This is Scott Amyx with today’s Climate Change Flash Briefing.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration suggest that the Midwest flooding could become the worst ever recorded with more 200 million people at risk for flooding. Heavy rain this spring will make conditions worse in most states with moderate to major flooding expected in 25 states up to May, making the worst flood season in US history. According to the National Weather Service, the current flooding is a preview of what’s to come this spring, potentially causing worse flooding than the historical floods of 1993 and 2011.
The upper Mississippi basin received double the average amount of rain and snow this year. Nebraska and Iowa’s flooded rivers devasated communities, roads and farms.
According to the Nature Conservancy, when temperatures are warmer due to climate change, the atmosphere holds on to more moisture and storms become more intense with the risk of flood increasing.
Even those who turn a blind eye to hard science observed last week’s flooding in Nebraska damaging the Offutt Air Force Base, including the runway and about 30 buildings, highlighting the risk to national security as military bases and infrastructure are threatened by extreme weather. Fortunately, the headquarters of US Strategic Command that overseas the US nuclear arsenal was not flooded. According to the Center for Climate and Security, this type of extreme flooding threatens military readiness and even our nuclear capabilities. Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina was damaged by Hurricane Florence in 2018. Hurricane Michael caused billions of dollars in damage to Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida. A Department of Defense report from January 2019 warns of risks from climate-related events and the Worldwide Threat Assessment of the US Intelligence Community also warns that climate change poses extreme weather and floods that are threatening our infrastructure, health and water and food security.
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