Flooding in Miami is so severe and consistent that there is such a concept as "sunny day flooding," where residents can anticipate its arrival by the tides and calendar.
Scientist Jayantha Obeysekera of the South Florida Water Management District explains that there are three "whammies," a name for major water challenges, that Southern Florida faces. One is faster sea-level rise in Miami than for most of the world, due to ocean currents and Miami's location. The second is the geological conditions of the city, which Obeysekera tells Business Insider, "is like Swiss cheese." The third factor is an unknown -- the effect of future storms, which scientists anticipate will be more intense.
Miami “is kind of the poster child for a major city in big trouble,” said Jeff Goodell, author of " The Water Will Come: Rising Seas, Sinking Cities, and the Remaking of the Civilized World." Beyond the damage to homes, or other infrastructure, the flooding also threatens drinking water and plant life. Ultimately, it means large parts of the city could become permanently uninhabitable. The rest of the US should be paying close attention to how Miami handles sea-level rise in the coming years. It could provide a window into the future...
Advertisement
Related Stories
Sustainability
Mention of Eco-Friendly Home Features Is on the Rise in Sales Listings
Home listing descriptions using eco-friendly terms have been rising over the past five years in line with growing consumer interest in the environment and energy efficiency
Design
What Gen-Z Buyers Really Want in a Home
The fervor of planning for Millennials in the home building industry has now pivoted to Gen Z. So, what does this new generation want?
Building Materials
Lumber Leads Building Materials Prices Higher in March
Overall, the cost of building materials rose during March, with softwood lumber, gypsum products, and concrete all seeing price increases. Only steel mill materials saw price drops
