Flooding Threatens 82,000 New York Homes by 2040

Recent extreme weather events have heightened flooding concerns in the United States, with a 'one-in-1,000-year' rain event causing significant flooding across southern Tennessee and the Ohio and Mississippi river basins. In Kentucky, historic flooding levels have been recorded, and further flooding is expected in areas like the Green River, potentially affecting regions down the Ohio River. Meanwhile, a report by the Regional Plan Association (RPA) warns that New York City and its surrounding areas could lose up to 82,000 homes to chronic flooding by 2040, exacerbating the existing housing crisis. The report highlights that 77,300 acres of residential land in the region are at risk, with areas like Suffolk County and New York City particularly vulnerable. With current zoning laws allowing mostly single-family homes, a significant policy shift is required to build resilient and adequate housing outside flood-prone zones. This situation underscores the urgent need for climate adaptation strategies to mitigate future housing and environmental challenges.