7 Towns That Will Be Under Water Soon

Sea levels are rising and soon dozens of U.S. beach towns will be underwater while hundreds of other coastal communities face severe flooding.

In less than 150 years, average sea levels have risen over eight inches. Of that estimate, at least three of those inches were gained in the last 25 years, National Geographic noted.

These rising levels will dramatically impact the homes, lives, and properties of people living along the U.S. coastline.

This was highlighted in a recent report by the Union of Concerned Scientists, which analyzed how the rising sea levels and severe flooding expected by 2060 could affect coastal communities.

Based on this data, 24/7 Tempo identified the beach towns in the U.S. that will soon be under water as a result. Here are seven of those towns, as listed by the news outlet:

7. Wildwood, New Jersey:

• Total population (as of 2016): 5,192
• Pct. of total population in at-risk homes: 33.8%
• In a move to protect homes from severe flooding, officials have proposed the construction of seawalls in Wildwood and Sea Isle City

6. Galveston, Texas

• Total population (as of 2016): 49,443
• Pct. of total population in at-risk homes: 17.7%
• Climate Central projects a risk of 37% risk of at least one flood of more than 9 feet occurring between now and 2050

5. Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

• Total population (as of 2016): 39,651
• Pct. of total population in at-risk homes: 17.2%
• Climate Central projects a 86% risk of at least one flood over 4 feet occurring between now and 2050

4. North Beach Haven, New Jersey

• Total population (as of 2016): 2,250
• Pct. of total population in at-risk homes: 57.5%
• Climate Central projects a 74% risk of at least one flood over 5 feet occurring between today and 2050

3. Ocean City, New Jersey

• Total population (as of 2016): 11,430
• Pct. of total population in at-risk homes: 53.1%
• Ocean City has already suffered about $530 million in lost property value from flooding between 2005 to 2017

2. Ocean City, Maryland

• Total population (as of 2016): 7,041
• Pct. of total population in at-risk homes: 34.9%
• Climate Central projects a 93% risk of at least one flood over 5 feet occurring between today and 2050

1. Miami Beach, Florida

• Total population (2016): 91,784
• Pct. of total population in at-risk homes: 36.1%
• The Union of Concerned Scientists believe that by 2035, Miami Beach will face chronic inundation

• How Could US Cities Look as Sea Levels Rise?
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