UH study on sea level rises highlights need for new construction guidelines

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Scientists from the University of Hawaii have determined building developers and government agencies need to create new guidelines for construction that account for projected sea level rise.

The study published in Water last month, provides a critical resource for policymakers and designers in coastal communities such as Hawaii who are planning for the impacts of climate change.

It highlights that current FEMA standards are only based on historical flood data and new projects should have much higher elevation starting points.

“With coastal high tide flooding having doubled in the U.S. in the last two decades, it’s clear that we need to build for the future, not just for the past,” said lead author Wendy Meguro, an associate professor in the UH Manoa School