Report: 9 New Jersey cities will be under water by the end of the century

A study suggested that nine New Jersey cities will be almost entirely underwater and uninhabitable by the end of the 21st century.

News 12 Staff

Jun 5, 2019, 2:47 AM

Updated 1,791 days ago

Share:

A new study suggests that nine New Jersey cities will be almost entirely underwater and uninhabitable by the end of the 21st Century.
The study was conducted by Delaware-based financial firm 24/7 Wall Street. The company’s study named 35 American cities that are at risk of becoming uninhabitable due to flooding and climate change. The cities include Secaucus at No. 35, Margate City at No. 32, Brigantine at No. 29, Little Ferry at No. 26, Pennsville at No. 24, Ventnor City at No. 16, Ocean City at No. 12, Atlantic City at No. 3 and Hoboken at No. 2.
Flooding is often a problem in Hoboken. City officials have been working since Superstorm Sandy to make the city more flood resilient through its “Rebuild by Design” program.
"Rebuild by Design is to build flood protection barriers to make Hoboken resilient for decades and decades to come,” says Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla. “For this exact same reason - so we do not become an underwater city in the future."
According to the 24/7 Wall Street study, 29.5% of Hoboken’s population with homes is at risk of flooding by 2060, with 43% of the city will be under water by 2100. The report also says that nearly 50% of Hoboken’s current habitable land will be underwater in 40 years, with 71% underwater in 80 years.
Bhalla says the initiatives the city has already put in place are solutions the study didn't take into account. They include wet-weather pumps, resiliency parks and underground retention tanks.
"If you came here 10 years ago - in the southwest [part of the city,] anytime it rained you'd have water to your knees. That's no longer the case,” Bhalla says.
The full list of cities at risk can be found on the 24/7 Wall Street website.


More from News 12
2:22
Police: Grandfather, 6-month-old grandson killed by fallen tree in Verona

Police: Grandfather, 6-month-old grandson killed by fallen tree in Verona

1:56
STORM WATCH: Cloudy with cooler temps in New Jersey; tracking evening rain showers

STORM WATCH: Cloudy with cooler temps in New Jersey; tracking evening rain showers

2:10
Authorities: 1 man dead in Jersey City shooting

Authorities: 1 man dead in Jersey City shooting

0:29
Prosecutors: Man, woman charged with leaving 2 toddlers in car while attending a wine tasting

Prosecutors: Man, woman charged with leaving 2 toddlers in car while attending a wine tasting

1:27
Best of New Jersey: A taste of Italy at Matera's Italian Market in Rutherford

Best of New Jersey: A taste of Italy at Matera's Italian Market in Rutherford

0:16
Ridgewood school district announces extended Memorial Day weekend thanks to unused snow days

Ridgewood school district announces extended Memorial Day weekend thanks to unused snow days

0:22
E-ZPass warns of text message scam targeting customers

E-ZPass warns of text message scam targeting customers

0:23
Looking to complain about the smelly Tinton Falls landfill? There's a number for that

Looking to complain about the smelly Tinton Falls landfill? There's a number for that

8:55
Guide: Ways to set your child up for financial success

Guide: Ways to set your child up for financial success

0:29
Officials: Former Rutgers football player killed in shooting incident in Hoboken

Officials: Former Rutgers football player killed in shooting incident in Hoboken

1:51
New Jersey sees more than 150 aftershocks since April 5 4.8 magnitude earthquake

New Jersey sees more than 150 aftershocks since April 5 4.8 magnitude earthquake

0:45
Jersey Proud: Make-A-Wish celebrates 44th anniversary with ‘World Wish Day’

Jersey Proud: Make-A-Wish celebrates 44th anniversary with ‘World Wish Day’

0:31
Prosecutor: Man faces human trafficking charges following assault of 13-year-old girl

Prosecutor: Man faces human trafficking charges following assault of 13-year-old girl

2:10
Officials: Car thief crashes into Newark bar, injuring 2 people

Officials: Car thief crashes into Newark bar, injuring 2 people

1:51
Atlantic City aims to get emergency sand replacement due to winter erosion on beaches

Atlantic City aims to get emergency sand replacement due to winter erosion on beaches

0:45
Rep. Gottheimer introduces legislation to protect air travelers from ‘junk fees’

Rep. Gottheimer introduces legislation to protect air travelers from ‘junk fees’

0:27
Report: Hudson Tunnel Project to create 95,000 new jobs, generate billions in revenue

Report: Hudson Tunnel Project to create 95,000 new jobs, generate billions in revenue

2:08
Official: Tenant hospitalized, 40 people displaced by Newark apartment building fire

Official: Tenant hospitalized, 40 people displaced by Newark apartment building fire

1:38
Temps reached record highs today. What to do if you haven't used your air conditioner in months

Temps reached record highs today. What to do if you haven't used your air conditioner in months

0:28
Prosecutor: Jersey City woman arrested for abducting her own child in stolen car

Prosecutor: Jersey City woman arrested for abducting her own child in stolen car