by Tim Cronin
Quick facts:
- By the end of the century, 450+ Weymouth homes could flood every other week because of sea level rise.
- Flooding caused by severe storms could threaten up to 17,268, or 32% of Weymouth homes.
- As soon as 2030, at least 82 homes are at risk, valuing $26 million.
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A new report contains shocking numbers on how sea-level rise could affect Weymouth. By century’s end 453 homes, housing over a thousand people, could face chronic flooding every other week. This flooding would wipe out over $139,873,800 worth of property and $1,791,778 in income for the Town (in property taxes).
Even more alarming, flooding caused by severe storms (like the ones Weymouth faced last Winter) threaten a total of 17,268 homes across the northern half of the Town. Flooding caused by such a storm could damage 32% of homes in Weymouth valuing $5.7 billion and making up $73 million in property taxes.
Published by the Union of Concerned Scientists, the report combined 2017 data from Zillow on current property values, and their contribution to community tax bases, with the latest climate science. Estimates took into account a range of climate change scenarios.
PUTTING IT INTO PERSPECTIVE
The report puts hard numbers to the threats the Town of Weymouth is currently assessing. Earlier this year the Town received a Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) grant from the state. This initial MVP grant gives money to the Town to create a plan that identifies the various climate change threats facing Weymouth.
The draft MVP planning report published by Mayor Hedlund’s administration identified four areas of the highest concern.
- Coastal flooding and sea level rise
- Inland flooding caused by more severe storms
- More days of extreme heat
- Drought affecting Weymouth’s water supply
NEXT STEPS FOR WEYMOUTH
By creating an MVP plan Weymouth is already benefiting from grants associated with the program. On June 5th the Town received a second $129,557 MVP Action Grant to redesign the Fort Point Road seawall and associated coastal infrastructure in North Weymouth. Yet the total cost of rebuilding that specific seawall is estimated at a minimum of $2 million. The Town is still on the hook for the remaining 93% of costs.
This underscores the need for greater planning and investment by the Town of Weymouth when it comes to dealing with the adverse effects of climate change. The Town needs to incorporate the MVP findings into all long-term Town plans and exploring dedicated funding options for climate change preparedness. Only then can Weymouth reduce the massive economic and budget risks associated with sea level rise.
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