Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID MD2025-Reilly

High Tides and Hidden Costs: Uncovering the Indirect Costs of Coastal Flooding in Maryland's Eastern Shore

Institute: Maryland
Year Established: 2025 Start Date: 2026-01-01 End Date: 2026-12-31
Total Federal Funds: $29,570 Total Non-Federal Funds: $29,570

Principal Investigators: Allison Reilly

Project Summary: Communities on Maryland's Eastern Shore are increasingly affected by "nuisance" or high-tide flooding, which disrupts daily life even without major storms. When roads flood, children may miss school, workers may be unable to get to their jobs, and vehicles are damaged by saltwater exposure. These challenges add up to significant indirect costs for residents-costs that are rarely measured or considered in decisions about how to prepare for flooding. This project will study these hidden costs in Dorchester and Somerset Counties. Researchers will talk with local officials and nonprofits, build and use computer models to estimate how often flooding prevents students from reaching schools, and examine survey data about vehicle repair expenses. The results will provide a clearer picture of how flooding affects families and communities, beyond visible damages to buildings and roads. The findings will be shared with schools, governments, and residents to support smarter planning and more resilient communities.