WSJ: For low lying communities what happens when the water keeps rising?
August 27, 2023 The article highlights the challenges faced by low-lying small communities, such as Tangier Island, along the East and Gulf coasts of the United States due to rising sea levels. Tangier Island has lost 70% of its land since 1850, and the current rate of sea-level rise, attributed to climate change and sinking land, poses a significant threat. The island is experiencing one of the highest rates of sea-level rise on the East Coast, approximately a quarter-inch each year. The concern is compounded by the need to raise homes and roads by 10 feet over the next few decades, as indicated by a 2021 study. Additionally, Tangier is losing residents, with the population declining by around 40% between 2012 and 2020, raising uncertainties about the future viability and protection of these vulnerable communities in the face of climate change.