Despite increasing frequency of violent storms and rising sea levels in the region, the coastal regions of Texas and Florida have been experiencing a moderate population growth over the past several years. The population of four counties in the Houston area (counties that have experienced major flooding and property damage due to Hurricane Harvey) have experienced an increase of about twelve percent from 2010 to 2016. In the same time frame, two of Tampa's most tourist and retirement friendly counties have experienced a twelve percent population growth, with over five million people inhabiting the area. Overall, the Texas and Florida coastal regions have experienced ten percent of population growth over the years. One of the factors that has led to this mass migration towards the coastal regions of the United States would be the warm, tropical climate.
This migration towards these regions has done quite a bit of harm to the environment; mass urbanization has led to the destruction of natural barriers of tropical storms (such as islands and inward coasts), which in turn has led to more devastation of the region. In the article, it states that we (as a community) are getting better at emergency response to hurricanes and other disasters, but lack in the long-term maintenance of the sustenance of the environment: something that I agree with whole-heartedly. I do believe , though, that it's a bit more bearable in the modern day, as awareness to instances such as these have risen to the point where people are making their voices heard to do something.
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/hurricanes-teach-us-ap-finds-fast-coastal-growth-49893843
I was interested to hear that people are moving to these regions even with such deadly storm chances with destructive powers. I wonder how the news of Irma and Harvey affect the percentage of population growth.
ReplyDeleteI think it would be important to know where the people moving to the coastal regions are coming from, and what their purpose in Houston or Tampa is, because of the fact that there is so much business opportunity in Houston, companies may be moving their employees to the huge port city that is Houston.
ReplyDeleteBrooke Simpson
I feel bad for the people who have loss their houses, however, I believe that other cities aren't necessarily being very helpful. Sure, they are offering temporary shelter, but there is so much more to do. I don't know if anyone agrees with me, but sending letters to kids in Houston saying, "Hope you're okay, sorry about your house!" seems like the wrong direction to go in helping. In this kind of situation, it's not the thought that counts. It's the action.
ReplyDelete