Friday, December 6, 2019

Sea Level Defense

By Karen Robes Meeks

This week, leaders from the Port of Redwood City and other California ports gathered for the “Strategies for Storms, Flooding and Sea Level Defense” conference in Oakland, Calif.

Port Executive Director Kristine A. Zortman shared the port’s efforts to proactively address issues related to higher sea levels, storm surges and flooding.

Approximatively $17 million will be dedicated to making the port ready to tackle major emergencies, including an investment in a wharf that can withstand from three to five feet of sea level rise, and an 8.9 magnitude earthquake.

“Our port has been designated as the only federal staging area for emergencies in the South San Francisco Bay area by the Federal Emergency Management Agency,” she said. “In a time of crisis, our port will be used to deliver supplies, evacuate people and transport rescue teams to aid in disaster recovery and provide critical relief to our region. This is a tremendously important designation in our service to the community.”