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Base flood elevation sea level7/2/2023 ![]() Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium, CC BY-ND It’s caused by both land ice melting as global temperatures rise and by thermal expansion in the oceans the volume of water increases as it warms. Globally, sea level has been rising by about one-eighth of an inch every year, and that rate is accelerating. It can affect tax revenues and erode community ties. The more often this happens, the more it ripples through coastal economies. Businesses get fewer visitors and feel the loss in depressed revenues. Insurance premiums are beginning to increase to reflect actual risk, and bond ratings are increasingly being tied to the resilience efforts of communities.įlooded roadways can create dangerous situations where first responders struggle to safely reach those in need. The impact can seem minor, but as the frequency increases, these seemingly inconvenient flood days can have long-lasting impacts.Īlready, areas at risk from sea level rise have seen decreases in property values, particularly where cities and homeowners haven’t taken steps to increase flood resilience. High-tide flooding impedes the use of roads and increases wear and tear on stormwater and wastewater systems. Calling it ‘nuisance’ flooding overlooks damage The Pacific Coast is projected to be lower than the other regions. The northeast Atlantic is projected to have six to 11 days of high-tide flooding. The western Gulf Coast, including Texas and Louisiana, is expected to see the most tidal flooding days, ranging between seven and 15 days. NOAA’s annual high-tide flooding report projects a national median of three to seven days of high-tide flooding this year, again with differences expected regionally. Renee Collini, adapted from 2021 State of High Tide Flooding and Annual Outlook, CC BY-ND High-tide flooding days have been rising. Louis, Mississippi, jumped from three days of high-tide flooding in 2000 to 22 days in 2020. There were record-breaking numbers of high-tide flooding days in 2020 along the Gulf of Mexico and southeast Atlantic coasts. averaged four days of high-tide flooding, but that number doesn’t tell the whole story – regionally, several areas saw far more. Information like the NOAA report is critical to helping these communities succeed. I work with coastal communities in the northern Gulf of Mexico that are facing the risks of rising seas as they try to avoid preventable damages and costs, such as infrastructure failures and falling property values. coasts has doubled since 2000, and it’s expected to increase five to 15 times more in the next 30 years, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration warns in a new report released July 14, 2021. The frequency of high-tide flooding along the U.S. It’s much harder to overlook saltwater more frequently flooding streets, impeding daily life and making existing problems worse. As sea level rises, it can be easy to miss the subtlety of higher water. ![]()
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