Coastal Georgia is facing a future of frequent floods, with a recent study by the Union of Concerned Scientists warning that several sites are at risk of regular inundation due to sea level rise. The report highlights 10 critical infrastructure sites that are projected to be flooded every two weeks on average by 2050, and an additional five locations that may experience flooding twice a year, as GPB reported. These flooding patterns pose serious concerns for local communities and the sustainability of vital services.

The study looked at various types of infrastructure including schools, housing, and waste treatment facilities as well as potential contamination sites. For instance, Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base and SeaGate Terminals' marine shipping warehouse in Savannah are among those expected to start to suffer recurring flooding events. The Union's report underlines the urgency to transition away from fossil fuels and embrace clean energy to mitigate the effects of rising sea levels—a long-term consequence of climate change that the researchers say is by now "mostly baked in" from past carbon emissions.

"It is increasingly evident that much of the coastal infrastructure in the United States — including K–12 schools, electrical substations, emergency services, public housing, and brownfields — was built for a climate that no longer exists," the group wrote in its national report. With such essential assets now under threat of being frequently inundated, the findings paint a rather grave picture for Coastal Georgia and, by extension, for other vulnerable coastlines across the nation.

Aside from projecting the potential frequency of flood events, the study also delved into the disproportionate impact of sea level rise on disadvantaged communities. Astrid Caldas, a climate researcher with the Union of Concerned Scientists, told GPB, "We need to really fight for the reduction of emissions not only in the United States but globally, so that we can prevent the worst of the impacts of sea level rise." Caldas strongly criticizes the fossil fuel industry for prioritizing profit over the wellbeing of people and the global economy, amidst the escalating climate risks.

The gravity of the situation is underscored when considering future projections. Under varied scenarios of sea level rise, the number of infrastructure sites at risk in Coastal Georgia could dramatically increase by 2100, ranging from 28 under a low sea level rise scenario to 259 under a high scenario.