Response can be 75- 125 words long.



discussion post 1 : Some steps I would take to prepare myself and my family for sea level rising would be to accept the reality of where I chose to call home. Like Edison Dardar stated in the film his father, his grandfather  and himself all lived on the island and that is their home. So in order to protect my home I would need to plan for hurricanes, storms and anything that could impact my daily living. Mr. Dardar's living is different to say the least to my daily living, but we have both faced scary moments from mother nature. Raising his home to prevent flooding and changing the way you grow your food because of what these oil companies have done to the land is really sad truth but it is what has to be done. I would also do the same, in my situation we dug trenches on the side of our home to help the flooding waters drain to the ditches. Our home is already raised so that wasn't an issue but during Hurricane Harvey the water level was to the top of our flooring. Our plans are to move in the future and unfortunately that is my reality since every storm only gets stronger and longer. I have come to understand that we must appreciate the people in our lives rather than the things in our lives. Mr. Dardar has proven that he is living life and enjoying it in its simplicity. Another thing that we could do is make our voices heard with our government and city officials. To demand change and improvement in our city so that we can adapt to the changes that are naturally happening to the earth and the changes we have caused to earth as well. Which is also a way that the community can get involved in. Reaching out to people in the neighborhood and see how they were affected and bringing that information to city officials with a plan to help the issue. The more people that get involved the more ideas and brainstorming occurs.



Discussion post 2 :   I was really enlightened by the story of Isle De Jean Charles, I can honestly say that I've never even heard of the island, which brings me to my first point. If I were living there, I believe awareness would be very important to me. As human beings, when we know better we tend do better, or even be better, and shining a light on this islands rich history, people and the damage that has been and is being done by rising sea levels, may not stop the storms but could ultimately save lives and preserve the beauty of whats left of the Island. Staying there would be a task of preparedness, making sure theirs always a contiguous plan to leave at a moments notice, and knowing the possibility that you may not be able to come back once you're gone. Honestly, personally I would be conflicted. Looking through the lens of generations of family, friends and memories, I would want to stay, but for the safety of my family, I believe I would ultimately leave..

discussion post 3: As an individual, to prepare for sea level rise, one measure is to of course have supplies and food on hand. As mentioned in the article, those commodities are in short supply when water reaches land. Supplies like non-perishable foods, water, sand bags, and even some type of water transportation like a boat or raft can be helpful. A more expensive option is to raise the house above the rising sea level, however that may only be a temporary fix if levels continue to rise. As a community, being aware who is in your area and helping them if they become trapped, especially elderly. Also in the clean up after a storm, bonding with one another can make a difference that you aren't in this situation all alone. As a long term solution, moving would eventually have to be an option as the island begins to sink into the ocean.

discussion post 4: If I was living in a coastal community like the Isle de Jean Charles, I believe some good ways to prepare for sea level rise, to start off, would be making sure you have emergency kits and/or other supplies to keep you and your family as safe as can be for any circumstance. Also, making sure to keep up with weather updates to stay alert for any warnings and packing up important items for evacuation is necessary. But nobody can be 100% prepared for the worst, so getting involved with others and getting the community to unite as one is a big step into the right direction. You could get a group together and figure out a "game plan" of what to do when certain situations arise so everyone can educate the people around them to be prepared. The point is to get people aware of the possible disasters the community will face, and get them ready and willing to help and take care of one another in a crisis. Again, nobody can really be prepared for the worst, but putting in effort to educate yourself and others on what to do in a crisis can really benefit many people in the end.

discussion post 5: Having an evacuation plan would come in handy when living in a coastal community and planning for yourself and family. In the event of a sudden catastrophe, having a stockpile of food and water at all times in addition to any first aid, gasoline, generators and any other necessary items could mean the difference between life and death in a community that is prone to flooding. Additionally, I would always check in on my fellow neighbors especially any seniors or single individuals without family had what they needed and if they are in need try to help where I could. As a community, having meetings to discuss and plan for these events seems the only logical answer. Prevention of flooding may not be possible, but planning and preparation is.