Flooding from Hurricane Sandy in Ocean City, Maryland. Photo: DMVFollowers.com.

On December 28, 2012, Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley signed an executive order that will boost Maryland’s resilience. The executive order, “Climate Change and Coast Smart Construction,” requires sea level rise, flooding, and extreme weather to be taken into account in the construction or reconstruction of all state buildings and facilities.

O’Malley is one of the nation’s more responsive governors on the issue of climate change. In 2009 he signed legislation that calls for a 25% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in the state by 2020, compared to 2006 levels.

Details on the executive order and a link to download it, can be found in this article.

3 thoughts on “Maryland taking sea level rise seriously”

  1. This is great news! I was just talking with a friend on
    Long Island about houses on the Atlantic coast there that got devastated with hurricane Irene and again with Super Storm Sandy. When they rebuild there they need to do it right this time. More storms are coming so we might as well just prepare for it. Thanks RDI!

  2. Paul,
    Unfortunately, this executive order only applies to state buildings and state facilities–not to houses. Still more work to do!

  3. Paul, re. your comment, I blogged about Delaware’s situation and emerging debate just as we were launching RDI this summer (pre-Sandy). See https://www.resilientdesign.org/delawareans-cultivate-public-awareness-of-sea-level-rise/

    It looks like Maryland may be slightly ahead of Delaware in responding to climate change, which is ironic because only a small part of Maryland shares the low-lying Eastern Shore/Delmarva Peninsula with Delaware. Most of the state is on higher ground (with a notable exception being the state capital, Annapolis.)
    Ralph

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