As I write this, heavy rains associated with an upper level low moving up the East Coast are battering parts of eastern North Carolina.  Many of these same communities were devastated by Hurricane Matthew in its trek along the Atlantic Coast last fall.  That is why it was so sad to read this article in the News&Observer this week about the lasting impacts of Matthew’s floods on those small towns.  Areas that survived Matthew are now being hit again, and recovery may be even harder this time than last.  If the atmosphere’s water cycle becomes more extreme, as is predicted in a warmer climate, flooding rains may become more frequent in the future, making recovery hardest on those least equipped to deal with it.  How would you handle more frequent floods?

Flooded field in eastern North Carolina. Source: The Packer