Wednesday, April 4, 1 p.m.

Rising sea levels bring high tides and waves to our shores and increasingly, to our streets. Experts say that within 10 to 15 years, Norfolk will be facing a critical issue in rising sea levels. The NOAA tidal gauge at Sewells Point, the peninsula where the critical U.S. Naval base sits, recorded in 2017 the highest relative sea level rise on the East Coast at nearly 15 inches. The water was a foot and a half lower when Naval Station Norfolk was established 100 years ago. Today, parts of the base are close to sea level. When the Navy adds new structures, it builds them higher. However, the base is not the only area prone to flooding. Already, some streets in Hampton Roads are marked with huge rulers indicating the depth of flood waters as a warning to drivers. Some experts fear that rising sea levels could significantly impact the region’s workforce and subsequently, due to the strong defense industry here, the nation’s military readiness.

One community facing an equal threat of sea level rise is the San Francisco Bay area. Rise looks to the Bay area for answers by profiling the stories of men and women living along the water. They present sea level rise from various perspectives and mold a dialogue about the dangers associated with this crisis. Rise will air Wednesdays at 1:00 p.m. and begins April 4 on WHRV.