Bill Nelson (D-FL) @ Miami Beach Meet; High Tide Floods Now Regular Events, Drainage Upgrades @$400M

[hatrack]

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — South Florida officials testified Tuesday before a U.S. Senate subcommittee that they're already shouldering the burdens of rising sea levels and they need state and federal partners to do more to help adapt their coastline to the effects of climate change. U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., was the only member of the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation's subcommittee on science and space to make the trip to Miami Beach City Hall.

"I specifically wanted to come here because this is ground zero. When there's high tide, there's flooding. It's real, and yet some of my colleagues in the Senate deny it," said Nelson, who added that viewing the Earth from space while he was an astronaut changed his perspective on environmental issues.

Miami Beach, a barrier island with an average elevation of 4.4 feet above sea level, already suffers street flooding from seasonal high tides even on calm, sunny days. Upgrades to the city's stormwater system to improve drainage and reduce neighborhood flooding are expected to cost up to $400 million.

Miami Beach commissioners voted earlier this year to consider higher tides and rising sea levels when planning projects. Mayor Philip Levine said the city is too valuable to lose, with real estate worth more than $23 billion and tourism revenue over $9 billion.

EDIT

http://www.bradenton.com/2014/04/22/5115083/senate-holds-miami-beach-hearing.html

[pscot]

1. The national economy will take a $31 billion hit

when Miami Beach disappears beneath the waves. On the plus side, we'll probably add more than $31 billion to GDP trying to save it.

[OnlinePoker]

2. NOAA's tide gauge at Miami Beach shows 0.78 feet per century

And looking at the trend, there hasn't been much upward movement since the 50's. Building anything on barrier islands is moronic in the first place since they are not a stable land mass and if a big storm hits them (like Sandy in NJ) the damage can be catastrophic.

http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/sltrends/sltrends_station.shtml?stnid=8723170