Hurricane Hazel, One Family's Story

As we experience a summer full of strange weather, fires, smoke in cities, high temperatures, rainstorms bringing an abundance of water, we must pause.

We must ask ourselves what has changed and what can we do. Our governments at all levels are ignoring the signs as they focus on Trump and and his threats.

Building infrastructure needs to start with building a safe country for our fellow Canadians. We need clean air, a properly funded healthcare system, and a concrete plan on how we will end our dependence on fossil fuels.

Hurricane Hazel caused so much damage because authorities ignored the warning signs. They allowed people to build on flood plain. As citizens begged to be allowed to stay on land near rivers and lakes, those in charge found it easier to agree than to explain why they needed to move.

Floods occurred regularly near the Humber and Lake Ontario. People took it in stride and continued living there. So when Hurricane Hazel arrived and didn’t leave for quite a while, some refused to leave their homes when encouraged to move to higher ground.

We close our eyes to threats at our own peril.