Climate Change and Its Effects by https://padlet.com/esma2003/dxbru1pwsofee39c Fair Bluff and Avon in North Carolina en-us 2021-10-26 11:41:27 UTC 2024-05-26 20:44:02 UTC hello@padlet.com Avon, North Carolina, USA esma2003 https://padlet.com/esma2003/dxbru1pwsofee39c/wish/1844663013 The Atlantic Ocean is flooding the island Avon. The beach which used to be 100 feet wide is now almost completely eroded. The ocean washes the beach into itself and into the town. The properties of the community get damaged. This process is natural but due to climate change and the high sea level it happens way faster than usual.
There is just one main highway that goes through the whole island and connects the island with the mainland. This highway gets also damaged by the flooding. The community is not able to move for basic needs such as going to the grocery store, visiting a doctor or providing the island with fuel and water.

Community
  • majority white, seasional stay
  • wealthier than Fair Bluff
  • do not want to leave Avon, do not consider leaving

Economy
  • depends on tourism
  • people / taxpayers
-> threatened by the vanished beach
  • able to deal with the effects of climate change

Possible Solutions?

Beach Nourishment 
  • federal or state government needs to pay 11-14 million $
  • machine sucks sand from the ocean floor and pumps it to the beach

Problems
  • no federal or state funds
  • island raises taxes to finance Beach Nourishment
  • People do not agree to pay for the beach and highway since they belong to the government
  • temporary solution: needs to be redone after 5 years

Own Thoughts
  • not a sustainable solution
  • they cannot afford to pay 11-14 million $ each five year
  • climate change needs to be stopped so it does not get worse
]]> 2021-10-26 11:43:04 UTC https://padlet.com/esma2003/dxbru1pwsofee39c/wish/1844663013 Fair Bluff, North Carolina, USA esma2003 https://padlet.com/esma2003/dxbru1pwsofee39c/wish/1844738930 The Lumber River is flooding the town. Next to the river is Main Street where a lot of stores used to be located. 

Community
  • working-class, retirees, Black residents
  • poorer than the community in Avon
  • destroyed by the flooding -> people left the town (500 from 1000)
  • FEMA - Federal Emergency Management Agency pays for the properties so people can move out of Fair Bluff

Economy
  • stores on Main Street used to make the economic base in town, now destroyed
  • people / taxpayers leave the town 
-> collapse of economic life
  • unable to finance a reconstruction
  • unable to deal with climate change

Possible Solutions?
  1. federal or state government needs to pay money 
  2. destroyed stores on Main Street need to be removed -> conversion into giant park, flood plain
  3. the downtown needs to be rebuilt in higher lands

Problems
  • very expensive, federal or state government do not pay
  • Will people who already left come back?
  • Will people move into an area threatened by flooding?

Own Thoughts
  • people who already left will not return 
  • reconstruction is too expensive, who will pay?
  • the town is abandoned, no hope 
  • climate change needs to be stopped so it does not get worse
]]> 2021-10-26 12:19:48 UTC https://padlet.com/esma2003/dxbru1pwsofee39c/wish/1844738930