The region is becoming more vulnerable to flooding and storm damage due in part to climate change and warmer seas.

The damage caused by last week’s powerful Hurricane Helene in Florida’s ‘Big Bend’ region highlights a growing threat for the area, reports Julia Jacobo for ABC 7.
“The underwater geology of the Gulf of Mexico leaves much of the low-lying coast unguarded against a massive influx of seawater. The continental shelf of the Florida Gulf Coast extends quite far offshore - up to 150 miles in some spots, according to the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) - leaving the shallow waters nowhere to go.” The storm surge from Hurricane Helene is projected to be as high as 20 feet in some parts of the region.
The Big Bend is in increasing danger due to currents from the Gulf of Mexico, a loss of seagrass, and rising sea levels. The U.S. coastline could experience an average rise in sea level of about 11 inches between 2020 and 2025, according to a federal report. “While many factors contribute to the magnitude and impacts of storm surge and coastal flooding, average sea levels for many Gulf Coast communities are more than six inches higher today than they were just a few decades ago, data shows.”
Meanwhile, warmer ocean surface temperatures are fueling stronger hurricanes. “Warmer than normal oceans hold a lot of extra energy that these storms can feed on, and about 80% of major hurricanes, between Categories 3 and 5, undergo rapid intensification, defined as an increase in the maximum sustained winds of a tropical cyclone of about 35 mph or more in a 24-hour period.”
FULL STORY: Hurricane Helene: Climate change is making Florida's Big Bend more vulnerable to tropical threats

Manufactured Crisis: Losing the Nation’s Largest Source of Unsubsidized Affordable Housing
Manufactured housing communities have long been an affordable housing option for millions of people living in the U.S., but that affordability is disappearing rapidly. How did we get here?

Americans May Be Stuck — But Why?
Americans are moving a lot less than they once did, and that is a problem. While Yoni Applebaum, in his highly-publicized article Stuck, gets the reasons badly wrong, it's still important to ask: why are we moving so much less than before?

Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.

Updating LA’s Tree Rules Could Bring More Shade to Underserved Neighborhoods
A new USC study finds that relaxing Los Angeles’ outdated tree planting guidelines could significantly expand urban tree canopy and reduce shade disparities in lower-income neighborhoods, though infrastructure investments are also needed.

California's Canal Solar Projects Aim to Conserve Resources and Expand Clean Energy
California’s Project Nexus has begun generating electricity from solar panels installed over irrigation canals, with researchers and state agencies exploring statewide expansion to conserve water and boost clean energy production.

HHS Staff Cuts Gut Energy Assistance Program
The full staff of a federal program that distributes heating and cooling assistance for low-income families was laid off, jeopardizing the program’s operations.
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