To the Editor:

Man-made or not, the Northeast now has weird weather. We experience record-breaking warmer temperatures year after year. This is true for the world at large.

What does this mean for us locally?

How bad will it get? How soon? Is it already incrementally detrimental? How soon will really bad stuff happen to us here?

Are local elected and appointed public officials looking out for us? Are they planning for this and the worst that may come?

Fortunately, New York State has an Office of Climate Change in the state’s Department of Environmental Conservation. Mark Lowery, a climate policy analyst from the DEC will offer a free presentation to citizens and public officials on April 5 at the First United Methodist Church at 1 Gilligan Rd. in East Greenbush at 6:30 p.m.

I saw Mark present in Albany last year. I thought I had some idea of climate weirdness and what it meant for me. I had much to learn. Mark made those concerns immediate, real, and local.

Too often, climate change is discussed in 100-year timeframes, but its effects are today and more tomorrow.

Did you know that over a six-foot rise is anticipated for the Hudson River? That there could be tidal surges up the rising river should a severe storm hit the lower Hudson?

Look at our community infrastructure along the river and its feeder streams. Think roads, land, wells, basements, homes, tank farms, ports, sewers, water and power lines inundated. Not functional! Not insurable!

Think property loss to owners and town assessors. Think huge monetary costs to people and municipalities. Who pays the costs?

When may this damage and loss happen to us by rising water, weird weather years, and fiercer storms?

Are our local officials ready for this? Will they be attending to learn?

Discover what the New York State Office of Climate change is deducing and planning for!

Reach out to invite your public officials to attend as well.

Ken Stokem

Castleton on Hudson