Housing-News-Report-December-2016

HOUSINGNEWS REPORT

FEATURED ARTICLE

NUISANCE FLOOD ELEVATION THRESHOLDS (METERS ABOVE MEAN HIGHER HIGH WATER)

0.15 - 0.3

0.31 - 0.45

0.46 - 0.6

0.61 - 0.75

Source: U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

It has increased on all three U.S. coasts by between 300 and 920 percent since the 1960s, according to a recent NOAA report authored by Sweet. The report — “ Sea Level Rise and Nuisance Flood Frequency Changes around the United States ” — found that eight of the top 10 U.S. cities that have seen an increase in nuisance flooding are on the East Coast, with Annapolis and Baltimore, Maryland, leading the list with an increase in number of flood days of more than 920 percent since 1960. Other cities on the top 10 list of frequent nuisance flooding are Charleston, South Carolina; Washington, D.C.; and Norfolk, Virginia. “As relative sea level increases, it no longer takes a strong storm or a hurricane to cause flooding,” Sweet told the Insurance Journal . “Flooding now occurs with high tides in many locations due to climate-related sea level rise, land subsidence and the loss of natural

barriers. The effects of rising sea levels along most of the continental U.S. coastline are only going to become more noticeable and much more severe in the coming decades.” The problem of tidal flooding has gotten so bad that Miami Beach has put into action an aggressive and expensive plan to combat the effects of sea level rise. To prevent seasonal street flooding, the century-old city, with its iconic Art Deco architecture and vibrant night life, is taking on unprecedented steps to save itself from the mounting problem of rising sea levels. Sunny Day Flooding: King Tides Over the next six years, Miami Beach will spend as much as $500 million to elevate roads, raise seawalls, build new storm sewers and install 80 pumps across the island city, the Miami Herald reported last year. The pumps are being installed to reverse rising sea levels that push water

As relative sea level increases, it no longer takes a strong storm or a hurricane to cause flooding . Flooding now occurs with high tides in many locations due to climate-related sea level rise, land subsidence and the loss of natural barriers.”

William V. Sweet Oceanographer, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

ATTOM Data Solutions • P3

Made with FlippingBook Online newsletter