In general, how do you think this place copes with hazardous weather events?
We're off-grid for water (and a few other things) but rainwater storage (for potable water) is an issue and increasingly so as we need to either increase rainwater storage volume or the more expensive and resilient borehole to the aquifer below us or possibly share a resource in a local spring. There are options.
What features (physical, economic, social) make this place vulnerable or resilient to hazardous weather conditions?
Resiliency comes from being able to meet our needs from our location. We can survive without water (due to drought and not enough storage) if we take action. We're planting shelterbelt to provide natural wind protection for the perennial and annual food (roots, shoots, leaves, flowers, berries and nuts) we plan to produce and solar / wind electricity generation and storage from a planned installation. Increasing community support by building networks.
Are there environmental or weather conditions which make this place feel unsafe (flooding, air quality, busy roads, ice, high winds, storm surges, etc.)?
Road conditions, our potholes are starting to cut us off from one of the two routes available to us (we've just had our 1st mail delivery for nearly 10 days due to road / weather conditions). We may have to sell our 5yo EV to get a diesel 4x4 which would be tragic. This will have a serious impact on our network and community.
Road patching as it is presently done is a short term fix as they get blown out by the increasingly severe low temperatures and all that brings.
*Originally submitted to the Highland Weather & Climate Story Map Commonplace Platform on 14 March 2023.
