Bracing for Impact

John Englander, Author, High Tide on Main Street: Rising Sea Level and the Coming Coastal Crisis
Angela Fritz, Atmospheric Scientist, Weather Underground

Drought, wildfires and superstorms hit the U.S. hard in 2012. Sea levels are rising, putting coastal communities at risk for flooding, larger storm surges and erosion. Many of the great lakes are nearing or at all-time low levels and the Mississippi has gone from record flooding to near record lows within the span of a year. Communities are beginning to address these risks and prepare for the impacts of extreme weather in the future. What changes can we expect? How are communities adapting and adjusting to the new normal?

Bracing for Impact: Bay Area Vulnerabilities and Preparedness

Melanie Nutter, Director, San Francisco Department of the Environment
Ezra Rapport, Executive Director, Association of Bay Area Governments
R. Zachary Wasserman, Chair, Bay Conservation and Development Commission
 
Can Superstorm Sandy happen in the Bay Area? Are we ready? Half of California’s coastline is within the Bay, and billions of dollars of property is at risk as well as major transportation and other infrastructure. Then there are the San Francisco and Oakland airports, urban centers and other assets vital to our economy and way of life. While an earthquake may be the region’s biggest vulnerability, the specter of climate-driven severe weather is looming large. What are governments and businesses doing to identify and manage those risks? What can citizens do to get ready?

Location: SF Club Office
Time: 10:30 a.m. check-in, 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. first program, 12-12:45 p.m. networking reception, 12:45-1:45 p.m. second program
Cost: $55 standard, $35 members, $7 students (includes all sessions and light lunch)
Also know: The speakers and audience will be videotaped for future broadcast on the Climate One TV show on KRCB TV 22 on Comcast and DirecTV.
Photo by: NASA