Marylanders can explore current and future coastal flooding risks around their property and community with a new mapping tool.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources launched its Maryland Coastal Flood Explorer this month, allowing users to visualize high tide flooding, sea-level rise projections, and historic flooding events across the state’s coastal areas.
“Knowledge is our greatest defense, and the Flood Explorer puts the latest coastal flood science directly into the hands of the public,” said Natalie Snider, director of DNR’s Watershed and Climate Services, in a statement. “Understanding our flood risk is the first step to building resilience, whether it’s securing your own home with flood insurance or a living shoreline, or as a community through nature-based solutions and resilience projects.”
When residents enter an address into the Flood Explorer tool, it will show historic flooding events in the area by date and amount of water in feet; current and future high tide flooding in feet; and projected sea level rise by decade from the year 2030 through 2120.
The tool’s launch comes as Maryland coastal communities face increasing threats of flooding and sea-level rise. In Annapolis, the average number of minor flood days per year has quadrupled since the 1970s, according to NASA’s flooding analysis tool.
DNR envisions the tool helping communities to update their plans for flooding and hazard mitigation; identify areas to priotize for adaptation and mitigation projects; and
conduct outreach and eductation about flooding and sea level rise.
“Having a visual, interactive platform will be a tremendous asset to the communities it serves, said Amanda Pollack of the Center for Watershed Protection, a national nonprofit that works with stormwater management and watershed planning. “The ability to zoom in and assess impacts at the local level is especially useful. What really sets this tool apart is the inclusion of historic event visualizations in addition to sea level rise scenarios and high tide flooding data.”
