As journalists, we are responsible for unveiling the most pressing issues of our times. One such largely underreported issue is the impending threat of future rainfall due to climate change and the potential for massive harm due to flooding, including loss of life and property. Few understand the massive threat climate change already poses in metro Detroit — until they are personally impacted.
Recognizing the severity of this issue, we were honored to receive a significant grant from the Poynter Institute to allow us to report on this topic. This grant has allowed us to embark upon the production of a series, “Metro Detroit’s Rainy Future,” focusing on the current and future impacts of future rainfall on life and property.
What we did
Planet Detroit and Michigan Radio published five stories in this series — each uncovering a unique aspect of the future rainfall threat and potential solutions in urban and suburban areas of the region. We aimed to open up a dialogue about climate change in our region and raise awareness about its potential repercussions.
The process of crafting these stories was intensive, necessitating extensive research, meticulous planning, and a comprehensive understanding of climate change’s scientific and socioeconomic aspects. We dedicated hours to interviews, fact-checking and data analysis to ensure that our stories were not only informative but also accurate and comprehensible to our readers. The technical nature of the topic required a skilled editor to help make a complicated topic understandable and relatable.
One of the challenges we encountered was negotiating with officials for access to essential data and information. These interactions underscored the importance of transparency in public offices and the role of journalism in ensuring that transparency.
Impact and feedback
The series has deeply resonated with our local community and beyond by illuminating the impending challenges they might face due to climate change.
Geoff Grant, a civil engineer at Brown and Caldwell, highlighted the importance of our series in a Facebook post: “It’s often hard to fathom the existential risk of climate change, but the increased frequency of flooding, caused by more frequent, high-intensity rainfall events, exacerbated by aged and undersized conveyance infrastructure is something people can relate — especially when they have to deal with the clean-up and ensuing insurance nightmares. Bringing attention to the often forgotten world of municipal infrastructure helps shine a light where politicians, utility leaders, and the public must focus to maintain the quality of life necessary for an advanced society.”
This quote demonstrates the tangible impact of our work on raising awareness and motivating action.
The value of collaboration
Our partnership with Michigan Radio has successfully created and disseminated the series. Their seasoned expertise and deep understanding of local insights have significantly enriched our stories, ensuring they genuinely resonate with the community. However, the collaboration extended beyond content creation.
Michigan Radio brought a wealth of resources to the table, significantly enhancing the quality of our work. Their expert editing team played a crucial role in refining our narratives, ensuring clarity, accuracy and engaging storytelling. Moreover, their radio production capabilities added an audio dimension to our stories, enhancing reach, impact and comprehension.
The partnership also expanded our reach, allowing our series to connect with Michigan Radio’s extensive listener base. This increased visibility has amplified the impact of our series, bringing the pressing issue of future rainfall to a broader audience.
This collaboration has underscored the power of collective effort in journalism. By pooling our skills, resources and audiences, we’ve created a series that is informative and engaging but also far-reaching and impactful.
Public engagement
To cap off our series, we organized a live tour of a massive flood mitigation project that employs green infrastructure, led by Jeff Bednar, the lead engineer for Macomb County. This tour allowed community members to witness firsthand the measures being taken to combat the threat of future rainfall.
Bednar’s work discussed how county engineers upgraded flood resilience for a highly urbanized area by working with the county’s soil composition and existing infrastructure. His enthusiasm for the project was palpable as he pointed out the use of deep-rooted prairie plantings to slow water during heavy rainstorms in the county’s new Sterling Relief Tunnel. These soils are central to a plan to mitigate flooding in the Red Run, a tributary to the Clinton River and one of the most densely populated watersheds in the state.
The Red Run, nearly 50% impervious due to its extensive coverage with rooftops, roads, and pavement, has become a symbol of the urgent need for more effective stormwater management in the face of climate change. Bednar’s work contributes an example of future paths for developing a strategy to address this pressing issue.
Looking ahead
The journey does not end here. We are committed to continuing our coverage of this critical issue. There are more stories to tell, facts to uncover, and awareness to raise. We are currently in the process of identifying the most impactful stories to bring to our audience next. We also explore potential collaborations and initiatives to further our reach and impact.
The work we are doing, made possible by the Poynter grant, is more than just a series of stories. It is a call for action against the looming threat of climate change. The “Metro Detroit’s Rainy Future” series represents our commitment to our community and the environment.
This reporting was part of a Poynter Beat Academy and funded by the Joyce Foundation.
