Rising sea levels mean more floods for Seacoast communities
Scientists say more can be done to mitigate effects of climate change
Scientists say more can be done to mitigate effects of climate change
Scientists say more can be done to mitigate effects of climate change
In January, New Hampshire's Seacoast saw flooding like it has never experienced before. A month later, there was more flooding, but on a smaller scale.
Scientists said the region is likely to see similar storms hitting more frequently.
It was a perfect storm, of sorts, along the coast when an astronomical high tide paired with a storm surge hit twice in one week in January. The back-to-back storms brought historic flooding to the coast.
"I'm kind of surprised some of the people are cleaning up now, because it can happen another one or two times this winter," said Jonathan Lowell, whose father lives in Rye.
The cleanup lasted weeks in some communities, with crews racing the clock before another storm would arrive. More flooding was seen in February and March, but the situation was less severe, sparing the coast another catastrophe.
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Conservationists said the science shows that similar storms will continue to hit the coastline at an increasing rate. Each big storm makes the area less resilient for the next, and what the future could bring is concerning to the people who call the Seacoast home.
Researchers said rising sea levels are making floods more likely. According to NASA scientists, ice sheets and glaciers are melting, and seawater is warming, causing the water to expand. They said that if nothing's done about it, the East Coast alone will experience a sea level rise of 10-14 inches in the next 30 years, a direct result of human-caused global warming.
'When you have the wind moving onshore, that's going to push water further inland," said Mary Stampone, the state climatologist. "And so, you add that on top of water that's already moving inland due to sea level rise, you're going to have more extensive flooding."
Those watching the ocean said it's important to keep in mind what the storms can bring and try to prepare for them.
"I'm in a mind, though, that it's how we adapt," said Jim Chase, the CEO and president of the Seacoast Science Center.
"It's not going away," said Rye homeowner Lucia Moura. "It's only getting worse."
Year after year, Moura said she watches the repairs made to the seawall and questions what else the state can do to strengthen it.
"These are all independent little rocks and big rocks that alone can be swept away," she said.
Officials said more can be done, but what they're allowed to do comes down to state and federal permits.
"You can build it back to what it was, but you can't build it back to, you know, a design that's going to be more resilient to what you're expecting in the future," said Jo Sias, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of New Hampshire.
Changing what's allowed in permitting is a conversation happening at the State House.
"Those back-to-back events were kind of a big wakeup call for everybody," said Jennifer Gilbert, resilience project manager for the Department of Environmental Services.
In 2015, a Coastal Risks and Hazard Commission was formed. It hired scientists to research the changes and find solutions, including new legislation, flood plain management and hazard mitigation.
The commission dissolved in 2017. Since then, the DES has taken on the tasks, partnering with coastal communities.
"I'm not going to say there is no way to fix it, but I want to emphasize that it's tricky," said Brianna O'Brien, the Hampton conservation coordinator.
As for those who call the Seacoast home, they are taking it storm-by-storm and say the flooding and change in climate won't have them packing up their homes just yet.
"It's part of living here," said Hampton homeowner Jonathan Cameron.