Leaders throughout the region are looking for ways communities can better adapt to living near large bodies of water. Over the past few years sea level rise and recurrent flooding have been an issue in the Hampton Roads area and will be an increasing challenge for the region through in the. Fortunately, Newport News sits on higher ground than the other communities and less than two percent of the City’s total area is expected to be affected by sea level rise. However, the City is still pursuing several initiatives to reduce the impacts in areas that may be affected. Ironically, one of the affects on Newport News could be accommodating additional residents moving from other cities to the higher ground in our city. We are actively participating in the Hampton Roads Sea Level Rise Adaptation Forum, which was initiated in 2012 as an effort to promote discussion of climate change on Hampton Roads by Old Dominion University—in partnership with Virginia Sea Grant and the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission.

The purpose of the forum is to facilitate open discussion, share information about how to adapt to the change, and encourage regional collaboration. The quarterly forum brings together local municipal government staff, scientific experts, state and federal agency staff, and other stakeholders. The forum enhances and improves regional efforts in transportation, environmental and emergency management planning, and provides a platform for collaborating with state and federal entities.