Sea Level Rise Could Flood 1.9 Million U.S. Homes by
2100
An estimated 1.9 million U.S. homes
could be flooded by 2100 if seas rise 6 feet in response to climate change,
according to a new analysis by
the real estate company Zillow.
The affected properties are valued
at $916 billion dollars and represent 1.8 percent of the country’s housing
stock.
The report, published last week, finds
that without climate resiliency measures such as sea walls, the majority of
flooded homes will be moderate- or lower-priced properties.
High-end real estate accounts for 39
percent of at-risk houses.
“While the damage caused by recent hurricanes is a devastating reminder of how quickly the weather can undo people’s lives and destroy their homes, the potential for damage from a slower-moving phenomenon could be even more destructive,” the report says.
In Miami, more than 24 percent of
homes — valued at $217 billion — are at risk of flooding with 6 feet of sea
level rise.
Florida could lose more than 908,000
homes.
In Upper Township, New Jersey,
Zillow found that nearly 57 percent of the housing stock, with a value of $29
billion, could be inundated.
While cities often receive the most
attention when it comes to sea level rise impacts, the Zillow report found that
the majority of flooded properties — 1.1 million — will be located in suburban
ZIP codes.