Studies suggest that U.S. coastal communities are not at risk for experiencing regular flooding in the future - the risk is confined to southeast Asia.

Studies suggest that U.S. coastal communities are not at risk for experiencing regular flooding in the future - the risk is confined to southeast Asia.

• A. True
• B. Southeast Asia only
• C. False
• D. Not enough data

Answer: (C)

Rising sea level and stronger coastal storms push flood risk to many coastlines, not just one region. While Southeast Asia faces especially high vulnerability because of large, low-lying deltas and dense populations, the United States also has extensive low-lying coastal areas and major cities that will see more frequent and higher floods in the future. Sea-level rise, increased storm surge, and land subsidence combine to raise flood risk along U.S. coasts as well as elsewhere. So the statement that risk is confined to Southeast Asia isn’t supported by what we know about global coastal flood risk.

Rising sea level and stronger coastal storms push flood risk to many coastlines, not just one region. While Southeast Asia faces especially high vulnerability because of large, low-lying deltas and dense populations, the United States also has extensive low-lying coastal areas and major cities that will see more frequent and higher floods in the future. Sea-level rise, increased storm surge, and land subsidence combine to raise flood risk along U.S. coasts as well as elsewhere. So the statement that risk is confined to Southeast Asia isn’t supported by what we know about global coastal flood risk.