Charleston, South Carolina, is the third-fastest-growing city in the United States. The state is a victim of its own success, now confronted with a growing danger from flooding. Built on marshland and mud flats at the confluence of three rivers and the Atlantic Ocean, Charleston’s geographic location makes it particularly vulnerable to rising sea levels. According to federal data, sea levels in the region have increased by nearly 13 inches over the last century. Projections indicate they may increase another four feet or more by 2100. This dire possibility, if realized, would have devastating consequences for the city’s future. In fact, parts of Charleston may be under water by the end of the century.
The challenges created by this rising tide are just as significant. In all, flooding would threaten more than 60,000 of our fellow Americans now living on the coast. Inland flooding is expected by experts to happen ten times more frequently in the next quarter century. Charleston now is in the grip of a devastating emergency. In fact, it’s one of the nation’s fastest sinking cities, largely due to extensive groundwater pumping and the natural process of sediment compaction. Like Nashville and Austin, Charleston’s recent growth has been explosive. It needs to confront the realities of climate change and its impact on local communities.
The Growing Threat of Flooding
Charleston’s booming economy has made the city a beacon for new residents and businesses. This development expansion runs headlong into the city’s inherent susceptibility to flooding. According to one set of estimates, 2.5 million Americans could be at risk of losing their homes in the next quarter century. Climate-related factors, like rising sea levels, are fueling this distressing trend.
Luvenia Brown, a local resident, articulates the distressing reality faced by many: “I’ve seen how all those floodwaters demolish people’s houses.” The emotion conveys an increasing sense of panic from locals as they feel their homes and way of life are being threatened. With the likelihood of more frequent summertime flooding as sea levels inevitably rise, the city has a tricky road ahead.
To their credit, the city’s administration has started to take the lead in implementing smart defenses against these threats. Charleston has developed a comprehensive approach to flood protection. They worked in tandem with Dutch flood specialists, known worldwide for their deep reservoirs of water management wizardry. To address chronic flooding dangers, the plan focuses on increasing infrastructure resiliency while protecting community members by enhancing resilience-building programs.
Challenges of Displacement and Inequality
As Charleston responds to the realities of rising seas, questions of equity and displacement become more urgent. Furthermore, marginalized communities continue to face the worst environmental harms with less support and less resources. Skip Mikell, an advocate for these communities, highlights this issue: “The gentry of Charleston have connections, they have money, they have a voice. These communities are voiceless.”
Mikell emphasizes that the most vulnerable residents may find themselves abandoned in times of crisis: “The vulnerable among us, there will be no one there to help them, save them, and they will not be able to save themselves.” This truly discouraging statistic underscores the need for deeper consideration and participation of communities in disaster preparedness and recovery efforts.
As city leaders discuss solutions, questions remain about who will be impacted the most by climate change and rising seas. The differences in resources and states’ readiness are shocking. Increasingly, it is clear that we need serious and honest comprehensive planning to address these social inequalities and deeply protect all citizens.
Funding the Future
Charleston city leadership understands that tackling chronic flooding will involve heavy upfront spending. Mayor William Cogswell projects that the city’s portion of flood protection costs will total in the neighborhood of $455 million. This unprecedented financial commitment for the repair of public housing certainly reflects the seriousness of the crisis and the need for immediate action.
Charleston’s friendly-minded administration has been doing everything in its power to get funding for these great proactive initiatives, but the struggle continues. Zip codes in coastal South Carolina rank among those with the highest rates of insurance non-renewal, complicating matters for homeowners seeking protection against potential flooding.
Faced with soaring costs and growing dangers, city leaders need to find the right equilibrium between advancement and viability. Failure to do so might lead to severe and even irrevocable outcomes for people and infrastructure.
“In 70 years, where we’re standing, if nothing’s done, it’s going to be water.” – Skip Mikell
Charleston is at an important crossroads. The choices made in the present will serve the long-term interest of both the city and its citizens. The battle against rising seas requires an inclusive approach that engages government leaders, local advocates, and all community members.