A flooded road outside Richmond. (Ned Oliver/Virginia Mercury)
Two floods hit Southwest Virginia eleven months apart, threatening the lives of some Buchanan County residents. The first flood in August 2021 knocked more than 20 homes from their foundation and killed an 85-year-old woman.
Even on sunny days, some drivers in Hampton Roads – the region with the highest rate of sea level rise on the East Coast– navigate flooded roads. For sale signs dot neighborhoods sitting on frequently flooding streets.
According to experts at the First Street Foundation and Climate Central, the roadways and metro station near a proposed sports stadium in Potomac Yard could be at risk of flooding . If the arena materializes, Washington Wizards and Capitals fans may have to battle swamped streets and flooded metros to get to their beloved games.
Climate change is no longer knocking at Virginia’s door; it’s inside the commonwealth’s house – with no plans to leave.
Protecting Virginians from this urgent situation requires resilient solutions. And resilient solutions need consistent investment.