Rising sea levels pose new challenges for southern US coasts

A rapid increase in sea levels across the southern U.S. is compelling coastal communities to adapt to unprecedented environmental changes.

Chris Mooney, Brady Dennis, Kevin Crowe, and John Muyskens report for The Washington Post.

In short:

• Tide gauges from Texas to North Carolina show a sea level rise of at least 6 inches since 2010, mirroring the previous half-century's rise.
• The region faces multiple secondary effects, such as failing septic systems and higher insurance rates, alongside increased flooding.
• Local efforts to adapt are underway, including infrastructure enhancements and federal funding initiatives to mitigate future risks.

Key quote:

“Storm water flooding is getting worse and is unsustainable. Almost all our systems are gravity fed, and they were built out a long time ago.”

— Renee Collini, director of the Community Resilience Center at the Water Institute

Why this matters:

Persistent, inexorable sea level rise challenges existing infrastructure and increases risks by, among other things, contaminating water supplies and limiting access to essential services. Read more: Severe flooding increasingly cutting people off from health care.