Ocean Could Swallow Florida Beaches, Everglades Sooner than Expected

Florida is the state most at risk of rising sea levels.

Floridians saw this year what happens when an abundance of water falls on the state. In South Florida, flooding and environmental damage littered the east and west coasts. Wildlife drowned in the Everglades conservation areas.

Now, experts say beaches and even the inland Everglades could be lost in less than a century, under 5 feet of water, reports The New York Times.

Ben Strauss, director of the Program on Sea Level Rise at Climate Central, told the Times, People tend to underestimate the gravity here, I think, because it sounds far off. People are starting to tune in, but its not front and center. Miami is a boom town now, but in the future that Im very confident will come, it will be obvious to everyone that the sea is marching inland and its not going to stop.

The coastal counties of Broward, Miami-Dade, Monroe and Palm Beach are teaming up to find ways to save themselves.Last week, the 5th Annual Southeast Florida Regional Climate Leadership Summit took place in Fort Lauderdale to examine the effects of rising seas.

Real estate observers said that while the ocean may be rising, the real estate market hasnt noticed. But, more than $150 billion worth of property is at risk, as it lies less than 3 feet above Floridas high tide. Also at stake are the billions being spent by the state to restore the Everglades.

Scientists at the summit also warned that canals will also rise, making inland residents susceptible to similar problems as those on Florida's coasts.