Over the last century, invasive insects, logging, and pathogens have transformed forests in the region.192 Warmer temperatures and insects have led to the loss of cold-adapted boreal communities, and flammable, fire-adapted tree species have been replaced by less flammable, fire-sensitive speciesa process known as mesophication.193,194 However, intense fires, like those observed in 2016, can halt the mesophication process. 5: FAQs, Figure A5.14), both for average daily maximum and average daily minimum temperature. Kelleway, J. J., K. Cavanaugh, K. Rogers, I. C. Feller, E. Ens, C. Doughty, and N. Saintilan, 2017: Review of the ecosystem service implications of mangrove encroachment into salt marshes. However, these beaches and bayous, fields and forests, and cities and small towns are all at risk from a changing climate. B., 2018: 2017 U.S. billion-dollar weather and climate disasters: A historic year in context. Scott, R., 2017: Gov. AJC Staff, 2017: Gov. U.S. Census Bureau, . Wells typically yield 5-35 gallons per minute. Attaway, J. industries and county or municipal well fields look for these higher yielding bedrock wells. | U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA, 76 pp. Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, 2005: Ecosystems and Human Well-Being: Synthesis. Geographic Regions of Georgia Zhang, Y., and Y. Wang, 2016: Climate-driven ground-level ozone extreme in the fall over the Southeast United States. Coastal communities in the Southeast are already experiencing impacts from higher temperatures, sea level rise, increased flooding, and extreme weather events.69,70,71,72 Several communities in the United States are already discussing the complexities of relocation; most are tribal and Indigenous communities.73 Some have chosen to stay in their homelands, while others have few options but to relocate (Ch. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Asheville, NC. Mount Pleasant, located on South Carolinas coast, received 26.88 inches of rain, which is an extremely rare event. Aquifer Characteristics Existing flood map boundaries do not account for future flood risk due to the increasing frequency of more intense precipitation events, as well as new development that would reduce the floodplain's ability to manage storm water. Climate change is likely to modify the seasonality, distribution, and prevalence of vector-borne diseases in the Southeast.29 Vector-borne diseases pose a greater risk in cities than in rural areas because of higher population densities and other human factors (for example, pools of standing water in man-made structures, such as tires or buckets, are breeding grounds for some species of mosquitoes). The Southeast region experienced high annual average temperatures in the 1920s and 1930s, followed by cooler temperatures until the 1970s. Risky Business Project, New York, 109 pp. Washington, DC, 97 pp. Mitchell, R. J., Y. Liu, J. J. O'Brien, K. J. Elliott, G. Starr, C. F. Miniat, and J. K. Hiers, 2014: Future climate and fire interactions in the southeastern region of the United States. | B. C. Jackson, 2017: Ghost reefs: Nautical charts document large spatial scale of coral reef loss over 240 years. The economic status of rural America in the President Trump era and beyond. 10: Ag & Rural, KM 3). Center for Progressive Reform, Washington, DC, 43 pp. High rainfall totals were experienced in many impacted areas, with Fort Pierce, Florida, receiving the highest rainfall of more than 21.5 inches100 and the Florida Keys receiving 12 inches of rain.84,102 Flooding occurred on most rivers in northern Florida and in many rivers in both Georgia and South Carolina to the point that rescues were required. This assessment builds on the above concerns described in the Third National Climate Assessment (NCA3) and includes impacts to urban and rural landscapes as well as natural systems. Wide variety of patterns & colors, in plank flooring & floor tiles. What is the main industry in the coastal region of North Carolina? Chavez-Ramirez, F., and W. Wehtje, 2012: Potential impact of climate change scenarios on whooping crane life history. The difference between the average daily temperature and 65F is the number of cooling or heating degrees for that day. Rural counties in the region generally have a diversified economy with a relatively low percentage being heavily dependent on one sector. McNulty, S., S. Weiner, J. Moore Myers, H. Farahani, L. Fouladbash, D. Marshall, and R. F. Steele, 2015: Southeast regional climate hub assessment of climate change vulnerability and adaptation and mitigation strategies. Emrich, C. T., D. P. Morath, G. C. Bowser, and R. Reeves, 2014: Climate-sensitive hazards in Florida: Identifying and prioritizing threats to build resilience against climate effects. The growing number of extreme rainfall events is stressing the deteriorating infrastructure in the Southeast. Diop, E. S., A. Soumare, N. Diallo, and A. Guisse, 1997: Recent changes of the mangroves of the Saloum River Estuary, Senegal. USDA, Economic Research Service (ERS), Washington, DC, accessed April 25. 0076 . Roughly 52,000 residents applied for disaster relief, and 160,000 homes sustained some type of damage. The interactions of altered precipitation and natural disturbances will be important in understanding impacts to the forests not dominated by industrial forestry (Ch. SFRCCC, 2017: Regional Climate Action Plan 2.0 [web tool]. Cartwright, J. M., and W. J. Wolfe, 2016: Insular ecosystems of the southeastern United States: A regional synthesis to support biodiversity conservation in a changing climate. Warmer winter temperatures are also expected to facilitate the northward movement of problematic invasive species, which could transform natural systems north of their current distribution. Inland areas were also impacted by winds and heavy rains with river gauges and high-water marks showing upwards of 26 feet above ground level.100 The winds eventually fell below tropical storm strength near Columbus, Georgia. For example, the Louisville, Kentucky, metro government conducted an urban heat management study and installed 145,000 square feet of cool roofs as part of their goal to lessen the risk of climate change impacts.28, The transmission of vector-borne diseases, which are spread by the bite of an animal such as a mosquito or tick, is complex and depends on a number of factors, including weather and climate, vegetation, animal host populations, and human activities (Ch. Beard, C. B., R. J. Eisen, C. M. Barker, J. F. Garofalo, M. Hahn, M. Hayden, A. J. Monaghan, N. H. Ogden, and P. J. Schramm, 2016: Ch. Williams, J. W., B. N. Shuman, T. Webb, P. J. Bartlein, and P. L. Leduc, 2004: Late-quaternary vegetation dynamics in North America: Scaling from taxa to biomes. These plants grow in moist forest understory areas that are sensitive to temperature and soil moisture.266. While all regional residents and communities are potentially at risk for some impacts, some communities or populations are at greater risk due to their locations, services available to them, and economic situations. Many in rural communities are maintaining connections to traditional livelihoods and relying on natural resources that are inherently vulnerable to climate change. A. Bradley, J. T. Abatzoglou, R. C. Nagy, E. J. Fusco, and A. L. Mahood, 2017: Human-started wildfires expand the fire niche across the United States. Rainfall totals across the region exceeded amounts that would be expected to occur once every 1,000 years (or a less than 0.1% annual probability of occurrence), causing the Amite and Comite Rivers to surge past their banks and resulting in some 50,000 homes across the region filling with more than 18 inches of water.85 Nearly 10 times the number of homes received major flooding (18 inches or more) during this event compared to a historic 1983 flood in Baton Rouge, and the damage resulted in more than 2 million cubic yards of curbside debris from cleaning up homes (enough to fill over 600 Olympic-sized pools).86 A preceding event in northern Louisiana on March 812, 2016, caused $2.4 billion in damages (in 2017 dollars; $2.3 billion in 2015 dollars) and five casualties,84 illustrating that inland low-lying areas in the Southeast region are also vulnerable to flooding impacts. 10: Ag & Rural, KM 3). Today, even rural residents who engage in farming earn most of their incomes from off-farm employment. NOAA Tech. High temperatures, increases in accumulated plant material on the forest floor, and a four-month seasonal drought in the fall of 2016 collectively produced the worst wildfires the region has seen in a century. B. Technical Report 02-15. Douglas, E., J. Jacobs, K. Hayhoe, L. Silka, J. Daniel, M. Collins, A. Alipour, B. Anderson, C. Hebson, E. Mecray, R. Mallick, Q. Zou, P. Kirshen, H. Miller, J. Kartez, L. Friess, A. Stoner, E. Bell, C. Schwartz, N. Thomas, S. Miller, B. Eckstrom, and C. Wake, 2017: Progress and challenges in incorporating climate change information into transportation research and design. To help gardeners and farmers, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has produced plant hardiness zone maps that can be used to determine which species are most likely to survive and thrive in a given location. Upper Coastal Plain go.ncsu.edu/Blue-Economy. More Cup Operator Pactiv Evergreen 3.2 Kinston, NC 28504 Lindsay, S. W., A. Wilson, N. Golding, T. W. Scott, and W. Takken, 2017: Improving the built environment in urban areas to control Aedes aegypti-borne diseases. Yando, E. S., M. J. Osland, J. M. Willis, R. H. Day, K. W. Krauss, and M. W. Hester, 2016: Salt marsh-mangrove ecotones: Using structural gradients to investigate the effects of woody plant encroachment on plantsoil interactions and ecosystem carbon pools. Ernst, K. M., and B. L. Preston, 2017: Adaptation opportunities and constraints in coupled systems: Evidence from the U.S. energy-water nexus. This includes impacts on infrastructure41,42,43,291,292,293 and human health.30,31,38,294 Increases in climate-related impacts have already been observed in some Southeast metropolitan areas (e.g., Habeeb et al. The U.S. Sixty-one percent of major Southeast cities are exhibiting some aspects of worsening heat waves, which is a higher percentage than any other region of the country.12 The urban heat island effect (cities that are warmer than surrounding rural areas, especially at night) adds to the impact of heat waves in cities (Ch. A., S. Gill, J. Obeysekera, W. Sweet, K. Knuuti, and J. Marburger, 2016: Regional Sea Level Scenarios for Coastal Risk Management: Managing the Uncertainty of Future Sea Level Change and Extreme Water Levels for Department of Defense Coastal Sites Worldwide. Gabler, C. A., M. J. Osland, J. Florida House of Representatives, 2018: Select Committee on Hurricane Response and Preparedness Final Report. Such changes would negatively impact the regions labor-intensive agricultural industry and compound existing social stresses in rural areas related to limited local community capabilities and associated with rural demography, occupations, earnings, literacy, and poverty incidence (very likely, high confidence). The Southeast Coastal non-metropolitan area includes Beaufort, Bladen, Carteret, Columbus, Duplin, Greene, Harnett, Lenoir, Robeson, Sampson, Scotland, and Wilson counties. Although heating costs are expected to decrease as the climate warms in the Southeast, the number of cooling degree days is expected to increase and the length of the cooling season expected to expand, increasing energy demand and exacerbating rural energy poverty (Figure 19.22). USDA, Forest Service, Washington Office, Washington, DC, 218 pp. The resettlement plan is expected to be implemented by 2022 with the inclusion of many facilities in the new location to revitalize the tribal community, including a tribal center and a healthcare facility. Nature-Based Solutions to the Water Crisis | BCG An increasing number of high heat and dry days as the climate warms poses a risk to efficient power generation, particularly under conditions where the mode of primary generation moves towards natural gas and water-intensive nuclear power.256, Agriculture, livestock rearing, and forestry activities are widespread and varied through the Southeast region.7 Climate change is expected to have an overall negative impact on agricultural productivity in the United States,35 although some crops could also become newly viable alternatives (Key Message 3, Figure 19.15). Sakai, A., and W. Larcher, 1987: Frost Survival of Plants: Responses and Adaptation to Freezing Stress. These climatic drivers play critical roles and greatly influence the distribution, structure, and functioning of ecosystems; hence, changes in these climatic drivers will transform ecosystems in the region and greatly alter the distribution and abundance of species. As a result, median household income in the rural counties closest to the coast Camden ($60,714), Dare ($54,787) and Carteret ($50,599) are all higher than the state average of $48,256.1. Many of these urban areas are rapidly growing and offer opportunities to adopt effective adaptation efforts to prevent future negative impacts of climate change (very likely, high confidence). Columbia University Press, New York,. Score, and L. Hilberg, 2017: State of climate adaptation in water resources management: Southeastern United States and U.S. Caribbean. Many in rural communities are maintaining connections to traditional livelihoods and relying on natural resources that are inherently vulnerable to climate changes. Eight of those counties lost more than 5% of their population during this time: Northampton (-10.1%), Washington (-9.1%), Bertie (-9.7%), Tyrrell (-8.1%), Hyde (-7.8%), Martin (-7.0%), Halifax (-6.1%) and Warren (-5.4%).1. Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority of Louisiana, Baton Rouge, LA, 171 pp. American Fact Finder. Pierce, D. W., D. R. Cayan, and B. L. Thrasher, 2014: Statistical downscaling using Localized Constructed Analogs (LOCA). Monaghan, A. J., C. W. Morin, D. F. Steinhoff, O. Wilhelmi, M. Hayden, D. A. Quattrochi, M. Reiskind, A. L. Lloyd, K. Smith, C. A. Schmidt, P. E. Scalf, and K. Ernst, 2016: On the seasonal occurrence and abundance of the Zika virus vector mosquito Aedes aegypti in the contiguous United States. Barbier, E. B., S. D. Hacker, C. Kennedy, E. W. Koch, A. C. Stier, and B. R. Silliman, 2011: The value of estuarine and coastal ecosystem services. Ecological diversity in the Southeast is high,113,114,115,116,117 and southeastern ecosystems and landscapes provide many benefits to society. Academic Press, San Diego,. Multiple studies have projected that urban areas, including those in the Southeast, will be adversely affected by climate change in a variety of ways. Rural Economic Development in the Coastal Region Terando, A. J., B. Reich, K. Pacifici, J. Costanza, A. McKerrow, and Jaime A. Collazo, 2016: Uncertainty quantification and propagation for projections of extremes in monthly area burned under climate change: A case study in the coastal plain of Georgia, USA. A. Allan, R. P., and B. J. Soden, 2008: Atmospheric warming and the amplification of precipitation extremes. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK and New York, NY, 1535 pp. The decade of the 2010s through 2017 is the warmest in all seasons for average daily minimum temperature and in winter and spring for average daily maximum temperature. Figure 3. Jurjonas, M., and E. Seekamp, 2018: Rural coastal community resilience: Assessing a framework in eastern North Carolina. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Washington, DC, 271 pp. Retirement destinations like metropolitan Brunswick and Pender counties are some of the fastest-growing areas in the state, while the least populated counties continue to experience population loss. Open-File Report 99-441. The Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain (NACP) aquifer system occupies a land area of more than 30,000 square miles and a total area of 50,000 square miles along the eastern seaboard of the United States from Long Island, New York, southward to the northeastern part of North Carolina. Jackson, S. T., R. S. Webb, K. H. Anderson, J. T. Overpeck, T. Webb III, J. W. Williams, and B. C. S. Hansen, 2000: Vegetation and environment in Eastern North America during the Last Glacial Maximum. Sea level rise has put these transportation connection points at risk. NWS, What Are Heating and Cooling Degree Days [web page]. Deal, N., 2017: Deal declares state of emergency ahead of Hurricane Irma. Since then, annual average temperatures have warmed to levels above the 1930s; the decade of the 2010s through 2017 has been warmer than any previous decade (App. The ecosystems of the Mississippi River Delta provide at least $12$47 billion (in 2017 dollars) in benefits to people each year.155 These benefits include hurricane storm protection, water supply, furs, habitat, climate stability, and waste treatment. B. Smith, W. Perkins, L. Jantarasami, and J. Martinich, 2015: Climate change risks to US infrastructure: Impacts on roads, bridges, coastal development, and urban drainage. Hansen, M. C., P. V. Potapov, R. Moore, M. Hancher, S. A. Turubanova, A. Tyukavina, D. Thau, S. V. Stehman, S. J. Goetz, T. R. Loveland, A. Kommareddy, A. Egorov, L. Chini, C. O. Colten, C., 2017: Floods collide with sprawl in Louisiana's Amite River Basin. See Guide to this Report for more on Winter temperature extremes, fire regimes, sea levels, hurricanes, rainfall extremes, drought extremes, and warming ocean temperatures greatly influence the distribution, abundance, and performance of species and ecosystems. Drought has been a recurrent issue in the Southeast affecting agriculture, forestry, and water resources.253 With rapid growth in population and overall demand, drought is increasingly a concern for water resource management sectors such as cities, ecosystems, and energy production. A. Patz, 2007: Climate change, ambient ozone, and health in 50 US cities. By the end of the century, over one-half billion labor hours could be lost from extreme heat-related impacts. 12: Transportation, KM 1; Ch. Houghton, A., J. Austin, A. Beerman, and C. Horton, 2017: An approach to developing local climate change environmental public health indicators in a rural district. Dayton, P. K., 1972: Toward an understanding of community resilience and the potential effects of enrichments to the benthos at McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. Rural communities are integral to the Southeasts cultural heritage and to the strong agricultural and forest products industries across the region. Boucek, R. E., E. E. Gaiser, H. Liu, and J. S. Rehage, 2016: A review of subtropical community resistance and resilience to extreme cold spells. WebAs a low-lying coastal plain, major crops include rice, sugar, coffee, cocoa, coconuts, edible oils, fruit, vegetables, and tobacco. Population projections are inherently uncertain over long time periods, and shifts in immigration or migration rates and shifting demographics will influence urban vulnerabilities to climate change. Stephens, S. L., J. J. Moghaddas, C. Edminster, C. E. Fiedler, S. Haase, M. Harrington, J. E. Keeley, E. E. Knapp, J. D. McIver, K. Metlen, C. N. Skinner, and A. Youngblood, 2009: Fire treatment effects on vegetation structure, fuels, and potential fire severity in western U.S. forests. Sarofim, M. C., S. Saha, M. D. Hawkins, D. M. Mills, J. Hess, R. Horton, P. Kinney, J. Schwartz, and A. St. Juliana, 2016: Ch. 8: Coastal, KM 2; Ch. Between August 1115 2016, nearly half of southern Louisiana received at least 1214 inches of rainfall. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Washington, DC, 2 pp. A state of emergency was declared in four states from Florida north to Virginia and in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and, for the first time ever, Atlanta was placed under a tropical storm warning.105,106,107,108 In Florida, a record 6.8 million people were ordered to evacuate, as were 540,000 coastal residents in Georgia and untold numbers in other coastal locations.102,109,110 Nearly 192,000 evacuees were housed in approximately 700 emergency shelters in Florida alone.109 According to NOAAs National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI),84 Irma significantly damaged 65% of the buildings in the Keys and destroyed 25% of them. Rural areas are, more than ever, integrated into a regional economy and tied to nearby urban centers. USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Washington, DC, 11 pp. Prior to identifying critical issues for the Southeast assessment focuses for the Fourth National Climate Assessment (NCA4), the Chapter Lead (CL) contacted numerous professional colleagues representing various geographic areas (e.g., Florida, Louisiana, and South Carolina) for expert opinions on critical climate change related issues impacting the region, with a particular emphasis on emerging issues since the Third National Climate Assessment (NCA3) effort.77 Following those interviews, the CL concluded that the most pressing climate change issues to focus on for the NCA4 effort were extreme events, flooding (both from rainfall and sea level rise), wildfire, health issues, ecosystems, and adaptation actions. USDA, National Agricultural Statistical Service (NASS), Washington, DC, accessed July 18, 2017. Gregg, R. M., W. A. Reynier, A. Doney, S. C., M. Ruckelshaus, J. E. Duffy, J. P. Barry, F. Chan, C. A. English, H. M. Galindo, J. M. Grebmeier, A. Lewis, T.K. The combined effects of changing extreme rainfall events and sea level rise are already increasing flood frequencies, which impacts property values and infrastructure viability, particularly in coastal cities. It is estimated that with a meter (about 3.3 feet) of sea level rise, the Southeast would lose over 13,000 recorded historic and prehistoric archaeological sites and more than 1,000 locations currently eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places.66 This includes many historic buildings and forts in cities like Charleston, Savannah, and St. Augustine. NC Rural Health Research Program, 2017: Rural Hospital Closures: January 2010Present. U.S. Geological Survey, Center for Coastal Geology, St. Petersburg, FL, various pp. Although rural areas have some distinct economic attributes, they also increasingly mirror development patterns in more populated locals. U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA, 162 pp. Duehl, A. J., F. H. Koch, and F. P. Hain, 2011: Southern pine beetle regional outbreaks modeled on landscape, climate and infestation history. These days can be added up over timea month or a yearto give a combined estimate of energy needed for heating or cooling. Stein, B. For example, certain insect species, including mosquitoes and tree-damaging beetles, are expected to move northward in response to climate change, which could affect human health and timber supplies.30,144,166,167,168,169,170,171,172 And some bird species, including certain ducks, are not expected to migrate as far south in response to milder winters,173 which could affect birding and hunting recreational opportunities. - Products: Tobacco products, informational technology. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Coastal Fisheries Division, Austin, TX, 20 pp. Based on the subsequent authors meeting and input from NCA staff, the chapter outline and Key Messages were updated to reflect a risk-based framing in the context of a new set of Key Messages. Drought and extreme heat can result in tree mortality and transform southeastern forested ecosystems.217,218,219,220,221,222,223 Drought can also affect aquatic and wetland ecosystems.224,225,226,227,228,229,232 Extreme rainfall events are also expected to become more frequent and severe in the future. Bjorndal, K. A., A. B. At the coast, a combination of high tide and heavy rain caused significant flooding in downtown Charleston. Great plains Has the industry generally expanded or shrunk This increase in flood frequency suggests the need to considerrevising flood study techniques and standards that are currently used to design and build coastal infrastructure. Horney, J., M. Nguyen, D. Salvesen, C. Dwyer, J. Cooper, and P. Berke, 2017: Assessing the quality of rural hazard mitigation plans in the southeastern United States. One of the big industries in the Coastal Plains is forestry. Already poor regions, including those found in the Southeast, are expected to continue incurring greater losses than elsewhere in the United States. Le Bras, A. Lemonsu, N. Long, M. P. Moine, T. Morel, L. Nolorgues, G. Pigeon, J. L. Salagnac, V. Vigui, and K. Zibouche, 2014: Adapting cities to climate change: A systemic modelling approach. The award provides the Tribe with a historic opportunity to reunite a community.79 While the application to relocate was initiated by the Tribe, the relocation funds now are for all residents of Isle de Jean Charles, according to the Louisiana State Office of Community Development.75. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Ocean Service, Silver Spring, MD, 75 pp. Volume 9 Version 2.0: Southeastern States (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi) . The scope and scale of adaptation efforts, which are already underway, will affect future vulnerability and risk. Wells, E. C. Kansa, S. W. Kansa, K. N. Myers, R. C. DeMuth, and D. A. During the 2010s, the number of nights with minimum temperatures greater than 75F was nearly double the long-term average for 19011960 (Figure 19.1), while the length of the freeze-free season was nearly 1.5 weeks greater than any other period in the historical record (Figure 19.2). Swanteson-Franz, R. J., D. J. Krofcheck, and M. D. Hurteau, 2018: Quantifying forest carbon dynamics as a function of tree species composition and management under projected climate. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Centers for Environmental Information, 5 pp. Cavanaugh, K. C., J. R. Kellner, A. J. Forde, D. S. Gruner, J. D. Parker, W. Rodriguez, and I. C. Feller, 2014: Poleward expansion of mangroves is a threshold response to decreased frequency of extreme cold events. Many southeastern cities are particularly vulnerable to climate change compared to cities in other regions, with expected impacts to infrastructure and human health (very likely, very high confidence). Although the total population of Latinos is often smaller in rural areas than urban areas, the proportion of Latinos is often greater in rural places. Marine transportation can be impacted as well. In response to past climatic changes, many ecosystems in the Southeast were much different than those present today. Island Press, Washington, DC,. February 20. Natural amenities, like attractive scenery and recreational opportunities, draw people to rural areas and have boosted the wealth of many waterfront communities. Carter, L., A. Terando, K. Dow, K. Hiers, K.E. Newly emerging pathogens could increase risk of disease in the future, while successful adaptations could reduce public health risk. 2: Our Changing Climate. B. Meylan, P. A. Meylan, J. Griffith, J. Abatzoglou, J. T., and A. P. Williams, 2016: Impact of anthropogenic climate change on wildfire across western US forests. Kovach, M. M., C. E. Konrad, and C. M. Fuhrmann, 2015: Area-level risk factors for heat-related illness in rural and urban locations across North Carolina, USA. Many cities across the Southeast are planning for the impacts sea level rise is likely to have on their infrastructure (see Case Study Charleston, South Carolina, Begins Planning and Reinvesting and Key Message 2). B. 13: Air Quality, KM 1). Sixty-one percent of major Southeast cities are exhibiting some aspects of worsening heat waves, which is a higher percentage than any other region of the country. Anthony, K. R. N., J. While the challenges brought on by rising perigean tides are diverse, important examples include increasingly frequent road closures, excessive water in storm water management systems, and deterioration of infrastructure such as roads and rail from saltwater. We maintain a massive network of 480+ locations in the U.S. & The regions more tropical ecosystems include mangrove forests, coral reefs, pine savannas, and the tropical freshwater wetlands of the Everglades. Oswalt, S. N., W. B. Smith, P. D. Miles, and S. A. Pugh, 2014: Forest Resources of the United States, 2012: A technical document supporting the Forest Service 2010 update of the RPA Assessment. Higher sea levels will cause the storm surges from tropical storms to travel farther inland than in the past, impacting more coastal properties. Area > 290.00 km2 (111.97 sq mi) Population > 32,215 (2015 Census) Terrain > Mountainous with narrow Coastal Plain Industries > Agriculture, Trading, Tourism Major Products > Rice, Corn, Fish, Coconut, Vegetables, Pineapple, Poultry, Handicraft, Home-made Food Items People/Language > Tagalog, Bicolano, English