Free Republic

(NEXSTAR) – Residents of the northeastern U.S. saw firsthand this summer the devastation flooding can cause in a community. Unfortunately, scientists predict flooding will only become more common as the years go on. A map created by Climate Central, an organization of scientists and journalists focused on studying the impacts of climate change, shows what the future may hold for coastal communities as sea level rises.

Americans are flocking to the coasts faster than ever before. And with much of the nation's priciest properties already concentrated near shorelines, this puts more people and buildings at risk from the kind of extreme storms and flooding linked to climate change. But for many communities across the U.S. the toll is likely to go far beyond physical damage. Rising sea levels could have a knock-on effect, making certain areas unlivable long before they're uninhabitable, effectively creating zombie towns, according to a new analysis from nonprofit environmental group Climate Central that looks at the financial impact of sea-level rise over...

Former President Barack Obama’s possible new mansion on Martha’s Vineyard could be totally underwater by the year 2100, according to a climate change model relying on government data. The Obamas are reportedly in the process of buying the island property, which was originally listed at listed at $14,850,000, from Boston Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck. Though the deal has yet to be finalized, both TMZ and the Boston Herald have reported that the Obamas are in escrow. Climate Central, a research group funded by the government during the Obama administration, projects the Obamas’ possible new mansion to be well underwater in...