The destructive force of hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico last year
underscores a global problem: hurricanes are increasing in power,
and with more people living in coastal areas, our vulnerability also
increases. While the below sea-level phenomena of New Orleans is not
mirrored in New England, other Gulf Coast conditions are similar.
Previous major New England hurricanes have demonstrated the damage inflicted by
storm surges in low-lying areas and in regions near the sea.
With more people making their
homes on or near the water, and with significant building and investments in these areas,
the threat of loss, both in lives and dollars, rises.
