Boston Globe — The seas are coming for coastal homes. How will communities, and the state, respond?

Erosion from recent storms caused South Ocean Grove Circle to collapse in the Chases Ocean Grove neighborhood of Dennis Port.Craig F. Walker/Globe Staff

January 18, 2024

By Sabrina Shankman — In the age of climate change, as sea levels rise and more intense storms wear away the natural landscape that had protected coastal communities for generations, state and local officials are considering more radical measures, including paying people to abandon their waterfront properties altogether.

Massachusetts, for example, is exploring the feasibility of a program that would purchase particularly vulnerable or extremely damaged properties from their owners, rather than continue to expose the buildings to further risk, a concept known as managed retreat.

In her annual State of the Commonwealth address Wednesday night, Governor Maura Healey acknowledged the reality of a changing climate and proposed a permanent disaster relief resiliency fund to help communities recover from natural disasters such as floods and storms. “Severe weather isn’t going away anytime soon. Let’s future-proof our communities and be ready when help is needed,” Healey said.

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