Storm surges leave coastal N.B. vulnerable

A climate expert says people in coastal areas in the Maritimes should brace themselves in the coming years for more storm surgeslike the one thatstrucknortheastern New BrunswickMonday.

Brad Walters, a geography and environmental studies professor at Mount Allison University in Sackville, N.B., said the northern and eastern coasts of the province are particularly vulnerable. On Monday, a storm surge ravaged many properties in the area.

Charlo Mayor Andr Carrier said some residentshad betweenthree and nine metres of their properties washed away, and several homes were evacuated.

"You've got a combination there of a lot of developments inlow-lying areas, particularly where they've in-filled salt marshes and so on," Walter said. "But then you've also got large stretches of coastline where you've got cliffs that are eroding quite quickly, and it's probably going to accelerate with rising sea level and more frequent storm eventslike this."

Walters said storms like Monday'smake discussions at climate change conferences like theone wrapping up this week inCancun, Mexico more relevant toNew Brunswickthan ever.

Walters hopes Carrier and others affected by changing weather will add their voices to the cause of slowing climate change.

"I'm struck by how, this event in particular, a lot people are actually framing thisin terms of climate change for the first time," Walterssaid. "And I think that's an interesting indication that the collective psyche of people, of decision makers, of the media, and increasingly of just average folk[is] starting to recognize the reality of this problem."