Charleston's Rising Waters: A Climate Change Catastrophe?

2025-09-09 18:00:23.161

In Charleston, South Carolina, rising sea levels and increasingly intense storms are exacerbating flooding, particularly in low-income, historically Black neighborhoods like Rosemont. While the city and federal government plan a $1.3 billion sea wall to protect the affluent downtown peninsula, neighborhoods like Rosemont are left unprotected, facing the brunt of the rising waters. This disparity highlights the unequal impact of climate change on vulnerable communities. The situation is further complicated by rapid development, which replaces absorbent wetlands with impervious surfaces, worsening flooding. The article details the experiences of residents forced to abandon their homes due to repeated flooding and the slow, inadequate response from authorities. The lack of a national strategy for relocating people from flood-prone areas and the long delays in buyout programs leave many vulnerable families with little hope.