Flooding could threaten hazardous sites in San Francisco Bay Area
Hundreds of industrial sites along California’s coastline may face a heightened risk of coastal flooding by 2050 because of sea level rise from human-caused global warming, a recent study says. Why it matters: Flood and storm surge events amplified by sea level rise against such facilities could increase the chances of hazardous chemicals escaping from the sites and contaminating nearby communities. The potential release of contaminants from future extreme weather events may also have an increased effect on people of color and low-income communities.