New York has nearly 600 miles of coastline. Four of its five bor-
oughs are located on islands, linked by vulnerable bridges, tunnels,
and a subway system that, like the city’s three airports, lies less than 10
feet above sea level. Greater New York is the most densely populated
region in the United States and a major travel hub; if its airports are
even temporarily closed by high water, air travel all over the United
States will be disrupted. Low-lying highways that pass through the New
York region, including I-95 and I-80, carry much of the nation’s truck-
based freight. In a sense, then, we are all New Yorkers, and we need to
pay close attention to a looming crisis that could affect the city as pro-
foundly as the toppling of its twin towers.
Greater New York 59