In 2012, when hurricane sandy struck new York, it turned out that the state just wasn’t ready for the flood.
People died, houses were destroyed because the inhabitants and local authorities did not appreciate the danger. Now the same thing happened in Texas and Florida, — said the Senator of the state of new York from long island Todd Kaminsky.
«The tragic truth is that we know that cities and towns on the coast are vulnerable. We also know what needs to be done to protect them from flooding. But this work has not been done,» said Kaminski.
For example, in the city of Beaumont, Texas, was not drinking water for several days after Harvey as a treatment plant flooded river.
«When the water will recede and we’ll count the damage, it will be hundreds of billions of dollars. The country needs a Marshall plan to prepare for the inevitable storms,» continued Kaminski.
According to him, the cities that are rarely exposed to attacks by the elements, made no effort to improve its infrastructure, to build the barriers before the flood.
«For example, my hometown of long beach rejected the project of the army corps of engineers for the construction of sand dunes on the beach. After Atlantic city flooded during sandy, residents quickly changed her mind, and next summer the project will be implemented».
Also to hurricane sandy in the tunnel the Brooklyn-battery was not a sealed door, which got millions of gallons of water.
Again, only after sandy, new York has spent 37 million dollars for the construction of 18-foot concrete wall around the plant for the treatment of wastewater — that could be done in Texas before Harvey.
According to the Senator, the Federal government must conduct a national assessment of the risks of floods to identify the most vulnerable settlements. You can then launch a major infrastructure initiative.
«Besides protection, it will also help to create new jobs,» says Todd Kaminsky.
