Interactive Maps Show Which Louisiana Cities Will Be Under Water in 50 Years

VERMILION PARISH, La. (KPEL News) - Louisiana's disappearing coastline has been a topic of conversation for decades, and it seems like we're always getting new warnings and dire predictions about our homes in south Louisiana suddenly becoming beachfront property.

People are deeply concerned about Louisiana's coastline disappearing due to the severe environmental, economic, and social consequences it entails. Louisiana's coast is rapidly eroding at an alarming rate, primarily due to factors such as land subsidence, sea-level rise, and human activities like oil and gas extraction and canal dredging.

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The disappearance of Louisiana's coastline poses a significant threat to the state's unique ecosystems, including marshes, wetlands, and barrier islands, which serve as vital habitats for diverse wildlife and help protect inland areas from storm surges and flooding. As these coastal habitats disappear, the region becomes more vulnerable to the impacts of hurricanes, tropical storms, and other natural disasters, exacerbating the risk of property damage, loss of life, and displacement of communities.

Furthermore, Louisiana's disappearing coastline has profound economic implications, particularly for industries such as fishing, tourism, and shipping, which rely on healthy coastal ecosystems for their livelihoods.

The loss of coastal land also threatens critical infrastructure, including energy facilities, transportation networks, and freshwater supplies, further jeopardizing the state's economy and public safety.

Overall, the disappearance of Louisiana's coastline represents a pressing environmental and societal crisis that demands urgent action to mitigate its impacts and preserve this valuable natural resource for future generations.

However, there is one website out there that is attempting to show us what Louisiana might look like in 50 years if things don't change.

Louisiana Parishes Underwater?

The map was created by climate researchers at Climate Center, which is an organization of scientists and journalists studying the impacts of climate change on the world. Their goal is to show what the future holds for coastal communities as sea level rise.

Looking at the map Climate Center has provided, it looks like a lot of southern parishes could be at risk.

Just take a look at how much bigger Vermilion Bay could be getting by 2080 if their map holds true.

New Orleans being surrounded by levies is certainly beneficial for the Big Easy. It looks like everything surrounding the city is set to be underwater or close to being fully submerged in the half-century.

That, however, makes things worse in future hurricane seasons. Less land surrounding New Orleans means more powerful storms making landfall right on top of the city. That would be devastating if it holds true.

As we endure extreme weather events, researchers warn that those events are becoming stronger and more common. Louisiana has spent a lot of time and money trying to stop its coastline from eroding away, but predictions like these certainly make the threat seem a lot more dire.

We're no stranger to extreme weather events, though. Take a look at some of the worst most Louisiana residents still talk about.