Cape Cod: In Harm’s Way

Climate Change and

Environmental Justice

An Environmental Justice Presentation

by the

Falmouth Clergy Association

Produced by Odin Tidemand,

Date: May 1, 2013

Who and Where We Are"the bared and bended arm of Massachusetts ... boxing with Northeast storms.” -Henry David Thoreau

Cape Cod (The Cape) is a 65 mile long island jutting out from the southeast coast of Massachusetts. located between the Atlantic Ocean and Cape Cod Bay. formed by climate change. Retreating glaciers

deposited gravel, clay and sandTechnically, most of Cape Cod is considered to be

barrier island since it is cut off from the mainland by the Cape Cod Canal

there are 215,000 year round residents, many of whom are retirees.

it has the oldest population in Massachusetts

CAPE

COD

Population and Land Use Changes A major resort-Est.6,000,000 visitors per year,

4,000,000 between June 1 and September 30 1950 Population-36,800 2012 Population-215,800-of which 50% are over the

age of 45 - Median age 49.9 years 1951 Land Use

9.5% residential 1.5% commercial 89.5% open or wooded

1999 Land Use 30.9% residential 3.9% commercial 1% industrial 63.8% open or wooded

Population Change Cape Cod

1938

Population Map1950

Population Map 2010

Effects of Climate Change on Cape Cod

Extreme WeatherHurricanesNor’eastersBlizzards

Rising Sea Levels, Melting Polar CapFlooding Beach Erosion

Health and Safety ProblemsMosquito Borne IllnessesTick Borne IllnessesExtremes of Heat and ColdChanges in Air and Water Quality

Extreme Weather

Hurricane 1938- Path and Winds

Hurricane 1938 Impact

Bourne

Falmouth

Cape Cod-Katrina Victims

Vulnerable GroupsEnvironmental Justice Advocates on Cape Cod are especially concerned about high risk groups.The list includes…the very young and the very oldpeople with disabilitieslow income people, homeless peoplepeople not fluent in Englishseasonal workers, tourists, immigrants

Median Age Distribution 2010 Census

NSTAR Outage Map 2-8-2013

Nemo-February 2013

Extreme Weather Response• Preparedness Education– Guidelines distributed by local governments, NGOs,

faith communities, local rescue organizations– Development of “Buddy Groups” • Organized by neighborhood groups, faith communities,

social clubs, civic groups, senior centers, etc.

• Community Wide Activities– Before the storm: Emergency preparedness,

“consciousness raising” activities– During the storm: Shelter operations– After the storm: Disaster recovery, rebuilding

communities, assisting refugees.

Nor’easter Nemo- February 2013 Falmouth High School Shelter

Faith Organizations and Disaster Relief-Hurricane Sandy

Salvation Army Islamic Circle of North America

Church World Service

The Unitarian Church of Staten Island Hurricane Sandy

What can Faith Organizations do in Response to Climate Change?

Religious Services– Beginning of hurricane season (June 1) service– Religious services to recognize and thank first

responders, heath care workers, etc.– Mid-winter religious service– Memorial services, services for healing

Religious services provide opportunities for reflection, consciousness raising, education, encouragement, grieving and healing, and saying “thank you”.

What can Faith Organizations do in Response to Climate Change?

Emergency Preparations Prepare emergency supplies for individuals, families

and the entire congregation Is your religious building ready to withstand an

extreme weather event? Review insurance coverage and prepare for utility disruptions.

Do you have an emergency communications plan for your congregation? Who needs special attention?

Contact local emergency agencies to ask “how can we be helpful?”

Move concerns from “me” to “we”.

What can Faith Organizations do in Response to Climate Change?

After the StormCall members “Is everybody okay?”Check with community agencies to

see if assistance is neededContact national agencies, if

appropriate

Rising Sea LevelsMelting Polar Ice

FloodingBeach Erosion

Health and Safety

Effects of Rising TemperaturesMosquito Borne Illnesses

West Nile Virus Eastern Equine Encephalitis

Tick Borne DiseaseLyme DiseaseBabesiosisHuman Granulocytic Anaplasmosis

Impact on FisheriesShellfish DiseaseToxic Algae Increased Water Acidity

Great White Shark invasion Heat Related Illnesses, especially among children and elderly Poor Air Quality and Respiratory Diseases

Shark Following Kayaker Cape Cod 2012

Mosquito Borne Illnesses

Lyme Disease Map

Energy Justice

• All people, in all places, require an adequate supply of energy that is safe, affordable, and sustainable.• Energy use, like water use, is a

human right.

Disabled and Special Needs People• Disabled people are especially vulnerable to

Climate Change• Planning is paramount– Make certain shelters are ADA compliant– Will shelters accommodate your pets?– Shelter in Place• Do you have electricity to operate needed medical

equipment?• Do you have adequate medications?• Is emergency medical treatment available?• Are you registered with your local government as

disabled?

ConclusionAsk What You Can Do to Adapt

to and help Minimize the effects of Climate Change

EducateOrganizePrepareRespond

Credits

• Slide 1-photo Odin Tidemand• Slide4-MidWestRoots by Kyle• Slide 6-Woods Hole Research Center• Slides 7 and 8 Cape Cod Commission • Slide 10-NOAA• Slide 11-Risk Management Solutions• Slide12- Cape Cod Today• Slide 13-Boston Globe• Slide 15-US Census• Slide 16-NSTAR• Slide 17-Kingston Journal• Slide 19-Bob Murphy• Slide 20-Salvation Army, Islamic Circle

of North America• Slide 21-Church World Service

• Slide 22-The Unitarian Church Staten Island

• Slide 27-GIS@Tufts, Bronwyn E. Cooke

• Slide 29-WBUR.org• Slide 30-Commonwealth of MA,

Department of Public Health• Slide 31-WBUR.org• Slide 32-energyjustice.net

• Special thanks to the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Falmouth, Massachusetts and to the Sierra Club's Cape Cod and Islands Group for their assistance in developing this presentation.