These Jersey Shore Communities Could Be Underwater By 2050, New Study Says

More than 1 in 3 of New Jersey's public infrastructure will be in a flood zone by 2050, according to a new study.

That's up from nearly 1 in 4 in 2025, representing a 55 percent increase, according to a new analysis from Rebuild By Design, a group initiated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) post Super Storm Sandy.

Flooding at this level could displace more than 1 million New Jerseyans and destroy billions of dollars worth of property.

Two new interactive tools examine flood exposure across all counties and eight cities, analyzing nearly 19,000 public infrastructure assets, including schools, hospitals, fire stations, police stations, wastewater treatment plants, airports and contaminated sites. The city-level tool examines Asbury Park, Atlantic City, Camden, Elizabeth, Jersey City, Newark and Paterson.

By 2050, 1,782 parks, 524 schools, 119 libraries, 49 hospitals, and 24 airport facilities will face flood risk, the analysis shows.

Cape May and Hudson counties are most at risk, according to the tool. Both will have more than half of their assets in flood risk zones by 2050.

In Cape May County by 2050, areas at risk of flooding include most parks, one of two hospitals, wastewater treatment sites, contaminated sites and a power plant.

Flood risks in 2050 in Hudson County include all four of the county's Superfund Sites, all but two power plants, four out of five wastewater treatment sites and more than half of the county's contaminated sites.

Flooding will jeopardize $435.9 billion in property value and $5.9 billion in annual property tax revenue, which funds schools, water systems and emergency services, according to the study.

Rebuild By Design is using the study to urge action and call for investment in proactive projects to protect New Jersey from further weather damage before it is too late.

“New Jersey is confronting the reality that the impact of weather events — flooding, fires, and heatwaves — are becoming the new reality, as it becomes more and more expensive to live. These events worsen lives and livelihoods for those who are not prepared,” said Amy Chester, Director, Rebuild by Design. "We have an opportunity to address this challenge by investing in our infrastructure, creating jobs and lowering costs for families in New Jersey.”

Check out the new tools here.