I wrote last September after flooding had badly affected us at The Larches that for many round the world it can be far worse, bringing loss of home, possessions, livelihood, even life.
At the time I hadn’t thought that we would be seeing natural disasters so soon – disasters that can be directly linked to climate change and flooding. In October however Hurricane Sandy prevented our return from America for four days and caused millions of dollars of damage on the US eastern seaboard.
Now this last week a report in The Guardian (May 16th) by Suzanne Goldenberg has shown dramatically how small communities in Alaska are being affected by warmer temperatures and the melting of the permafrost, which until now has provided a firm enough base for housing and other facilities.
Goldenberg’s three part report looks at Newtok on the west coast of Alaska and some 400 miles from Anchorage. As Spring approaches, the adjacent River Ninglick carries off huge chunks of land as its melt waters race towards the Bering Sea.
The nearest doctor and hospital is 100 miles away and by 2017 the US Army Corps of Engineers estimate that the highest point of the existing township, now 20 feet above the river, will be underwater.
Destruction of up to 180 indigenous communities in Alaska’s low lying areas, adjoining rivers and coastal areas, is almost certain. Yet US officials indicate that there will be no additional federal monies available to meet the costs of creating new settlements for these displaced people, which could cost in the case of Newtok up to $130 million.
Could the Newtok community become the first of “America’s Climate change refugees”? asks Goldenberg. An initial start in tackling the issues in Newtok has been made by identifying an area nearby where volcanic rock will provide a solid base for construction of housing and facilities.
But if the Newtok community is to survive intact, it will have to raise the money and do much of the building work itself – no mean task for a group of just 350 people.
The stream of muddy waters, as it now became, poured down the wooded slope and past the Belvedere and our woodshed, filling the area behind the house with debris, mud and stones. The gas supply pipe was snapped and fire engines were called in case of an explosion before the mains supply could be located and capped.
For the property there’s new flooring throughout the ground floor and new furniture and beds to replace all that was damaged. Outside all the wooden steps have been rebuilt with a new concrete platform at the 1st floor back door. Banks have been cleared, broken garden walls have been repaired and the steps and gangway to the Belvedere have been replaced
We have to give a special thanks to our architect friend, John Cook for his vision of how these changes would improve facilities here and for his plans of how to achieve this (See his photo opposite in the new bathroom). The contractors, Walker Brothers of Workington have done a fine job with the building work and we have received excellent advice and assistance from our Halifax Insurers.
‘Four more years’ and ‘Four more days’ were the respective chants of the supporters of Barack Obama and Mitt Romney on Friday night as both addressed huge crowds in Ohio in the final days of the US presidential election, which concludes on Tuesday 6th November. 
There’s no doubt that there isn’t quite so much fervour this time about the Democratic campaign. Obama’s 2008 promises have often got bogged down in disputes with the Republicans in Congress. But his success in pushing through a Medicare programme against strong opposition has benefitted many. 
Now even more serious is the threat to the native English ash tree, which could be decimated if the spread of the ash dieback fungus, appearing last month in East Anglia, is not stopped. The cause appears to be unregulated importing of plants from other countries. The Government needs to act soon to address this serious threat to the countryside. Spread the word if you can.
We are now pleased to say that clearing the debris inside and outside has been completed, with 12 large skip loads removed and the house has been successfully dried out by 24 hour use of dehumidifiers. A schedule of repair works to be carried out has been agreed with the insurers and invitations to tender were sent out to contractors. Our aim is to complete the restoration works by early 2013. Things are now looking much better, with the ground cleared and new vegetation growing up on the fellside, as the photo opposite shows. The back steps however have still to be built and the window replaced for the back bedroom.