Some 400,000 American children live in areas that will be vulnerable to major coastal flooding by the year 2030, according to a new analysis.
Children are among the most vulnerable to the physical and mental health risks associated with flooding, and can experience stress and anxiety after a weather-related disaster, the nonprofit Climate Central warned in a report this week.
The group’s analysis found that more than a quarter of those in areas of risk are under the age of five.
The majority of these children live in New York and Louisiana. The Empire State, home to New York City, has more than 78,000 children under 5 facing the risk of floocing, and the Gulf Coast state of Louisiana has more than 72,000. New Jersey was third on the list.
Climate Central said around 1.9 million people in the contiguous US currently live in areas at risk from a major coastal flood, assuming Earth’s pollution remains high.
Down the Atlantic coast, Florida was found to have the most people – a total of more than 360,000 residents – living in risky areas.