--- title: Climate Change: New York at Greater Risk of Flooding description: Flood risk in New York City has increased in recent decades due to human-caused sea level rise and the surge that occurs during storms canonical: https://time.com/4052691/new-york-city-flood-risk-rising/ author: Justin Worland article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2015-09-28T20:36:04.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T07:57:38.504Z article:section: Science og:title: Why New York City Flood Risk Is On The Rise og:description: Climate change threatens to exacerbate the risk storms pose to the city og:url: https://time.com/4052691/new-york-city-flood-risk-rising/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde61bea64d25008a/698865d7bc6cfc2ec43d9a47/storm-new-york-city.jpeg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 5616 og:image:height: 3159 og:image:alt: storm new york city og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Why New York City Flood Risk Is On The Rise twitter:description: Climate change threatens to exacerbate the risk storms pose to the city twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde61bea64d25008a/698865d7bc6cfc2ec43d9a47/storm-new-york-city.jpeg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Why New York City Will Be Flooded More Often > Sponsored content. 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Named editors include Richard Hall (The Brief), Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs (Inside TIME), Eliza Berman (Worth Your Time), Philip Elliott (D.C. Brief), Justin Worland (Future Proof) and Harry Booth (In the Loop). Health Matters is written by TIME's health desk. #### How do I sign up for a TIME newsletter? Go to time.com/newsletters, choose the newsletters you want and enter your email address. There is no cost and no subscription requirement. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=670961d1-d761-4b39-923d-ad4df3018492&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1) ## Video: Hurricane Katrina By The Numbers: Ten Years Later [Watch (HLS stream): Hurricane Katrina By The Numbers: Ten Years Later](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/APBC75ye.m3u8) (2:07)  _Published 2015-08-22. Hurricane Katrina By The Numbers: Ten Years Later_  by [Justin Worland](https://time.com/author/justin-worland/)  ## Justin Worland Senior Correspondent Sep 28, 2015 8:36 PM UTC  dramatic storm clouds over Manhattan dramatic storm clouds over Manhattan Getty Images  by [Justin Worland](https://time.com/author/justin-worland/)  ## Justin Worland Senior Correspondent Sep 28, 2015 8:36 PM UTC Flood risk in New York City has increased in recent decades due to human-caused sea level rise and the related storm surge that occurs during cyclones, according to a new [study](//www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.1513127112). Climate change threatens to exacerbate the risk storms pose to the largest city in the United States. Researchers, writing in the journal _PNAS_, evaluated sediment at different points along the shore in New Jersey to compare sea levels between 1970 and 2005 and sea levels between 850 and 1800\. Prior to 1800, a flood that was 2.25 m (7.4 ft) above sea level occurred once every 500 years. Since 1970, a storm of that size occurs approximately every 24 years. “This is going from something you probably won’t see in your lifetime to something you may see several times in your lifetime,” said Andra Reed, a researcher at Penn State University. Sea levels rose slightly between 850 and 1800 due to natural causes that include melting glaciers, according to Reed. Scientists have shown such changes to be part of the natural variation in sea levels. But the rate of rise pales in comparison to recent decades, when sea levels have risen by 2 millimeters (.08 inches) per year on average. Nearly 90% of that rise has been the result of human activity, [research](http://blogs.agu.org/geospace/2014/05/15/humans-caused-nearly-90-percent-sea-level-rise-warming-upper-ocean-study-says/) has shown. **Read More:** [These Are the Cities Most Vulnerable to the Next Katrina](http://time.com/4012208/katrina-cities-flood-risk/) Potential for disaster increases when rising sea levels combine with stronger storm surges, also a product of human caused climate change. Storm surge occurs when water levels temporarily rise during a storm and weather conditions push that water ashore. The study, which comes just a month before the three-year anniversary of Hurricane Sandy, adds to evidence showing the importance of investments in disaster preparedness. Sandy killed more than 200 and caused $75 billion in damage. That storm would have been a once-in-3,000 year event a few centuries ago, but today it’s once in 130-year storm, according to Reed. “These flood heights are recurring more frequently,” said Reed. “That really does call for advanced risk management strategies.” ## Transcript [ MUSIC ] This is what the southeast United States looked like after hurricane Katrina struck Louisiana the morning of August 29, 2005. 353, 000 homes were damaged or destroyed. 1, 800 people died and tens of thousands of jobs literally disappeared. The total bill, $ 180 billion in damages. Katrina remains, to this day, the most catastrophic and costly hurricane in US history. But New Orleans suffered the greatest losses. Over 100, 000 homes were damaged or destroyed, but federal aid made the recovery of 30, 000 structures possible. >> ssible. Insurance companies paid an estimated total $ 41. 1 billion for 1. 7 million damage claims. Following the storm, most public schools in New Orleans shut down for months. Of the 56, 000 student public school system, some transferred to schools in nearby cities, others stopped going to school altogether Since then, over 100 failing public schools were handed over to the Recover school district. Now the RSD oversees 57 charter schools in New Orleans and educates over 90 % of students in this city. More than 480, 000 people lived in New Orleans before Katrina, and that number has decreased to a little over 200, 000 residents. Relief efforts have helped increase the New Orleans population to about 378, 000 residents. But there's still a long way to go. 80 % of the city was flooded as a result of weak levees. The Congress authorized a $ 14 billion budget to rebuild the city's flood protection barriers. For years. However, levees protecting the city are still sinking, and that's raised concerns. But the Hurricane Katrina aftermath story isn't over yet. Relief in outreach programs like the American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, and Rebuilding Together New Orleans. Are still coming together to mend what Katrina tore apart. And they're still making progress ten years later. 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