When Domonique Tomlinson purchased a house in the Shore Acres neighborhood of St. Petersburg, Florida four years ago, she was unfamiliar with the area. However, she quickly became acquainted with the challenges faced by residents in the community. Shortly after moving into her single-story teal home, her street was overwhelmed by high tides, causing water to enter her house. This scenario repeated during Hurricane Idalia in 2023, resulting in the loss of furniture and belongings worth thousands of dollars. To make matters worse, everyday flooding became a common occurrence, forcing Tomlinson to navigate through calf-high water on her street to get to work.
As Hurricane Helene approached the area as a Category 4 storm, Tomlinson and her husband hurried to install flood protection measures. Despite their efforts, the storm surge from Helene caused unprecedented flooding in Shore Acres, impacting homes that had never flooded before. Devastated by the recurring floods, Tomlinson expressed her frustration with the situation and stated that they would not rebuild their home.
Shore Acres has been struggling with increased flooding due to sea level rise and poor development practices. The neighborhood experiences frequent flooding even during dry weather, with residents facing some of the highest flood insurance rates in the country. Many homes in the area were flooded during Hurricane Helene, exacerbating the real estate market’s instability in Shore Acres.
Built in the 1950s on low-lying land, Shore Acres is ill-equipped to deal with rising sea levels and more frequent flooding events. As the neighborhood grapples with the impacts of climate change, residents have witnessed a surge in flood insurance rates under a new federal policy. Some homeowners have been able to mitigate costs by raising their homes above flood level, but this comes with its own challenges and expenses.
While some residents remain optimistic about the real estate market in Shore Acres, others are contemplating selling their homes due to the persistent flooding and rising insurance costs. The community has experienced multiple floods in recent years, with Hurricane Idalia and Hurricane Debbie causing significant damage. The city of St. Petersburg has invested in flood mitigation efforts, but the challenges faced by Shore Acres residents underscore the broader issues of coastal communities grappling with the effects of climate change.
