Florida's State CFO Warns Parts Of State Will Drown W/O Action

[hatrack]

But he also pledged no to let that happen, so I guess he's going to block that new coal-fired power plant by Lake Okeechobee, right?

Right?

TALLAHASSEE -- Florida must contend with both the causes and consequences of global warming, Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink said Tuesday. With Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson, Sink will host a public meeting on the causes of global warming and its impact on Florida after an April Cabinet meeting.

Future meetings also are planned, including one in June headlined by former New York Gov. George Pataki.

"If this world of ours doesn't pay attention to warming, parts of Florida will be under water. We're not going to let that happen," Sink said, flanked by video monitors showing how much of Florida would be inundated by sea level increases. Sink is focused in part on the increase in disastrous weather patterns, especially hurricanes, that warmer oceans are predicted to bring -- and the ramifications on coastal development and insurance.

The insurance industry says global warming helps drive premiums skyward and creates an investor demand for greater profits in taking on coastal risks. "It's a huge issue -- the insurance industry is very much on top of climate change," Sink said.


EDIT

http://www.pensacolanewsjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070228/NEWS01/702280363/1006

[enid602]

1. Mr. 'Sink'

How appropriate.

[SteppingRazor]

2. Um... Alex Sink is a woman, just FYI...

also the only statewide Democrat we've got, other than Bill Nelson.

[no_hypocrisy]

3. Save Palm Beach NOW!!!!!!! Save Miami!!!!!!!

Big parts of coastal Florida are destined to be the new New Orleans.

[redqueen]

4. Save them how?

:shrug:

[no_hypocrisy]

5. Not really sure. I was being rhetorical, n/t

[phantom power]

6. Freedom Dikes(tm)

[hunter]

8. We're probably going to create some nice replica cities...

... salvaging interesting bits and pieces from the originals before the ocean claims them.

The inhabitants of those cities, especially the powerless ones, will relocate themselves to shantytowns somewhere else, much as people did during the Dust Bowl years of the 'thirties.

They'll be a Disneylandish Miami on the shores of an artificial lake somewhere, well above sea level, complete with an artificial surf. Maybe you can get a job there as an escort or a nude bartender. (Shaken, not stirred, Baby! More!) But there's not a chance you'll get a job in housekeeping. Those "good" jobs will all be taken by refugees from Bangladesh.

[htuttle]

7. Are they planning to mudjack the whole state 4-5 feet up?

Build a really, really huge dike around it?

Face it, Florida can't be saved. The people who live there could be, but not the land itself.

[kestrel91316]

9. Relax. Florida can't drown, because global warming is "a crock".

Keep building those beachfront mansions, folks.

[Porcupine]

10. There's a big hill of garbage somewhere...

That will stay above the ocean for a year or two. Otherwise most of the state is a loss.

Here's a view from the states highest point. Not much of a slope there.