Editorial: Marin’s plan to address sea level rise must strive for social, economic equity

In recent years, there has been a lot of talk, worrying and planning about the threat of sea level rise.

For good reason.

The county has added another concern, one that compounds the threat of increased flooding, if not the loss of property.

The county has released a “vulnerability” dashboard that adds social factors to the threat, identifying low-lying areas where there are vulnerable communities – seniors and minorities – where flooding can increase problems of getting help to those stranded.

As Dr. Matthew Willis, the county’s public health officer, puts it, in any disaster those who suffer the worst consequences “are people who have social vulnerability.”

That includes short- and long-term threats, from injury and displacement to household mold problems and standing water that can increase the risk of infectious diseases, says Jocelyn Chung, who built the planning tool, as part of her work with the California Epidemiologic Investigation Service Fellowship Program.

The dashboard – found online at bit.ly/3U5j6FQ – is a reminder that the threat is not only to public and private property, but to people.

For example, more than 99% of the residents of San Rafael’s Canal neighborhood live in an identified flooding zone. It is an area that has a high risk of flooding and a high social vulnerability because the area’s estimated 12,000 residents comprise a predominantly low-income, minority population.

The threat should come as no surprise. Parts of the neighborhood are known to flood during normal high tides.

The city is already working to address issues raised in the dashboard. It has already made efforts to address those social concerns in case of an emergency and is specifically working to reduce flood impacts for Canal residents and businesses.

The city has been involved in the Canal Community Resilience Planning Project, an collaborative initiative that includes outreach to minority residents.

In recent years, there has also been concern raised by Marin City residents that they could be stranded by flooding.

Parts of Novato and West Marin are also identified as threatened areas with dual challenges.

Willis says the county plans to update its “vulnerability” dashboard annually.

It should be a tool helpful to city and county officials as they address the threats of sea level rise.

Certainly, Marin has a lot of bayside areas that are vulnerable to sea level rise and the county and local cities have focused on public awareness and planning.

But the dashboard adds a level of increased perspective and a recognition that not all bayfront housing are million- or multi-million dollar homes of affluent residents.

Local decision-makers need to make sure social and economic equity is considered in their planning, from land-use decisions to emergency preparedness and response.

The dashboard, and the promise to update it every year, represents a public recognition of the issue and an intent to make sure that equity is part of the governmental action needed to promote public safety and health for all residents.