ClimateHaven.com

Along America’s coastlines are some of the most storied histories of America itself, from Indigenous communities living off the land and the bounty of the sea to the modern-day societies that have blossomed in the wake of industrial development.

These coastal communities now find themselves at the forefront of rising sea levels and stronger storms, both driven by heat-trapping pollution and rising temperatures. Just last year, Americans endured 27 disasters that each led to at least $1 billion in estimated losses. At the same time, 2024 set another record as the world’s warmest year.

Potentially hazardous sites like fossil fuel ports, refineries, chemical plants, sewage treatment facilities, and other heavy industries can often be found along the coast, nestled among communities that predate them or have grown around them over time. When disaster strikes, that proximity can lead to exposure to toxic substances, which can result in environmental and public health disasters and leave lingering problems long after floodwaters recede.

Now, a new study co-authored by environmental and climate scientists at the University of California, Nanjing University, and Climate Central and published in the journal Nature Communications finds that historically underserved communities are more likely to live near hazardous sites at risk from worsening coastal floods.

"Flooding from sea level rise is dangerous on its own -- but when facilities with hazardous materials are in the path of those floodwaters, the danger multiplies,” says the paper’s lead author, Lara Cushing, an associate professor at UCLA’s Fielding School of Public Health. “This analysis makes it clear that these projected dangers are falling disproportionately on poorer communities and communities that have faced discrimination, and therefore often lack the resources to prepare for, retreat, or recover from exposure to toxic floodwaters.” 

New resources from Climate Central, such as the Toxic Tides mapping tool, allow users to explore data from the recently published study and pinpoint specific sites and communities, down to the streetscape or doorstep, that face increasing flood risks.