The effects of climate change on Maine’s coastal communities
By: Finn Konary
Devastation, destruction, and depression. These three words describe what the effects of climate change look like. Rising sea levels and storms are ravaging coastal communities globally. Recently, the coast of Maine has been a victim of nature’s forces. In early January, extremely powerful storms hit the coast of Maine, severely devastating local infrastructure. Though the physical effects are devastating, the greatest harm of the recent coastal flooding in Maine is its negative effect on the mental health of the state’s inhabitants.The flooding has detrimentally impacted the industries and landmarks of Maine’s coast, threatening the livelihoods of inhabitants and wounding state pride. One of the significant industries the storms affected was the lobster industry. The lobster itself is a staple of the state and the industry is characteristic of Maine’s towns. The Maine lobster industry brought in over $300 million to the state’s economy in 2022, ahead of the state’s fishing industry. For generations, the industry has been a lifeline for Maine’s coastal communities and their inhabitants.. These towns also possess some of Maine’s most famous and beloved landmarks. The storms significantly damaged the Pemaquid Point Lighthouse, which held a place on the celebratory Maine quarter, as well as lobster traps and harbors. For one thing, this damage begs the question as to whether the lobster industry can survive in a changing climate. For another, jobs in the industry are in danger, and, inhabitants will lose the landmarks that represent the cultural symbols of their communities.
Pemaquid Point Lighthouse Damaged
The destruction of coastal communities and living spaces has threatened the mental health of inhabitants who struggle to reconcile with these newfound realities. For some, the flooding threatens their jobs, and for others, it leaves their homes in utter ruin. This situation, coupled with the fact that 1% of Mainers have flooding insurance, leads to a deeply concerning situation for many. These people will need to allocate a lot of money to the reconstruction of their homes and other living spaces affected. “I thought I finally had the place, somewhere I was going to put my roots down, maybe start a family, and then bam,” said Teddy McLaughlin, who had rented a home before the flood. Now, he cannot even afford to stay in the house. His whole life has been turned inside out due to this storm. In the lobster port in Stonington, people are beginning to cope with the reality of the situation. As Linda Nelson, economic and community development director of the town, stated in a New York Times article, “I believe there are things we can do…But I think a lot of people don’t.” This hopelessness stems from the vicious waves: defacing the town, stripping it of its image, attacking its business, attacking its homes, and then retreating to sea. The shock of this violent attack on the community has led many to lose hope for improvement in the future.
The impact of the flooding on Maine’s citizens’ mental health is an irreversible damage. Even if the community physically recovers, it will not recover from the threat to their jobs, communities, homes, and way of life. This climate-induced depression is a troubling phenomenon that is not talked about enough. The issue of climate change seems too big and overwhelming to many. Due to this, the feeling of depression will become more common as the effects of climate change worsen, and the forces of nature caused by harmful human activity will continue to threaten communities across the globe. In order to combat this depression, it’s important for individuals to find a way they can make a small difference in their life and continue lobbying for change. Only through action can one gain a sense of control over their situation.
