Some of the most cited “climate havens” are older cities in the Great Lakes region. Yet these cities will likely have to contend with some of the greatest temperature increases in the country in the coming years.
Eastside Community Network helped Meghan Richards find assistance after historic rainfall flooded her basement. Now she’s helping ECN organize resilience hubs to support her community as climate change intensifies weather in the region.
Researchers found Detroit would likely suffer more fatalities than either Atlanta or Phoenix during a heatwave when power remained on, in part because of limited access to air conditioning.
“Climate gentrification” in cities like New Orleans and Miami has seen wealthier and whiter residents displace low-income residents and people of color in less flood-prone areas. But in Jefferson Chalmers, climate gentrification could mean that those with the resources to manage the risks and expense of living in a floodplain may replace those without them.
Throughout the Great Lakes region, archaic wastewater systems, crumbling infrastructure and segregated housing create a perfect storm of flooding vulnerability.
“You need to have people from Detroit to be a part of these conversations taking leadership in the things that we’re talking about,” said Diamond Spratling, founder of Girl Plus Environment.