Tri-State Region Failing to Prepare for Rising Water Levels

As one of the most vicious hurricane seasons on record wears on, and as the fifth anniversary of Superstorm Sandy approaches, the Regional Plan Association (RPA) has released a new report suggesting that the tri-state region remains highly vulnerable to floods and, worse, that the region’s climate change planning tends to be reactive and local rather than pro-active and regional. And it’s far from adequate. 

As 6sqft reports, the RPA’s “Coastal Adaptation: A Framework for Governance and Funding to Address Climate Change” points to the tri-state region’s frightening vulnerability to rising water levels. According to the report, 59 percent of the region’s energy capacity, four major airports, 21 percent of public housing units, and 12 percent of hospital beds will be in areas at risk of flooding over the next 30 years.

The study upon which the report was based, “Under Water: How Sea Level Rise Threatens the Tri-State Region,” explains the severe threats to the region’s varied communities by as little as one foot of sea level rise – which could happen as soon as the 2030s. Sea levels are projected to rise by two feet – putting 10,000 homes permanently under water – with up to six feet of possible sea level rise in the next century. But according to the study, federal, state and local recovery policy has addressed primarily the effects of storm surge, falling short of dealing with the long-term threat of permanent flooding. 

In the same 30-year period, the number of people living in areas at high risk of flooding in extreme storm conditions is expected to double from 1 million to 2 million. With over 3,700 miles of densely-populated tidal coastline, the region’s states and local communities face the challenge of finding the resources and making the changes necessary to adapt, such as restoring wetlands, building sea walls, raising buildings, retrofitting infrastructure and buying out vulnerable homeowners. While superstorm Sandy provided an infusion of funding, there are still $28 billion worth of identified needs that have not been funded.