Over a period of time, researchers have been studying the sites across the U.S that store, emit, or handle hazardous material. With a running total of 5,500 sites in the country, these facilities that handle sewage, trash, gas, oil, and chemical waste are all facing a serious risk of coastal flooding. Facilities are built near waterways or coastlines because transportation and water resources are located there and needed for industrial plans. However, as time goes on, these facilities are being exposed to the rising sea levels and the environment warming which increases the risk of flooding as a whole. 

Climate change is always changing as the world evolves, making it difficult to always know why something is happening. In this situation for example, it’s hard to picture how “climate change” could make the sea levels rise and create such heavy storms. Breaking it down, we know through science that as greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere, oceans will absorb that heat. When water warms, it expands, which will make the level of the sea rise with the increasing water size. The increasing sea will break apart ice and add more water; making a normal high tide go way more inland than usual. With the continual rise in temperature, moisture and heat are increasingly being used as fuel for hurricanes and heavy storms. When a storm moves closer inland than usual, the chances of a storm surge that pushes water into communities rises. Since these facilities are located right by the water, they will be the first ones hit. Many of these facilities are old, which raises the question of how much flooding they can withstand. 

Furthermore, flooding can have a lot of long term effects like damaging storage structures and overwhelming safety systems. When these things happen, harmful chemicals and materials are released into local rivers, wetlands, and neighborhoods. When released into the water, they can spread way faster, contaminating not only the water and marine life, but the local soil and mammals that eat it. Moreover, wetlands, which are crucial for filtering pollutants and protecting coastlines from storms, can overtime become very degraded when continually exposed to toxins. Overall, the everyday exposure to contaminated water, soil, and air, can lead to local residents experiencing serious health hazards like skin irritation and respiratory issues. 

These dangers have not gone unnoticed though, for many government agencies and environmental groups have been working diligently to strengthen protection and identify vulnerable facilities around the US. Each state has also been contributing, with some making flood risk maps as well as elevating equipment and reinforcing barriers. Many others have also upgraded drainage systems. There has also been talk about possible implementation of relocating facilities so that they are more inland and away from the threats of flooding. Federal officials have also come out and recommended industries to develop climate resilient plans for safety and think ahead at what could come. And it’s not just facilities that are being considered, many environmental organizations have been very vocal about pushing stronger regulations to help ensure that communities with fewer resources are also protected by potential toxic spills that could happen. 

The identification of thousands of at-risk sites highlights the very real connection between climate change, industrial safety, and overall health. Planning and climate action will be essential in protecting ecosystems and communities nationwide. But with continued effort, it will become easier every day.