In brief
In hurricane-prone St. Petersburg, Florida, homeowners like Meghan Martin are choosing to lift their homes—an expensive but potentially vital investment in light of increasing flooding caused by climate change.
Homeowners along the Gulf Coast are facing new challenges as climate change brings rising flood risks to areas previously considered safe. For example, Meghan Martin and her husband, after experiencing flooding in their St. Petersburg neighborhood, decided it was time to take action. They chose to lift their home, a decision that comes at a hefty price tag of $375,000. The trend of elevating homes is gaining traction in flood-prone areas. With hurricanes and intense rainfall becoming more common, homeowners across states like Florida, New Jersey, and Texas are finding themselves weighing the hefty cost of raising their homes against the potential risk of disaster. In St. Petersburg, house elevations are transforming the cityscape, moving homes up to 10 feet higher. While previously an oddity, the sight of elevated homes has become more prevalent in response to changing weather patterns. As these trends continue, more families will likely seek innovative solutions to cope with the rising threat of flooding.
