CLIMATE CHANGE – LIVING ON THE WATER
THESE AMERICAN CITIES WILL SOON BE UNDER WATER
Michael B. Sauter and Thomas C. Frohlich 24/7 Wall Street
The steady rise in global surface temperatures is largely attributed to human-caused greenhouse gas emissions. With rising temperatures, the world’s ice has been melting and sea levels have been rising. As a result, barring major interventions, sooner or later thousands of coastal communities around the world will become uninhabitable.
With the ice in Greenland and Antarctica melting at record rates, scientists currently estimate sea levels could rise 2-7 feet by the end of the century, with some estimates even higher. Antarctica has about 90% of all ice in the world, enough to raise global sea levels by 200 feet, in theory. This kind of catastrophic sea level rise is just one of many potential disaster scenarios caused by climate change.
Change on such a large scale is incremental and can seem quite distant, but any solution to the problem would need to be implemented relatively soon. Already, for many areas in the United States, recurring flooding is inevitable and the problem is imminent.
24/7 Wall St. reviewed data modeled by environmental watchdog group the Union of Concerned Scientists. The UCS in June 2018 released a report identifying U.S. coastal communities expected to face chronic and disruptive flooding before the end of the century.
35. SECAUCUS, NEW JERSEY
• Population with homes at risk of flooding in 2060: 3,092 (19.0%)
• Population with homes at risk of flooding in 2100: 5,594 (34.4%)
• Habitable land that will be underwater by 2060: 25.7%
• Habitable land that will be underwater by 2100: 65.8%
• Current property value at risk in 2060: $230 million
34. HAMPTON, VIRGINIA
• Population with homes at risk of flooding in 2060: 3,306 (2.4%)
• Population with homes at risk of flooding in 2100: 37,495 (27.3%)
• Habitable land that will be underwater by 2060: 10.4%
• Habitable land that will be underwater by 2100: 45.7%
• Current property value at risk in 2060: $340 million
33. ST. SIMONS, GEORGIA
• Population with homes at risk of flooding in 2060: 3,370 (22.9%)
• Population with homes at risk of flooding in 2100: 9,651 (65.6%)
• Habitable land that will be underwater by 2060: 26.4%
• Habitable land that will be underwater by 2100: 60.1%
• Current property value at risk in 2060: $1.7 billion
32. MARGATE CITY, NEW JERSEY
• Population with homes at risk of flooding in 2060: 3,533 (55.6%)
• Population with homes at risk of flooding in 2100: 5,910 (93.0%)
• Habitable land that will be underwater by 2060: 55.7%
• Habitable land that will be underwater by 2100: 99.6%
• Current property value at risk in 2060: $1.9 billion
31. ST. HELENA ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA
• Population with homes at risk of flooding in 2060: 3,535 (16.0%)
• Population with homes at risk of flooding in 2100: 9,084 (41.2%)
• Habitable land that will be underwater by 2060: 27.3%
• Habitable land that will be underwater by 2100: 59.0%
• Current property value at risk in 2060: $736 million
30. LONG BEACH, NEW YORK
• Population with homes at risk of flooding in 2060: 3,588 (10.8%)
• Population with homes at risk of flooding in 2100: 16,187 (48.6%)
• Habitable land that will be underwater by 2060: 26.4%
• Habitable land that will be underwater by 2100: 95.5%
• Current property value at risk in 2060: $733 million
29. BRIGANTINE, NEW JERSEY
• Population with homes at risk of flooding in 2060: 3,590 (38.0%)
• Population with homes at risk of flooding in 2100: 8,717 (92.2%)
• Habitable land that will be underwater by 2060: 48.0%
• Habitable land that will be underwater by 2100: 95.9%
• Current property value at risk in 2060: $1.3 billion
28. WEST ASHLEY, SOUTH CAROLINA
• Population with homes at risk of flooding in 2060: 3,753 (5.5%)
• Population with homes at risk of flooding in 2100: 19,731 (28.8%)
• Habitable land that will be underwater by 2060: 13.7%
• Habitable land that will be underwater by 2100: 42.2%
• Current property value at risk in 2060: $593 million
27. REVERE, MASSACHUSETTS
• Population with homes at risk of flooding in 2060: 3,821 (7.4%)
• Population with homes at risk of flooding in 2100: 7,286 (14.1%)
• Habitable land that will be underwater by 2060: 18.9%
• Habitable land that will be underwater by 2100: 39.3%
• Current property value at risk in 2060: $547 million
26. LITTLE FERRY, NEW JERSEY
• Population with homes at risk of flooding in 2060: 3,881 (36.5%)
• Population with homes at risk of flooding in 2100: 4,406 (41.5%)
• Habitable land that will be underwater by 2060: 75.4%
• Habitable land that will be underwater by 2100: 92.0%
• Current property value at risk in 2060: $478 million
25. WACCAMAW NECK, SOUTH CAROLINA
• Population with homes at risk of flooding in 2060: 3,933 (17.7%)
• Population with homes at risk of flooding in 2100: 8,531 (38.4%)
• Habitable land that will be underwater by 2060: 15.7%
• Habitable land that will be underwater by 2100: 32.5%
• Current property value at risk in 2060: $1.9 billion
24. PENNSVILLE, NEW JERSEY
• Population with homes at risk of flooding in 2060: 4,081 (30.4%)
• Population with homes at risk of flooding in 2100: 9,078 (67.7%)
• Habitable land that will be underwater by 2060: 35.4%
• Habitable land that will be underwater by 2100: 70.5%
• Current property value at risk in 2060: $289 million
23. KEY BISCAYNE, FLORIDA
• Population with homes at risk of flooding in 2060: 4,302 (34.7%)
• Population with homes at risk of flooding in 2100: 9,700 (78.3%)
• Habitable land that will be underwater by 2060: 50.6%
• Habitable land that will be underwater by 2100: 86.3%
• Current property value at risk in 2060: $2.6 billion
22. JAMES ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA
• Population with homes at risk of flooding in 2060: 4,405 (11.5%)
• Population with homes at risk of flooding in 2100: 20,457 (53.5%)
• Habitable land that will be underwater by 2060: 27.4%
• Habitable land that will be underwater by 2100: 68.4%
• Current property value at risk in 2060: $899 million
21. LA MARQUE-HITCHCOCK, TEXAS
• Population with homes at risk of flooding in 2060: 4,576 (20.4%)
• Population with homes at risk of flooding in 2100: 6,781 (30.3%)
• Habitable land that will be underwater by 2060: 19.7%
• Habitable land that will be underwater by 2100: 46.3%
• Current property value at risk in 2060: $591 million
20. POQUOSON, VIRGINIA
• Population with homes at risk of flooding in 2060: 4,646 (38.2%)
• Population with homes at risk of flooding in 2100: 10,888 (89.6%)
• Habitable land that will be underwater by 2060: 49.8%
• Habitable land that will be underwater by 2100: 98.3%
• Current property value at risk in 2060: $518 million
19. TYBEE ISLAND-WILMINGTON ISLAND, GEORGIA
• Population with homes at risk of flooding in 2060: 4,679 (17.4%)
• Population with homes at risk of flooding in 2100: 13,142 (48.7%)
• Habitable land that will be underwater by 2060: 32.9%
• Habitable land that will be underwater by 2100: 70.4%
• Current property value at risk in 2060: $915 million
18. MIDDLE KEYS, FLORIDA
• Population with homes at risk of flooding in 2060: 4,720 (47.0%)
• Population with homes at risk of flooding in 2100: 7,756 (77.3%)
• Habitable land that will be underwater by 2060: 67.8%
• Habitable land that will be underwater by 2100: 98.1%
• Current property value at risk in 2060: $2.0 billion
17. BRAZOSPORT, TEXAS
• Population with homes at risk of flooding in 2060: 4,859 (8.1%)
• Population with homes at risk of flooding in 2100: 6,547 (10.9%)
• Habitable land that will be underwater by 2060: 32.3%
• Habitable land that will be underwater by 2100: 69.8%
• Current property value at risk in 2060: $345 million
16. VENTNOR CITY, NEW JERSEY
• Population with homes at risk of flooding in 2060: 4,916 (46.2%)
• Population with homes at risk of flooding in 2100: 8,326 (78.2%)
• Habitable land that will be underwater by 2060: 53.9%
• Habitable land that will be underwater by 2100: 98.9%
• Current property value at risk in 2060: $850 million
15. ST. PETE BEACH, FLORIDA
• Population with homes at risk of flooding in 2060: 5,008 (31.5%)
• Population with homes at risk of flooding in 2100: 14,056 (88.4%)
• Habitable land that will be underwater by 2060: 50.5%
• Habitable land that will be underwater by 2100: 99.5%
• Current property value at risk in 2060: $1.6 billion
14. CHARLESTON CENTRAL, SOUTH CAROLINA
• Population with homes at risk of flooding in 2060: 5,122 (14.8%)
• Population with homes at risk of flooding in 2100: 12,510 (36.1%)
• Habitable land that will be underwater by 2060: 25.5%
• Habitable land that will be underwater by 2100: 58.0%
• Current property value at risk in 2060: $2.1 billion
13. PONTE VEDRA, FLORIDA
• Population with homes at risk of flooding in 2060: 5,649 (20.8%)
• Population with homes at risk of flooding in 2100: 15,684 (57.8%)
• Habitable land that will be underwater by 2060: 21.6%
• Habitable land that will be underwater by 2100: 43.3%
• Current property value at risk in 2060: $1.4 billion
12. OCEAN CITY, NEW JERSEY
• Population with homes at risk of flooding in 2060: 6,028 (51.5%)
• Population with homes at risk of flooding in 2100: 10,348 (88.4%)
• Habitable land that will be underwater by 2060: 58.9%
• Habitable land that will be underwater by 2100: 98.3%
• Current property value at risk in 2060: $5.7 billion
11. BOCA CIEGA, FLORIDA
• Population with homes at risk of flooding in 2060: 6,810 (10.2%)
• Population with homes at risk of flooding in 2100: 20,733 (31.1%)
• Habitable land that will be underwater by 2060: 10.5%
• Habitable land that will be underwater by 2100: 23.7%
• Current property value at risk in 2060: $1.4 billion
10. UPPER KEYS, FLORIDA
• Population with homes at risk of flooding in 2060: 6,992 (35.0%)
• Population with homes at risk of flooding in 2100: 12,664 (63.4%)
• Habitable land that will be underwater by 2060: 40.4%
• Habitable land that will be underwater by 2100: 77.4%
• Current property value at risk in 2060: $3.8 billion
9. CHESAPEAKE, VIRGINIA
• Population with homes at risk of flooding in 2060: 7,325 (3.3%)
• Population with homes at risk of flooding in 2100: 41,870 (18.8%)
• Habitable land that will be underwater by 2060: 47.5%
• Habitable land that will be underwater by 2100: 98.3%
• Current property value at risk in 2060: $668 million
8. MOUNT PLEASANT, SOUTH CAROLINA
• Population with homes at risk of flooding in 2060: 8,389 (10.6%)
• Population with homes at risk of flooding in 2100: 35,299 (44.7%)
• Habitable land that will be underwater by 2060: 21.0%
• Habitable land that will be underwater by 2100: 53.3%
• Current property value at risk in 2060: $2.6 billion
7. LOWER KEYS, FLORIDA
• Population with homes at risk of flooding in 2060: 8,630 (81.0%)
• Population with homes at risk of flooding in 2100: 9,767 (91.7%)
• Habitable land that will be underwater by 2060: 84.6%
• Habitable land that will be underwater by 2100: 97.9%
• Current property value at risk in 2060: $2.6 billion
6. HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA
• Population with homes at risk of flooding in 2060: 8,935 (23.6%)
• Population with homes at risk of flooding in 2100: 22,341 (59.1%)
• Habitable land that will be underwater by 2060: 25.6%
• Habitable land that will be underwater by 2100: 57.6%
• Current property value at risk in 2060: $4.6 billion
5. GALVESTON, TEXAS
• Population with homes at risk of flooding in 2060: 10,293 (21.1%)
• Population with homes at risk of flooding in 2100: 30,045 (61.7%)
• Habitable land that will be underwater by 2060: 45.1%
• Habitable land that will be underwater by 2100: 90.0%
• Current property value at risk in 2060: $2.1 million
4. KEY WEST, FLORIDA
• Population with homes at risk of flooding in 2060: 11,645 (35.9%)
• Population with homes at risk of flooding in 2100: 17,693 (54.6%)
• Habitable land that will be underwater by 2060: 62.6%
• Habitable land that will be underwater by 2100: 94.4%
• Current property value at risk in 2060: $3.2 billion
3. ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY
• Population with homes at risk of flooding in 2060: 13,687 (34.6%)
• Population with homes at risk of flooding in 2100: 21,373 (54.0%)
• Habitable land that will be underwater by 2060: 50.2%
• Habitable land that will be underwater by 2100: 92.8%
• Current property value at risk in 2060: $1.1 billion
2. HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY
• Population with homes at risk of flooding in 2060: 14,747 (29.5%)
• Population with homes at risk of flooding in 2100: 21,814 (43.6%)
• Habitable land that will be underwater by 2060: 49.8%
• Habitable land that will be underwater by 2100: 71.3%
• Current property value at risk in 2060: $4.5 billion
1. MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA
• Population with homes at risk of flooding in 2060: 39,547 (30.2%)
• Population with homes at risk of flooding in 2100: 97,375 (74.5%)
• Habitable land that will be underwater by 2060: 58.5%
• Habitable land that will be underwater by 2100: 94.1%
• Current property value at risk in 2060: $19.3 billion
Methodology
Cities and institutions can mitigate flood damage by implementing wetlands, levees, and other mechanisms, and many of the cities on this list have taken steps to implement these measures. It is important to note that the estimates published by the UCS do not take into account the mitigating effects of such mechanisms.
Source: Fopsobserver