Are US coastal cities making large investments to prepare for worsening storms?
Many coastal cities in the U.S., from Charleston to Houston, are in the early phases of massive (and expensive) infrastructure projects to protect them from future storm surges.
In 2019, New York City released plans for a $10 billion project to protect lower Manhattan from flooding by building up new land. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh has pledged $30 million a year to defend the city from rising seas. After the 2005 hurricane season, New Orleans worked with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to build a $14.45 billion storm protection system, of which $1.5 billion was locally funded. The Army Corps of Engineers has proposed a $4.6 billion plan to help Miami, the "most vulnerable coastal city worldwide."
Large flood-prevention investments are typically paid for with both state and federal dollars. In fact, many federal programs require states that pay for a percentage of the project.