|
THE FLOOD PROBLEM
The
Flood Project was conceived in early 2007, in the wake of a frightening
increase in flooding along the main stem of the Delaware River--
which is the largest un-dammed river east of the Mississippi,
and supplies water to nearly 15 million people. Specifically,
in 2004, 2005, and 2006 three major floods caused devastation
along that river, damaging property, disrupting tens of thousands
of lives, and causing severe environmental damage. These were
the worst floods to occur on the main stem of the Delaware since
the flood record in 1955. The last occurrence of three main stem
floods of comparable magnitude within so short a time span was
in the period from 1902 to 1904.
The
huge environmental and economic consequences of the floods on
the Delaware River stem has raised the public's concern about
this issue to a new level in Eastern Pennsylvania, but the issue
of flooding is not unique to that part of the state. Indeed, many
regions of Pennsylvania and the country at large are familiar
with the problem, which has been designated as the nation's most
frequent natural catastrophe. NNC hopes, through the Flood Project,
to help educate the public in those other regions, as well, about
flooding, and what can be done to prevent it and mitigate its
consequences. |
|||
