One billion dollars! That's how much Vermont state officials claim it could cost to repair damages caused by Hurricane Irene. There's no doubt that many of us are still dealing with the financial and emotional havoc wrought by last year's tropical storm.
That's why I was extremely troubled when I heard Tim Goodwin, a candidate for state representative, questioned the reality of global warming at this week's candidate's debate at Flood Brook Union School.
''I'm no scientist,'' Goodwin said, as he indirectly downplayed evidence that our planet is growing increasingly warmer.
I'm no scientist, either, but here are a few facts.
• The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a government agency, reported that the decade between 2000 and 2010 was the hottest period in recorded history.
• What's more, according to a recent NASA study, extremely hot temperatures between the years of 1951 and 1981 covered 0.2 percent of the planet. Those temperatures now cover 10 percent of the world, according to the study.
So, what does all of this mean?
Well, simply put, industry and human consumption - emissions from cars, electricity from power plants, etc. - mean excessive greenhouse gases are being shot up into the air. Greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide get trapped in the air, instead of escaping into outer space, which traps heat here.
The result: the planet is getting warmer.
Some scientists have linked global warming to extreme weather patterns like drought - which crippled agriculture in the Midwestern United States this summer - and heavy storms and flooding.
As glaciers melt, sea levels rise, increasing the chance of flooding, as happened with Tropical Storm Irene.
Some scientists have been apprehensive about directly linking Irene to climate change but, regardless, there is evidence that, as a whole, the planet is getting warmer and our global weather is growing increasingly sporadic.
Based on conversations with Goodwin's opponent, Emmett Dunbar, he is not only aware and well-versed on the seriousness of global warming, but he also seems extremely conscious of his carbon footprint.
He's a long-time organic farmer, and he is invested in the idea of a local economy. By participating in farmers' markets and operating a farm stand, Emmett has reduced the emissions that contribute to global warming by keeping his distribution local.
It's time to get real. Global warming is here, it has been for a while, and it's something our elected officials need to be cognizant of and to try to do something about.
Look: even if you're not an environmentalist and aren't concerned about that side of things, the financial damages that extreme weather is causing should give you reason to pause and think about how we should approach this issue.
We don't need somebody who is going to ignore its existence; we can't afford that.
That's why my vote is going to be for Emmett Dunbar - he's the common-sense choice.