US Coastal Areas Receive $575M for Climate Disaster Protection

In a bid to combat climate-related flooding and other disasters, the federal government is allocating over half a billion dollars to coastal communities. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced on Friday that it will distribute $575 million across 19 resilience projects in several states. Native American, urban, and traditionally underserved communities, regularly plagued by floods, wildfires, and other weather-related catastrophes, will be the special focus of this initiative.

The purpose of these efforts, according to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, is to strengthen America's coastal communities' resilience against climate change impacts.

The funded projects include various nature-based preventative measures, such as "living shorelines" in New Jersey, worth more than $72 million, which involve using native plants and oyster reefs, among other natural materials, to restore and protect waterfronts. Other initiatives include replacing sidewalks with permeable pavement that allows water seepage, thereby reducing runoff; topping buildings with plants to aid heat absorption; and creating parks in flood-prone areas designed specifically for floodwater absorption.

Furthermore, climate risk assessments will be conducted for over 100 Native Alaskan communities, as well as expanding statewide tribal adaptation technical assistance programs and sharing local knowledge. Nature-based solutions aimed at protecting California's Monterrey Bay also form part of this project portfolio. Hawaii is actively establishing native forests to reduce wildfire risks, and Rhode Island's Aquidneck Island is also establishing open spaces.

In Perth, New Jersey, high-ranking NOAA and U.S. Commerce Department officials held a press conference to outline some planned projects for their state, which Superstorm Sandy severely damaged back in 2012.

Shawn LaTourette, New Jersey’s environmental protection commissioner, stated emphatically, “Climate change is real; it is here now.” He noted routine flooding driving families out of their homes, frequently underscoring the necessity for federal action and investment. The funds for these projects are sourced from NOAA's Climate Resilience Regional Challenge, funded by the Inflation Reduction Act.

Environmental groups have traditionally favored natural coastal protection over “hard engineering” solutions like sea walls and bulkheads that may exacerbate erosion by causing sand and sediment to wash away from barriers. Coastal communities typically opt for a mixture of both types of shore protection where nature-based solutions alone are insufficient.

Innovative projects borne out of this philosophy include New Jersey's American Littoral Society’s initiative to protect eroding river shorelines using coconut husk fibers in mats, stabilizing the land-water interface. U.S. Representative Frank Pallone Jr., a Democrat from New Jersey, noted several projects incorporating rain gardens, "green roofs," and permeable pavement designed to absorb rainwater and storm surges instead of overwhelming sewer systems.

This ambitious project signifies an important step towards building climate resilience across coastal communities, which face increasing risks due to climate change impacts.