Don’t Panic, But I Have Proof that Chicago is Sinking

Sometimes you can say things that aren't intended to be dramatic, but it's hard to not hear them that way and this is a great example. It is true that Chicago is sinking, but you don't need to panic - yet.

One of my favorite episodes of Gilligan's Island when I was a kid was the one where everyone on the island thought it was sinking because the measuring rods in the lagoon showed deeper depths every day. That ended up being a non-event because they eventually learned that Gilligan was moving the measuring rods further out into the lagoon to try and catch more food. Ah, the good times of 1960's and 1970's television.

I mention Gilligan's Island because there's a new story shared by Study Finds that says Chicago is one of 28 major US cities that's sinking. Chicago has some of the most serious vertical land motion with greater than 2mm per year. This study was done by the Department of Defense with support from NASA.

While there's no need to equip yourself with scuba gear if you live in Chicago, this is a problem that really does have dire consequences if the pattern is not reversed. The study estimates that 29,000 buildings in America (including many in Chicago) are at risk of severe damage from water - eventually.

What can be done to reverse the sinking of Chicago?

The Department of Defense study recommends retrofitting of buildings that are in danger of damage if the water continues to rise. They also said that awareness of the problem was the biggest first hurdle. As for me, I'll just go back to my Gilligan's Island reruns and hope I don't have to someday swim to work.