{"id":15082,"date":"2021-06-07T10:35:04","date_gmt":"2021-06-07T14:35:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/?page_id=15082"},"modified":"2024-08-20T11:27:55","modified_gmt":"2024-08-20T15:27:55","slug":"currents","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/currents\/","title":{"rendered":"Currents: Against Wind and Water"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n
AS CLIMATE CHANGE BRINGS MORE INTENSE HURRICANES AND HIGHER SEAS, HOMEOWNERS STILL HAVE OPTIONS THAT CAN HELP TO REDUCE THE RISK OF PROPERTY DAMAGE.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Allison Fisk has served as a science communicator with North Carolina Sea Grant during the past year. She graduated with her master\u2019s in technical communication from NC State in May.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Recent storms have brought costly impacts from wind, rain, and storm surge. According to NOAA, damages totaled $11 billion after Hurricane Matthew, $24 billion after Florence, and $1.6 billion after Dorian. As climate change heats the Atlantic and brings rising seas, scientists project a continued increase in the frequency of intense storms and flooding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Frank L\u00f3pez, North Carolina Sea Grant\u2019s extension director, says a wide array of strategies can help coastal residents buffer the effects of wind and water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cStorm-resilient construction and nature-based approaches can serve to buy time and resist some of the present impacts of climate change, like increasing storm frequency and intensity,\u201d L\u00f3pez says. \u201cOther impacts like sea level rise and tidal flooding will require coastal communities to evaluate where development occurs, siting of infrastructure and critical facilities, and how they can commit to holding the line against these climate forces.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n