Resources to Protect Your Property Against Rising Sea Levels & Erosion on Nantucket
Nantucket is an island 30 miles off the coast of Cape Cod, which means climate change, rising sea levels, and erosion affect our community regularly. As local real estate professionals, our clients often ask about these factors and how they will impact properties on-island. These questions prompted us to create a blog filled with essential resources to arm our clients, friends, and community members with facts about rising sea levels and erosion.
For those looking to purchase a property on Nantucket in a flood plain or an area affected by erosion, be sure to consult with your real estate agent and schedule a home inspection with a licensed inspector. These inspections often flag potential problems caused by previous water damage, or, for properties like those that sit on Baxter Road in ‘Sconset, they may show signs of deterioration due to their proximity to an area of erosion. We also suggest communicating with a local insurance company as they know Nantucket’s unique ins and outs.
For homeowners and future buyers, it’s important to know your risk and arm yourself with the proper tools to protect your property. We’ve found the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) website to be incredibly helpful. FEMA has outlined a “Know Your Risk” page and first suggests reviewing your property on their Flood Maps. If you are in a high-risk zone, FEMA outlines changes you can make to protect against future floods. Be sure to reference the “Homeowner’s Guide to Retrofitting: Six Ways to Protect Your Home from Flooding.” One of their most valuable tools, the FEMA Coastal Erosion Map, considers three scenarios: low, intermediate, and high sea-level rise. For coastal properties, the map shows measurements of what your home might look like in 2030, 2050, and 2100.
It’s also essential to follow and support local organizations fighting for coastal resilience. Envision Resilience Nantucket is one of these important groups. Their mission is to “inspire coastal communities to imagine a future that is adaptive in the face of sea-level rise by bringing together the insights of local experts, the innovative thinking of graduate students, and the stories of people who call these communities home.” Be sure to visit their website and the resources linked below.
Important Resources
The informative links below are intended for Nantucket homeowners, future home buyers, or anyone following Nantucket’s changing landscape.