The Bloomberg administration shared new concern over the risk for greater devastation in New York City as the effects global warming become more and more prevalent.
By 2050, about 800,000 people could be living in a flood zone, which would cover about a quarter of the island of Manhattan, according to The Weather Channel. In response to those facts, Mayor Michael Bloomberg made plans to speak on Tuesday to voice his concerns and set precautionary gears in motion.
"We have to look ahead and anticipate any and all future threats, not only from hurricanes and other coastal storms but also from droughts, heavy downpours and heat waves - many of which are likely to be longer and more intense in the years to come," an excerpt from his speech read.
Scientists have been working with the Bloomberg administration to measure predictions based on weather patterns and other relevant data that concludes New York City may be facing greater threats from superstorms like Hurricane Sandy.
Because of this, the mayor asked to receive more frequent updates on storms, especially the more serious ones.
According to the New York Times, in 2009 Bloomberg's sustainable organization, PlaNYC, found sea levels would rise by as much as five inches by the 2020s. Currently, the panel approximates that it could reach as much as eight inches.
"It will not take another 100 years to get another foot," deputy major Caswell F. Holloway told the Times.
"Sandy, obviously, increased the urgency of dealing with this and the need to plan and start to take concrete steps," he told the Huffington Post.
According to a report released by The National Weather Service, The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued their 2013 predictions, which foresee "13-20 named storms, 7-11 of which are expected to become hurricanes, including 3-6 major hurricanes" that have the potential to reach U.S. shores.
The predicted 2013 storms are above the over 60-year average where we typically see 12 named storms, 7 hurricanes, and just about 3 major hurricanes.
