Rising Waters, Rising Urgency: A Georgia Coastal Resilience Plan

Hurricane season in the Atlantic Ocean is from June 1 to Nov. 30. While most hurricanes are downgraded to tropical storms before they make landfall in Georgia, the wrath of these storms is felt through severe thunderstorms, flooding, property damage and power outages. On September 27, 2024, Hurricane Helene entered Georgia as a category two hurricane, making headlines for causing extensive power outages, destruction and demolishing state records. Because of rainfall from the storm, the city of Atlanta was placed under its first-ever flash flood emergency.  

The aftermath of Hurricane Helene provides an area for discussion within the state’s current climate policy. While extreme flooding in areas like Atlanta is unprecedented, other areas of the state, particularly the coasts, are regularly affected by this phenomenon. In August 2024, Hurricane Debby hit Georgia’s coast with as much as 10 inches of rain, leading to localized flooding.

Georgia’s coast is highly susceptible to flooding from natural disasters, exacerbated by the intensifying storms. However, the more serious concern should be addressing future flooding from rising sea levels. While this is a complex issue with several solutions, Georgia can take the first step by developing a statewide Coastal Climate Resilience Plan.

Georgia is expected to experience a six-inch rise in sea level due to climate change within the next 50 years. The Union of Concerned Scientists found that ten pieces of key infrastructure in Georgia are projected to flood every other week on average by 2050 because of sea level rise. A Naval Submarine Base, two wastewater treatment plants, a hazardous waste Superfund site, and a marine shipping warehouse are just some of the sites included. 

The threats to vital Georgian infrastructure impact security, tourism, agriculture, the economy and local communities. 37.3% of the census block within Georgia’s 11 coastal counties are economically disadvantaged, thus experiencing the negative effects of sea level rise at a higher rate. The Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, reports that eight coastal counties have a relatively moderate to high risk for a hurricane hazard. 

Research projects that coastal Georgia will be hit hard by the effects of extreme weather events and sea level rise. While addressing the actions that contribute to these events is important, it is also important to take a proactive step in planning for a resilient coast. Georgia is one of the last coastal states without a state-level adaptation plan to address sea level rise impacts. Georgia should follow in the footsteps of other coastal states, such as Florida and Rhode Island, and develop a resilience plan. 

During the 2024 legislation session, Rhode Island passed House Bill 7022 and Senate Bill 2298. This legislation provides direction to create a comprehensive assessment of climate risk related to sea level rise for coastal communities. A comprehensive risk assessment is a tool to identify the likelihood and the extent of climate risks facing a community. The legislation also addresses the need to coordinate resilience efforts across state agencies and aggressively apply for federal funding for resilient infrastructure projects. 

The state of Florida passed Senate Bill 1954 into law in 2021. This bill developed the Resilient Florida Program, which provides funding assistance for counties and local municipalities to analyze and plan for vulnerabilities. The Georgia General Assembly should create a program like these coastal states to prepare for the future. As it is, Georgia stands grossly unprepared for adapting to the changing climate.  

While the state lacks a comprehensive climate policy, certain areas have begun to address this problem. Coastal areas in Georgia have already sought funding for resilience projects. In March 2024, Representative Buddy Carter of Georgia’s first district acquired $1.24 million for the Camden County Resiliency Center from the Fiscal Year 2024 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. 

Georgia universities are also involved in extension programs that address these issues. The University of Georgia’s Marine Extension, a Sea Grant program, was formed to increase collaboration for coastal resilience programs. The Georgia Institute of Technology has a similar program, the Coastal Equity and Resilience Hub. 

With the emergence of these programs, it is reasonable to believe that the political climate in Georgia would be receptive to introducing a Coastal Climate Resilience Act. Currently, Georgia has dropped the ball in preparing the state’s citizens for the impacts of the changing climate. Instead of ignoring the issue, the state needs to work to catch up with the efforts of others. Time is of the essence, and as comprehensive risk assessments take years, Georgia must produce one as soon as possible. Georgia is a leader in many industries, but it is time to address our weakness in climate resilience policy.

Elle Moss is a second year student at the University of Georgia studying environmental economics and management. She is a member of our environment group.