is the rising cost of flood insurance as sea levels rise and increase the impact of major hurricanes. We need to develop solutions such as creating universal disaster insurance on the federal level," Moran said.
Mayor Hewes echoed those sentiments. "Municipal and county governments are the first responders in any disaster, and are vitally concerned about not only preparing for storms and flooding, but also the cost of insurance and building resiliently," he said.
"Across the country, coastal areas contribute from one-quarter to one-third of their respective state’s general fund. Unless we find a way to invigorate our coastal economies and make the cost of doing business affordable, the whole country will feel the downturn," said Hewes.
The mayors point out that it is not just a coastal issue. ‘We see the effects of inland flooding with the recent disasters in South Carolina and the East Coast," said Mayor Chipper McDermott. "How many of those residents actually had flood insurance? If spread across the country, flood insurance for every business and resident would be affordable. If not, the recovery from Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Sandy, and other devastating events will be slow in coming, if not ever.
"Our tax base has already eroded, and the building height requirement of 18 feet above sea level is prohibitively expensive for many," he said.
"We look forward to exchanging ideas with other mayors and federal representatives at this conference, said Moran. "We have learned a lot since Hurricane Katrina, but have never had the opportunity to share our experiences regarding rising tides with others nationwide.
Mayor Moran, Mayor Hewes and Mayor McDermott were invited to participate in this bipartisan event by co-hosts Mayor Bob Lister (0 -Portsmouth, NH) and State Senator Nancy Stiles (R -Hampton, NH). During the summit, they will collaborate with local leaders from nearly all coastal states and federal agencies that playa crucial role in helping communities address the urgent challenge of sea level rise, including:
•Dr. Kathryn Sullivan, Administrator, NOAA
•Roy Wright, Deputy Associate Administrator for Insurance and
Mitigation, FEMA
•Jonathan White, Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy, Incoming Principal Deputy of the Army Corps of Engineers
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