Louisiana Faces WHEN RISING SEAS HIT HOME

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) warns that many Louisiana communities face 'chronic inundation'—defined as high tide flooding 10% or more of usable, non-wetland area at least 26 times per year—within the coming decades. Under an intermediate sea level rise scenario, 95 southern Louisiana communities will face this by 2035, increasing to 131 by 2100. In the high scenario, some areas, including all communities in Lafourche and Terrebonne Parishes, could see 90 to 100 percent of their land area chronically inundated by the end of the century. The report argues for a science-based approach to adaptation, including updating flood risk maps, reforming insurance, and creating programs for retreat and relocation.

• The Union of Concerned Scientists defines 'chronic inundation' as occurring when high tide floods 10 percent or more of a community's usable, non-wetland area at least 26 times per year, or on average every other week.
• Under the intermediate sea level rise scenario, 95 southern Louisiana communities will experience chronic inundation by 2035, with the total number of affected Louisiana communities rising to 131 by 2100.
• In the high sea level rise scenario, extreme land loss is projected by the end of the century, with all communities in Terrebonne and Lafourche Parishes potentially facing chronic inundation of 90 to 100 percent of their land area.
• Limiting global warming to approximately 1.8°C (the 'low' scenario) could prevent chronic inundation for 19 to 34 Louisiana communities by the end of the century, and at least eight communities by 2060.
• The document recommends three policy response categories: phasing out risky coastal development (e.g., updating flood maps and building codes), enhancing existing frameworks (e.g., funding FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program), and creating new measures for retreat and relocation.

APA

Union of Concerned Scientists (2017). Louisiana Faces WHEN RISING SEAS HIT HOME. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/attach/2017/07/when-rising-seas-hit-home-louisiana-fact-sheet.pdf

Chicago

Union of Concerned Scientists. Louisiana Faces WHEN RISING SEAS HIT HOME. 2017. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/attach/2017/07/when-rising-seas-hit-home-louisiana-fact-sheet.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Union of Concerned Scientists |title=Louisiana Faces WHEN RISING SEAS HIT HOME |date=July 2017 |url=https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/attach/2017/07/when-rising-seas-hit-home-louisiana-fact-sheet.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{unionofconcernedscientists2017louisiana, author = {{Union of Concerned Scientists}}, title = {{Louisiana Faces WHEN RISING SEAS HIT HOME}}, institution = {Union of Concerned Scientists}, year = {2017}, month = jul, url = {https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/attach/2017/07/when-rising-seas-hit-home-louisiana-fact-sheet.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }