MAINE MONITOR • January 1, 2023
“Flooding is by far the most common property disaster in the US,” said Charles Colgan, an economist and policy analyst who advises communities around the country on dealing with climate change issues. “Heat kills more people, but flooding damages more property.” As sea levels continue to rise, Maine, said Colgan, with extensive development and vital infrastructure clustered along the coast, will see worse damage, more frequently, a lot of which will come in association with storms. A 1-foot increase in sea level (expected by 2050, if not sooner) will lead to a 15-fold increase in “nuisance” flooding — that is, flooding that occurs absent storms, often referred to as “sunny day” flooding. We’re not prepared.