TIMES RECORD • July 16, 2021
The frequency of high-tide flooding along the U.S. coasts has doubled since 2000, and it’s expected to increase five to 15 times more in the next 30 years, NOAA warns in a new report released July 14. High-tide flooding impedes the use of roads and increases wear and tear on stormwater and wastewater systems. As the frequency increases, these seemingly inconvenient flood days can have long-lasting impacts. Already, areas at risk from sea level rise have seen decreases in property values. Communities can raise roadways, install backflow preventers in stormwater systems, and modify building standards such as increasing the distance required between the first floor and base flood level, or designating base flood elevations outside of current FEMA flood zones. They can also work with nature to preserve and restore coastal habitats that provide natural flood protection such as marshes and barrier islands. ~ Renee Collini, Mississippi State University