Description

Sustainability Matters 2025: Understanding Flood Risks: How Some Maine

Communities are Preparing for the Future

Back to back storms in Maine including the December 2023 Grinch Storm that caused the worst river flooding since the 1800’s and the two coastal storms that damaged or destroyed 60% of our working waterfront as well as damaging buildings, infrastructure and topography with record-breaking water levels and storm surge. The estimated damage to public infrastructure in Maine alone was $90 million, with an untold cost to FEMA and private insurance, businesses and the public.

Mainers immediately responded with funding from the state and flood insurers to assess the costs to rebuild with higher resilience in anticipation of even worse to come. Once again, the Sustainability Advisory Group of the Greater Portland Board of Realtors is calling on local experts to detail the community response to rebuilding better. How have Maine communities approached reducing storm and flood damage to topography, public infrastructure, and private property, both residential and commercial, i.e. elevating sea walls, piers, wharves, roads and bridges; introducing nature-based infrastructure; limiting floodplain development; and more?

How have increased storms and floods fueled by the increased warming of the planet impacted FEMA and private insurance costs and coverage in Maine? Has the role of climate change in more frequent, more destructive storms reinforced participation in building energy efficiency and structural building code enforcement? We are following up on our coverage of the events in our very well received January 2024 flood course, “Living on the Edge”. Once again, SAG has invited Maine experts to teach our members how we are adapting so they can share these remarkable stories and examples with their clients and sphere in their hometowns.

Invited Instructors:

Dr. Peter Slovinsky, Maine Geologist, Maine Geological Survey

Susie Arnold, Senior Ocean Scientist and Director, Island Institute

Kristina Egan, Director, Greater Portland Council of Governments

Brian Ambrette, Director, State Resilience Office, State of Maine

Troy Moon, Sustainability Manager, City of Portland and Julie Rosenbach, Sustainability

Manager, City of South Portland, and Co-Directors, One Climate Future