HONOLULU (KHON2) — Researchers at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa are calling for better building standards in coastal flood zones.
“With coastal high tide flooding having doubled in the U.S. in the last two decades, it’s clear that we need to build for the future, not just the past,” said lead author Wendy Meguro. “Our main suggestion is for policymakers and designers to plan for sea-level rise amounts projected within a building’s lifetime.”
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UH’s research goes hand-in-hand with local efforts to ensure that coastal communities can withstand the impacts of rising sea levels.
Despite national reports of rising sea levels that threaten buildings, there is no standardized policy establishing minimum building elevations. As a result, local governments are tasked with creating their own standards…