A new study reveals that flooding during high tides, which used to be extremely rare and now is common in some locations, could worsen to the point where coastal cities could become inhabitable in the near future.
The Union of Concerned Scientists analyzed 52 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) tide gauges in communities from Portland, Maine to Freeport, Texas, using moderate sea level rise projections.
“This report shows that, within the timeframe of a 30-year mortgage, many East Coast communities will see dramatic changes in the number and severity of tidal floods each year, unless, of course, successful steps are taken to manage those floodwaters,” said Erika Spanger-Siegfried, report co-author and senior analyst at UCS.
According to the UCS study:
- In 15 years’ time, most of the communities analyzed are projected to experience at least 24 floods per year in exposed areas, the equivalent of flooding twice a month.
- In 15 years’ time, 15 of the communities can expect to see at least 48 floods a year, the equivalent of flooding four times a month.
- In 30 years’ time, most of the towns analyzed would see at least 48 floods a year, the equivalent of four floods a month.
- In 30 years’ time, half of the towns are expected to face more than 100 floods a year, the equivalent of eight floods a month.
- In 30 years’ time, 17 towns would face at least 180 floods a year, or 15 floods each month.
- In 30 years’ time, nine towns could see tidal flooding 240 times or more per year.
Now these statistics prove that agents and brokers have a significant opportunity to expand their book of business and could very well use these statistics to sway potential clients into purchasing their products.
Nuisance flooding has increased on all three U.S. coasts between 300 and 925 percent since the 1960s, the NOAA report said.
Here are the Top 10 cities of frequent nuisance flooding in the US:
- Annapolis, Maryland
- Baltimore, Maryland
- Atlantic City, New Jersey
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Sandy Hook, New Jersey
- Port Isabel, Texas
- Charleston, South Carolina
- Washington, District of Columbia
- San Francisco, California
- Norfolk, Virginia