Scenes of Superstorm Sandy causing massive damage to entire coastal communities were stark reminders of the power of nature. But environmental historian John Gillis believes this is a lesson that could be learned by taking a closer look at history. In his new book The Human Shore: Seacoasts in History, Gillis makes the case that the chaotic nature of the coastline means that human developments along it will always be threatened.
In a profile by The Chronicle of Higher Education, Gillis notes that through the 18th century there have been scores of examples of coastal wetland communities that were filled in and vanished because of rising tides and changing shorelines. In this context, the damages caused by Superstorm Sandy or Hurricane Katrina are not shocking but entirely predictable.
Read the article at: http://chronicle.com/article/The-Coastal-Consciousness-of/140551/
About the Author: Samuel Phineas Upham is an investor at a family office/ hedgefund, where he focuses on special situation illiquid investing. Before this position, Phin Upham was working at Morgan Stanley in the Media and Telecom group. You may contact Phin on his Samuel Phineas Upham website or Facebook.