Garages And Sheds For The 21st Century

Global warming is real, despite the protests of reactionary know-nothings. The poles are melting and sea level is rising. The air continues to grow more polluted and the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is rising. People will look back a decade from now, when the Outer Banks are under water, and will wonder why we didn’t do something about it when we could.

Here is something you can do: invest in tougher structures (homes, garages, sheds, etc.). You will need stronger structures to withstand the stronger storms that are coming our way. You see, as the planet warms up, more energy collects in the atmosphere. This extra energy helps hurricanes grow big and strong, much stronger than what we’ve been used to. The same will be true for tornadoes and thunderstorms. As the weather gets fiercer, our property will take a beating: high winds, hail, driving rain and lightning strikes will become more punishing as the planet’s feedback loops run amok.

Our advice for people with the foresight to see where we are heading is:

1. Move inland, to high ground. If you live near the coast or a large lake or river, sell your property and move, Pick a place that is at least 100 feet above sea level and not near any large bodies of water. Don’t pick a snowy or icy area, because all that is going to melt resulting in floods.
2. Reinforce your current structures. I live in the Midwest, and I recently hired a garage door repair technician to replace my old garage door with a heavy duty, all-steel model. It can take a lot more punishment than the old door – all I do is apply a coat of car wax every month to protect the finish.  I am systematically beefing up all my doors, windows, roofing and exterior walls to increase their ability to withstand killer storms.
3. Buy flood insurance, no matter where you live. Even if it’s never flooded before in your neighborhood, don’t take a chance. We don’t know all the consequences of global warming, but we expect a lot of them will be surprises.
4. If you are building a new house, consider a partially or completely underground house. Before dismissing the idea, know that many people already live this lifestyle and love it. You are more likely to live through the next 30 years if your home is protected from the elements. Short of an earthquake, little will hurt you if your underground house is well above sea level and away from a flood plain.
5. Stock up on food and learn to shoot a rifle. Install solar panels and dig a well. And don’t say you weren’t warned – you were.