The Baltimore Sun reported today that Maryland can expect a two foot rise in sea level by the year 2050.
The report was commissioned by Governor O’Malley and was created by a team of 21 scientists from the surrounding area. The scientists report that sea level rise is happening much faster than thought even five years ago.
Read the Baltimore Sun’s story here.
Clay Stamp, Director of Talbot County Emergency Services said “the report certainly has our attention. From an emergency management perspective we must embrace this emerging information and begin to address it practically in conjunction with our communities and state and federal partners from several approaches.
First, a key component in a successful emergency management program for a community is to identify risks and then working with the community begin looking for ways to build ‘community resiliency.’ This is accomplished by mitigating the identified risks and then ensuring response plans are in place for what is not practical or possible to mitigate. Also, it is in communicating risk through public awareness and planning efforts that our communities are better able to effectively manage risks.”
Stamp said that new flood maps are being developed using the latest technologies, but no maps exist at this time to show the potential impact of a two foot rise in sea level in Talbot County.
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