Teaching the teachers about Sea-level Rise, Storms and Flooding

Woods Hole Sea Grant extension agents Greg Berman and Shannon Hulst teamed up with Education Specialist Grace Simpkins to share their knowledge and expertise with a group of educators at a day-long workshop in July.

Looking at sea level data from the past and models of future conditions, Greg addressed how sea-level rise and storm surge interact, what we can expect on Cape Cod, and the importance of investing in hazard mitigation. Shannon explained how sea-level rise and storm surge science is applied to managing floodplains – the mapping and managing of flood risk and how municipalities and the state can prepare using adaption planning, regulations, and managed retreats and buyout programs.

After the presentations, Greg walked with the educators to a nearby beach for a sea-level rise activity surveying where future water levels would intersect the beach, and Grace and Shannon engaged the educators with hands-on activities teachers can use in the classroom.  The presentations, activities and resources are all on the education section of our website.