Can We Make Infrastructure Sexy?

Wednesday September 9, 2009

Can We Make Infrastructure Sexy?

It is very unfortunate that there is nothing sexy about infrastructure. If infrastructure was sexy and visible maybe we would spend some money and effort trying to maintain it. However, we usually don't even notice infrastructure until it suddenly breaks and isn't there to support us. This is what happened yesterday in Los Angeles, a water main which was installed in 1914 broke and millions of gallons of water rushed out. Giant sinkholes appeared in the streets and a fire engine was swallowed. Homes and businesses in the Studio City area of the city were flooded. Innocently parked cars were swept away in the torrent and Ventura Blvd. had to be closed. Los Angeles is getting slammed. First the massive ongoing wildfires and now the floods. Let's hope the plague is not next on the list.

Maybe we can't do anything about repairing large scale infrastructure (bridges, water systems, highways, etc.) but we can take responsibility for our own homes. Start by taking a good hard look at your house and yard. You should identify the weak points and figure out how to strengthen them. Perhaps you have a broken window which needs to be repaired. Do you think it could withstand a hurricane force wind without blowing out? Perhaps your gutters are all clogged up. How much tropical storm rain can they be expected to carry? Maybe you have allowed a lot of undergrowth to build up in your yard. Are you trying to feed the wildfires? Get to work and and make the needed repairs. Home repairs might not be sexy but they will keep you safe.

Photo by Al Seib

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