A recent Zillow analysis indicates that due to projected sea level rise, nearly 1600 homes (about 0.85) in the city of Seattle will be flooded by the end of the century. The hardest hit area is likely to be West Seattle, which will loose nearly all of its waterfront. The Magnuson Park and Eastlake neighborhoods will also be seriously affected. Looking at the entire metro area of King, Snohomish and Pierce counties , about 5,000 homes, roughly 1 in every 200, are likely to be flooded.
The analysts based their findings on a presumed sea level rise of 6 ft using government climate predictions that estimate a sea level rise between 4 and 8 ft by 2100. While the Puget Sound Area will be far less affected than areas on the east coast of the United States such as New Jersey and Miami, damage will still be considerable and include many expensive waterfront properties. Fortunately, the area’s hilly geography and low density provide some protection against flood damage, and there is some indication in the government report that sea level may rise slower in the Pacific Northwest than in other parts of the country. Statewide, damage will likely amount to 27,300 homes, with Gray’s Harbor County particularly affected.
Recent Comments