FACT SHEET South Carolina Faces

The Union of Concerned Scientists identifies numerous South Carolina communities at risk of chronic inundation—defined as high tide flooding 10% or more of usable non-wetland area at least 26 times per year. Under an intermediate scenario, two communities will face this by 2035 and 19 by 2100; under a high scenario, 22 communities will be affected by 2100, with significant impacts on Charleston, Hilton Head, Edisto Island, and Kiawah Island by 2060. The report argues that limiting warming to 1.8°C could spare up to 10 communities from this fate and calls for updated flood maps, reformed insurance, and funded relocation programs.

• The Union of Concerned Scientists defines "chronic inundation" as occurring when high tide floods at least 10 percent of a community's usable, non-wetland area 26 times per year or more, which averages to once every other week.
• Under the intermediate sea level rise scenario, two South Carolina communities will experience chronic inundation by 2035, increasing to 19 communities by 2100. In the high scenario, 22 communities will be chronically inundated by 2100.
• The high sea level rise scenario predicts severe impacts by 2060, including chronic inundation for Hilton Head and more than 25% of Charleston proper, including a hospital, entire neighborhoods, and part of the historic market. Additionally, by 2060, chronic inundation is projected to cover roughly 40% of Edisto Island and 70% of Kiawah Island.
• Limiting global warming to approximately 1.8°C (the low scenario) could prevent chronic inundation for nine or more South Carolina communities by 2060 and between seven to 10 communities by 2100.
• To address coastal risks, the document recommends three policy categories: phasing out risky coastal development (updating flood maps and building codes), enhancing existing frameworks (increasing funding for FEMA programs and home buyouts), and creating new policies for retreat and relocation from inundated areas.

APA

Union of Concerned Scientists (2017). FACT SHEET South Carolina Faces. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/attach/2017/07/when-rising-seas-hit-home-southcarolina-fact-sheet.pdf

Chicago

Union of Concerned Scientists. FACT SHEET South Carolina Faces. 2017. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/attach/2017/07/when-rising-seas-hit-home-southcarolina-fact-sheet.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Union of Concerned Scientists |title=FACT SHEET South Carolina Faces |date=July 2017 |url=https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/attach/2017/07/when-rising-seas-hit-home-southcarolina-fact-sheet.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{unionofconcernedscientists2017fact, author = {{Union of Concerned Scientists}}, title = {{FACT SHEET South Carolina Faces}}, 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-southcarolina-fact-sheet.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }