Gulf Coast communities address flooding risks amid rising sea level concerns

FORT MYERS, Fla. —

Researchers in the Netherlands have found that sea levels may be one to three feet higher in certain areas around the globe than previously calculated, raising concerns for coastal communities like those along the Gulf Coast.

WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW TO SEE WHY CALCULATIONS MAY BE WRONG:

While sea level rise may seem like a problem decades in the future, residents along the coast have already experienced the effects of a more immediate issue: storm surge.

THE SURGE THREAT

Craig Young, a North Fort Myers resident who has lived in his home for eight years, has experienced significant storm surge flooding.

Alison Hickey

Craig Young shows Channing Frampton how high the storm surge from Hurricane Ian got in Young’s home in 2022

"Ian came up about 32 inches. Right about up to here and just below the door handle here. And then the other two storms, Helene and Milton, were more down towards the bottom," Young said, referencing the impact of past storms on his property.

Craig Young

Storm surge flooding in Craig Young’s North Fort Myers neighborhood during Hurricane Ian

Despite living 18 miles inland from the Gulf, Young noted the surprising reach of storm surge. "You would think that the water wouldn't come as high this far in," he said. Photos from his neighborhood show that flooding risks extend beyond beach communities.

SEE WHY THE GULF COAST IS SO VULNERABLE TO STORM SURGE IN THE VIDEO BELOW:

Rising sea levels could worsen these storm surges in the future.

DOWNTOWN FORT MYERS

In downtown Fort Myers, the community redevelopment agency is working to mitigate future flood threats by supporting local businesses.

FORT MYERS BEACH, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 09: People look out at surge waters flooding the street from their building after Hurricane Milton came ashore in the Sarasota area on October 09, 2024, in Fort Myers, Florida. People are waiting to assess the damage after the Cat 3 hurricane came ashore. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Joe Raedle

Storm surge flooding on Bay Street in downtown Fort Myers during Hurricane Milton

Mayor Kevin Anderson highlighted the importance of strengthening older structures and implementing preventative measures. "For those older structures that survived the storms all these years, you know you can harden them," Anderson said. He also mentioned a grant program offering up to 50% matching funds for water barriers.

SEE HOW THE FLORIDA REPERTORY THEATRE IS PREPARING FOR FUTURE FLOODING DOWNTOWN IN THE VIDEO BELOW:

CHARLOTTE COUNTY

Farther north in Charlotte County, Brandon Moody, water quality and resiliency manager, is using advanced data to model worst-case storm surge scenarios at current and projected sea levels. "Worst case scenario. And then you jump up to 2070 and then you see, you know, greater inundation," Moody said. He stressed the importance of planning for the worst while hoping such events never occur.

Alison Hickey

Brandon Moody explains flood model maps to Channing Frampton in Charlotte County

Moody emphasized the importance of understanding risks without causing alarm. "It's about making sure that people that move here understand what the risks are, but aren't panicked," Moody said.

LEE COUNTY

Lee County is also taking proactive steps, contracting with a company called Hohonu to provide real-time flood data and deploying new technology like tidal gauges. Assistant County Manager Marc Mora underscored the importance of understanding flood zones and planning ahead. "It's extremely important for people to know where they live as far as flood zones are concerned," Mora said. He added that building codes have been updated to account for rising sea levels observed over the past decade.

Lee County has a wealth of flood prevention resources here.

Alison Hickey

Marc Mora, Assistant Lee County Manager

Lee County added, "To make flood information more easily available, the county launched Forerunner – an online platform that provides residents with up-to-date flood risk details for their property. It is designed to support compliance efforts and improve public access to critical floodplain information. Each property has a public profile with data on flood zones, Base Flood Elevation (BFE), and other flood compliance indicators."

Reflecting on the impact of storms like Ian, Helene, and Milton, Young shared the challenges of remodeling his home three times due to flooding. "Correct. Gosh, it's a lot of work. It is a lot of work," he said. Despite the hardships, he remains resilient. "The water is going to rise and the water is going to go out," Young said.

Alison Hickey

Craig Young shows Channing Frampton the canal connecting to the Caloosahatchee in his backyard

As Gulf Coast communities continue to adapt and prepare for future flooding risks, residents and leaders alike are working to build safer, smarter, and stronger infrastructure to withstand the challenges ahead.

ADDITIONAL COMMUNITIES

See how other communities are preparing for flooding in the future whether it be from storm surge or future sea level rise.

DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.