1. Changes in extreme weather and climate may raise energy and food costs, which would disproportionately impact low-income households and elderly citizens living on a fixed income.
- Extreme weather will add additional food and energy costs to people already strapped for money.
- Lack of resources to heat and cool homes could cause illness and death.
- Costs of low-income people needing more public services will affect everyone.
- Increased prices could lead to shortages of necessary products.
- People may not be able to afford transportation to buy goods in other towns.
- Prolonged food shortages could lead to civic unrest.
2. Many community members are not aware of changes in extreme weather and climate and actions they can take to address changes.
- The lack of education on these issues overall, particularly among public officials who are responsible for advocating change to the general public, undermines the ability to make changes.
- People are not aware of the personal impacts of these issues.
- A consistent message through the media will improve understanding of these issues.
3. Changes in extreme weather and climate patterns may negatively affect agriculture.
- The monoculture farming system is vulnerable due to changes in weather and climate patterns.
- Farms are not designed to withstand the consequences of soil erosion due to heavy rainfall and extreme rainfall events.
4. Changes in extreme weather and climate may increase property damage during severe events, leading to higher costs and other concerns.
- More citizens will be in danger due to severe weather.
- Response teams would be placed in greater danger more often.
- Current broadcast systems need to be updated to reach more people more quickly.
- Insurance costs could rise as a result of more property damage, making coverage prohibitively expensive for many businesses and homeowners.
5. Changes in intensity of precipitation events may affect water supply and water quality.
- Impaired water quality negatively affects public health due to polluted runoff or sewage system failure.
- Our management of water affects the quality of water in Morris and downstream.
- Availability concerns make it necessary to balance agricultural uses and uses in homes.
6. Public infrastructure may be damaged by changes in extreme weather and climate.
- Transportation of food and fuel would be impaired.
- Emergency vehicles wouldn’t be able to get through town to get to sites they needed to get to.
- Sanitation systems would be compromised, leading to disease.
- The cost of replacing infrastructure more frequently will strain the tax system.
7. Changes in temperature may introduce new pests and plants into the Morris area.
- New pests and tree diseases may cause trees to be taken down, creating less shade, insulation, wind protection, and the ability to clean the air.
- Disruption of reliable food supply.
- Invasive species could cause new disease to humans and affect medical personnel, leaving humans unable to find effective treatment.
8. Many buildings may not be well-adapted to withstand changes in extreme weather and climate.
- Buildings have to be structurally sound to prevent injuries and death during extreme events.
- Buildings must provide shelter during temperature extremes.
- People need to be more aware of more durable construction options and understand why building a more durable structure is a sound financial investment.