Charleston's Rising Waters: A Climate Change Catastrophe?

2025-09-10 00:00:32.579

In Charleston, South Carolina, the rising waters of climate change are creating a stark divide. While a $1.3 billion seawall is planned to protect the historic downtown peninsula, lower-income neighborhoods like Rosemont, a historically Black community, are left unprotected. Residents face repeated flooding, losing possessions and fearing for their homes' future. The city's rapid development, paving over wetlands and increasing impervious surfaces, exacerbates the problem. This situation mirrors challenges in many coastal cities, where rising sea levels and increased flooding disproportionately impact vulnerable communities. Insurance companies are raising premiums and refusing renewals, forcing residents to relocate. The story highlights the inequities of climate adaptation, the long and difficult process of buyouts and relocation, and the urgent need for a national strategy to address the displacement of people from flood-prone areas. The experience of residents like Luvenia Brown and Ana Zimmerman serves as a warning for other coastal communities facing similar threats.