$400 Billion To Protect American Cities From Oceans
Depending on the source, sometime between 20240 and 2060, global sea levels will be so high that part of many American cities will be partially underwater. The example often used is Miami, parts of which are already below sea level. Fractions of other large cities are as well. In New York, it is only a small percentage of the coastline in Queens. There have been several inventive ideas about how to block floods from the oceans. In New York, one group of scientists wanted to build natural swamp areas south of the Battery. However, most alternatives involve a series of gates and walls.
The estimate to protect low-lying areas in the New York metro rises as high as $120 billion.
There are several estimates of what these flood protection measures would cost. Blocking the Miami area could cost as much as $20 billion. Elevating parts of the city to protect them would cost a fifth of that. Elevation is viewed as an opportunity in many urban areas.
Small Cities, Too Expensive
Some areas with low populations are particularly flood-prone. It may make the most sense to move those people elsewhere. Galveston, the site of the deadliest hurricane in US history, might require several billion dollars to protect. During the coldest period of the year, when there are few tourists, the area’s population is one in a thousand.
The Center for Climate Integrity has put the cost to protect the highly populated areas along the oceans at $400 billion. The seawalls would protect 50,000 miles of coastline in 22 coastal states.
No estimate describes where this money might come from. Likely, the cities and states cannot pay it. That leaves the federal government.
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