This week’s Saugus Planning Board hazard-mitigation discussion is the latest step by the town to proactively address climate change. The discussion pinpointed locations in town — including low-lying areas and neighborhoods along the Saugus River — that are growing increasingly vulnerable to flooding and high-wind damage.
Climate change is a global phenomenon lambasted by skeptics and highlighted as a major national concern by President Joe Biden. Saugus has moved to think globally by acting locally since 2014, when the town first drafted a plan to prepare for severe weather impacts exacerbated by climate change.
The town received $33,000 to pay for additional work. Local officials conducted listening sessions with residents who focused on some of the following concerns outlined in the town community resilience summary:
The record rainfall of April 2010 resulted in a disaster declaration across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
The winter of 2015 brought record-breaking snow, resulting in downed trees and power outages. The following year, the Saugus area was under a drought warning from July to December 2016, the most severe since the 1980s.
The winter of 2018 once again brought severe winter storms with a succession of four nor’easters pummeling the town in March, also resulting in a state disaster declaration, according to the summary.
Extreme weather means home and business evacuations, downed power lines, overwhelmed sewage-pipe systems and impassable roads. Saugus’ efforts to prepare for these catastrophes needs to be matched by neighboring communities.
Lynn borders the Saugus River and city officials share their town counterparts’ concerns about flooding. Revere and Saugus border Rumney Marsh, a crucial natural water-retention area in the event of catastrophic flooding.
Some cities and towns, like Saugus, are doing more than others to prepare for climate change. Every community is a strong or weak link in the chain of preparedness, which guards residents and local economies from the ravages of climate change-driven extreme weather.
We hope the urgency and attention Saugus has applied to climate change preparedness is matched by its neighbors and communities across the Commonwealth.