Coastal Georgia communities prepare as sea level rise accelerates

tybee island flooding
The marshes between the mainland and Tybee Island flooded during a November 2021 high tide. Highway 80, the only road to Tybee, floods regularly. (Photo courtesy Tybee Island Fire Department)

Sea level rise is accelerating, according to a report released Tuesday by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. It finds coastal communities can expect more flooding and worse storm surges in the coming decades as sea levels rise, on average, 10 to 12 inches by 2050.

Coastal Georgia communities have been planning for this, according to Jennifer Kline, coastal hazard specialist with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. 

“We have always encouraged them to plan with a range in mind,” she said. “Realistically, most of our communities are already looking at the numbers that were put out in the report.”