At this time of the year almost everyone has begun to enjoy the upside of summertime and its warm, sunny, balmy temperatures. Unfortunately, there is also a downside to this time of the year, too, and that is the beginning of hurricane season.
Wikipedia has an entry for "List of costliest Atlantic hurricanes" and that list shows total damage from three major hurricanes last year (Harvey, Maria, and Irma) as being far greater than total damage in any prior year going back decades. I have noticed articles that say it is plausible that climate change could have played a role in this, and that we may be experiencing greater storm activity and greater damage in the future.
A relevant article in the April 21-22, 2018 issue of the Wall Street Journal reports on the recent real estate markets in Miami Beach versus Miami, Fla., Miami Beach saw a 33 percent increase in rainfall-induced flooding and a 400 percent increase in tide-related flooding in the interval from 2006 to 2013. Miami Beach is a low-elevation area C, meaning it is as low as one foot above average sea level, whereas Miami has a much higher elevation.
These are factual, objective recorded statistics and not hoaxes. The analyses were published in three scholarly academic journals. In response, the prices of flood-vulnerable real estate parcels have become 7 percent discounted compared to real estate at higher-elevation locations. The article cites information that price correlations with real estate location in low-elevation, flood-prone areas is occuring all over this country. The article said that Miami Beach has initiated a $500 million infrastructure upgrade project to fight the flooding.
In the last century the sea level has increased by about one foot. Credible projections for the next century are for at least about another one foot, but could be as much as several feet. If the worst possibility comes true, we would lose major fractions of our coasts as well as coastal real estate wealth.
If we have more storms or storms with more intensity that involve wind speeds higher than past peaks, then we might have worse storm and surge flooding, and more extensive wind damage. The climate deniers will surely think about all this the same way flat-earthers think about the shape of the planet we live on, but owners of local real estate in the Lewes and Rehoboth areas might consider reviewing how well their roofs are fastened down and look into whether their window glass is tempered and any other relevant factors.
Florida building codes (see the internet) were upgraded about two decades ago for better resistance to wind damage. Other articles in the Wall Street Journal reported that surveys of insurance claims showed much less damage among housing built after the code upgrades. Sussex County has had similar code revisions for resistance to storm damage, but older homes and other buildings may be more vulnerable. There may be other vulnerabilities to be considered.
Arthur E. Sowers
Harbeson
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