Dr. Orrin Pilkey and Gilbert Gaul on the Future of American Coastal Development
Orrin Pilkey & Gilbert Gaul on the massive risks ahead
Two great guests join Peter Ravella and Tyler Buckingham on this special episode of the American Shoreline Podcast. How should we manage future coastal development with the prospect of higher sea levels and stronger, more frequent storms? And, how did we get here.
We ask the renowned Dr. Orrin H. Pilkey, Duke Geology Professor Emeritus, who has been contemplating, researching, and writing about the topic for decades. His latest collaboration with his son, Keith Pilkey -- Sea Level Rise: A Slow Tsunami On America's Shores -- sounds the alarm on the coastal crisis looming for the country. Orrin is joined by Gil Gaul, an award-winning journalist and author, who released his own seminal book on how and why we have developed the shoreline the way we have and the significant risks ahead. The Geography of Risk: Epic Storms, Rising Seas, and the Cost of America's Coasts is one of the best-researched and comprehensive books on the topic.
Consider this: Five of the most expensive hurricanes in history have made landfall since 2005: Katrina ($160 billion), Ike ($40 billion), Sandy ($72 billion), Harvey ($125 billion), and Maria ($90 billion). With more property than ever in harm’s way, and the planet and oceans warming dangerously, it won’t be long before we see a $250 billion hurricane. Why? Because Americans have built $3 trillion worth of property in some of the riskiest places on earth: barrier islands and coastal floodplains. And they have been encouraged to do so.
Jump into this wide-ranging exploration of American shoreline development with two of the best thinkers on the topic. Upfront, we confess we did encounter a few internet glitches in the recording but we hope you can forgive us. This is a don't-miss interview! Only on ASPN.