In a region with 3,700 miles of shoreline, the impact of climate change on coastal areas from rising sea levels and more intense flooding presents major challenges to infrastructure and the health and safety of residents. Increased funding will be needed to rebuild to higher standards of resilience and invest in protective measures to keep water out. While we cannot wall off the entire shoreline, we can help communities determine how and where to spend limited dollars to protect the most people and critical infrastructure. A phased approach over the long term will be required to reduce and ultimately remove development from the highest-risk flood zones. Other measures such as elevating buildings, changing zoning codes to account for sea-level rise and flood risk, and buying out the owners of properties most at risk will all be important tools in making this transition.
