Hot: Puerto Rico and Florida need to prepare for climate change

I began Hot: assisting species in coping with climate change and other recovery stories with a hopeful comment.

Not all stories about climate change are alarms.  Some are about actually doing something.

Too bad more stories aren't like those.  Here are more alarms about people not doing anything.

Associated Press via News Daily: Scientists warn Puerto Rico not prepared for climate change effects

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Environmental officials and scientists warned Friday that Puerto Rico is dangerously vulnerable to the effects of global climate change and urged it to prepare by better-regulated coastal development, and perhaps even by building artificial reefs.

The storm-caused floods and erosion that have always affected the U.S. Caribbean territory are expected to grow worse as temperatures and seas rise, perhaps by 22 inches (57 centimeters) by 2060, according to a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers study.

That's not all.  Rolling Stone has a great expose of the effects of climate change just a little bit farther north in Goodbye, Miami.

By century's end, rising sea levels will turn the nation's urban fantasyland into an American Atlantis. But long before the city is completely underwater, chaos will begin.

That's an article I've recommended my students read.  It's accompanied by The 10 Dumbest Things Ever Said About Global Warming.

The most egregious myths, misconceptions and flat-out lies about the future of the planet.

I hope people read those and actually do something.  Otherwise, they'll be like the families in the public service announcements that CNN FEMA portrays in Humorous disaster preparedness campaign.*

Does your family have a plan in the event of an emergency? Do you know who will pack supplies and how you'll contact each other if you aren't all at home? No? Neither does the family in this humorous video by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. "We couldn't be any less prepared — I'm proud of you guys," says the father. September is FEMA's National Preparedness month and this year's effort to get the message across is choosing humor over high drama. Through a partnership with the Ad Council, the 30-second video is part of a series to help families be better prepared for emergency situations. "Winging it is not an emergency plan," it says. True enough. Watch the video, and if the spirit moves you, make a plan of your own.

May we not be these people.

*The caption for the CNN video I originally had here read "Kelly Wallace explores a poignant and funny new ad campaign that encourages families to prepare for disasters." I like this one better. Besides, CNN took down the original.