The Northeast is the latest region of the United States to get hit heavy "again" in the same year. The severity of the damages in the Northeast is sinking in along with the fact that things need to change when it comes to where, how and what we build when it comes to infrastructure. This was all noted in this Maine editorial: Our View: Disaster preparedness must become a policy priority.
The above makes me both sad and happy at the same time. Sad about the destruction and impact to people's lives. Happy that for some the issue is sinking in. Sad again that the op-ed also calls out this truism: "But too often we wait to reach a tipping point, with all of the devastation and misery that brings."
What has hammered things home in Maine is the damages brought about by two major rain events in one year. Will they be able to sustain an long-term mitigation effort if they don't have another event in the immediate future? Only time and leadership will tell.
