Year: 2018
Project(s):
Relevance
Storm surge will be exacerbated in extent and depth by sea-level rise in the northern Gulf of Mexico. However, coastal residents have a hard time accessing these projections when considering home purchasing, leaving them unable to make informed decisions about their potential risk in context of their own risk tolerance
Response
The Northern Gulf of Mexico Sentinel Site Cooperative coordinator (who is supported by Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant) worked with individual coastal residents in Dauphin Island (Alabama), Ocean Springs (Mississippi), Bay St. Louis (Mississippi), and Baldwin County (Alabama) to understand future flood risk by using storm surge simulations (www.gomsurge.org)
Results
Coastal residents used the available resources on future storm surge before purchasing homes/lots. Additional coastal residents reviewed the vulnerability of their current homes.
Recap
Through direct interactions with Northern Gulf of Mexico Sentinel Site Cooperative staff, coastal homebuyers have evaluated risk at current and potential homes. (2018)