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CONTACT US:
info@neahcasa.net

NeahCasa
P.O. Box 766
Manzanita, OR
97131
503/368-6294

 

  

Global Warming

 

Global Warming is a topic those of us who live on the coast don’t like to think about too much.   It’s pretty difficult to envision what it might mean for us here on the edge, much less plan for.  We all have a steep learning curve ahead of us on this score.  Indeed, the latest tsunami maps being prepared for the coast, based on information from the recent SE Asia tsunami show much greater impact areas from tsunami than previously thought - levels that match the global warming inundation zones.

 

If you’re interested in potential coastal impacts and actions we can take, go to Tom Bender’s website: 

< http://www.tombender.org/societyworthlivingforarticles/ORglobalwarming.pdf>.

 

It is already clear that there are several fronts that we as communities should be grappling with either to forestall some of the drastic changes possible, or to take into account for future scenarios:

 

  • Revised land use planning

  • Energy efficiency

  • Transportation efficiency

  • Emergency preparedness

 

NeahCasa has made a commitment to take several actions in response to the possibility of changes:

  • We will only build or buy houses outside of the predicted danger zones.  We want our houses to be available and affordable in perpetuity. 

 

  • We are planning to build and/or remodel our community land trust homes as close to Zero Net Energy as possible in order to reduce global warming and peak oil impacts.

 

 

Jim Tierney of Columbia County's Community Action Team and Northwest Oregon Community Development Collaborative (NOW CDC) has been central to the huge recovery work in Vernonia from the December 2007 storm.  He is developing some excellent experience and program ideas about how communities can prepare for recovery; i.e. how to be ready for the long slog after the lives have been saved.   Stay tuned for more information on that front.

This page will continue to evolve with additional information, links and articles about Global Warming and its effects on housing affordability as we learn more.