New York City stands at significant risk of extreme flood damage, potentially impacting approximately 4.4 million residents and 47% of its buildings, according to a new study. This places NYC at the highest absolute risk among East Coast cities.
New Orleans faces the greatest relative flood risk, with nearly all its population and infrastructure exposed to extreme damage. Other cities identified as high-risk include Houston, Miami, Norfolk, Charleston, Jacksonville, and Mobile.
The heightened threat is attributed to factors such as low elevation, high population density, poor drainage, and proximity to water bodies. The study emphasizes the need for policy changes, including restricting development in high-risk zones and implementing nature-based solutions alongside traditional flood defenses.
Flooding is a costly natural disaster in the U.S., with billions in damages annually. Projections indicate rising sea levels and increased hurricane-related flooding along the East Coast due to climate change. Researchers utilized machine learning and historical flood data to assess risk, classifying properties destroyed by major floods as experiencing "extreme flood damage."