South Florida and the Effects of Sea Level Rise

On June 4th, 2022, South Florida experienced flash flooding across the region as Tropical Storm Alex made landfall. The storm brought as much as 11.6 inches of rain to parts of South Florida, flooding streets, stranding cars, and overflowing Miami-Dade’s sewage system. [1]

“The flooding gets like this every hurricane season now”, Angeline Jean-Baptiste said when asked about the storm, “Even on an incline, the water was able to reach our garage. Our car ended up being flooded.”

Floods like this are becoming more and more common and as sea levels continue to rise, South Florida communities are at risk.

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Accelerating Changes

South Florida sea levels are rising at unprecedented rates. In the last 31 years, sea levels have risen 6 inches. In the next 10 years, sea levels are expected to rise anywhere from 8 to 14 inches. [2]

While sea levels are rising across the country, South Florida’s are rising especially fast. When compared to similarly growing coastal cities such as Los Angeles, its sea levels are rising at almost double the rate. [3]

This, combined with South Florida’s uniquely low-lying geography, means that the area is especially primed to feel the effects of sea level rise in the near future. [4]

A Booming Population

For an area that is facing serious environmental difficulties in the coming years, South Florida has shown no signs of slowing its growth. Despite the increase risk of flooding and storm damage, South Florida’s population has grown by 10.3% in the last decade, significantly higher than the 7.3% national average. [5]

This kind of growth led South Florida’s economy to become deeply tied to the real estate market. In fact, the National Association of Realtors estimates that the real estate industry accounted for 24% of the state’s gross product in 2021. [6]

With real estate and tourism being some of South Florida’s largest industries, South Florida has a huge financial incentive to avoid discouraging new buyers and investors. [7]

Uneven Standards

Rising sea levels amidst a determinedly optimistic market has led some to invest in homes that are not ready to handle increasingly severe flood risks.

In fact, 70% of currently occupied homes were built before there was a state wide enforced building code. [8]

That means that more than 7 million homes in South Florida were built without enforced standards on environmental preservation or flooding safety.

While a lack of enforced standards doesn’t necessarily translate directly to low quality, the effects of building without flooding in mind has had already had an impact on South Florida neighborhoods. “The floods have gotten worse and worse since I moved into my home.”, explained Roberto García a Hialeah resident of 32 years, “Every time it rains water gets in through the floor. These houses just weren’t built for this.”

Flood Risks At Every Level

All of these factors combine to leave South Florida communities at an immediate risk that will only continue to worsen in the years to come.

The data gathered from First Street Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to calculating flood, fire, and heat risk in the US, shows that thousands of South Florida houses will be at risk of flooding this year. [9]

In fact, on First Street’s flood risk scale, a 1-10 scale based on how likely a property or area is to experience flooding in the next 30 years, all counties in South Florida scored a 4.3 or above .

This has led a lot of South Florida residents to consider what home ownership might look like in the future. “I worry about being able to leave my home to my kids in the future”, Thomas Mata a long time North Miami resident said when asked about his plans for the future, “In the past, the plan was to give the home to them but as of right now I don’t even think I can keep this home for myself.”

Search your zip code to see how properties in your area will be at risk of flooding this year.

So what can you do?