An article sent by email from the Washington Post has information that may be new to many outside the nation’s capital:
About 150 years ago, the natural marshes, wetlands and creeks in Washington were buried to build the nation’s new capital. But now, these long-forgotten subterranean waterways make the city increasingly vulnerable to catastrophic flooding fueled by climate change.
The article says parts of DC are already “regularly inundated.”
Homes, businesses and landmarks atop the streams are regularly inundated by raw sewage and filthy water as climate change intensifies storms, rainfall and sea-level rise.
Some of the most flood-prone areas in the city include the national treasures housed inside the Federal Triangle, the low-lying area between the White House and the Capitol that is home to 39 critical government facilities, $14 billion in property and irreplaceable artifacts of American history.
According to the National Park Service, water has risen four feet “over the past century” near the Tidal Basin — one foot from rising seas and three feet from its sinking foundation.
In the next 30 years, sea levels are projected to rise another foot, tripling the rate of the previous 100 years, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The emailed article concludes with the warning that “these kinds of urban floods can be fatal.” In August of 2023, for example, 10 dogs drowned at a day care for pets on Rhode Island Avenue NE, an area with a long flood history.
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For more information, see The Nation's capital, built on water, struggles to keep from drowning. It is a long article with many pictures, illustrations and details about the causes of the flooding and what can be done about it.