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Study Projects Major Flooding in 32 U.S. Coastal Cities by 2050 Due to Sea-Level Rise and Land Subsidence

Research reveals up to 500,000 people could be affected, with significant economic damages, underscoring the need for urgent adaptation measures.

Cars travel through high floodwaters in Boston during high tide. New England residents were greeted with a coastal flood warning for the entire coast of Rhode Island and Massachusetts on up to Maine.
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The remnants of Tropical Storm Ophelia brought flooding across the mid-Atlantic and Northeast in late September, 2023, including the Hamilton Beach neighborhood in the Queens borough of New York City.
Flooding in the neigborhood of Freeport, Long Island on Jan. 13, 2024.

Overview

  • New research highlights the dual threat of sea-level rise and land subsidence, projecting significant flooding in 32 U.S. coastal cities by 2050.
  • The study reveals that up to 500,000 people could be affected, with an estimated $107 billion in damages if no action is taken.
  • Land subsidence, exacerbated by factors such as groundwater extraction and the weight of urban infrastructure, is a key driver of increased flood risk.
  • Disadvantaged communities, particularly those along the Gulf Coast, are disproportionately affected by the threat of flooding.
  • Adaptation strategies, including limiting groundwater extraction and strengthening coastal defenses, are crucial for mitigating future flood risks.