A wealthy beach community in Massachusetts realized the Atlantic Ocean was infringing on their coastal homes, so they got together and spent $500,000 on a beach nourishment project essentially built a huge sand dune. That is a lot of money. But after the sand dune was constructed, the Atlantic Ocean washed away the 14,000 tons of sand used in a matter of three (3) days! Is that crazy or what?
I think it’s rather obvious that coastal communities in various parts of the world are going to be on the front lines with sea level rise and more frequent and stronger storms. Wealthy people can adjust by giving up a vacation home or moving to a safer area to buy a new home. But most people have fewer resources and a lot less money and it may be a huge problem. “According to the United Nations Development Program, tens of millions of people who live near the coast are exposed to an increased flood risk due to the impact of climate change across the globe. By 2100, 73 million people could live in floodplains that have a one-in-20 chance of flooding.” The Environmental Protection Agency has advised the public that if the current climate trends continue, by 2050, rising tides may wipe out $106 billion in coastal property. Sometime soon, we may see a lot more people paying close attention to the historical weather and flooding events in any area(s) they are considering for a move.
Sources:
https://futurism.com/the-byte/sand-dune-homes-swept-away
Photo by Anthony: https://www.pexels.com/photo/wide-angle-photo-of-high-rise-buildings-133206/
