Hundreds of thousands of coastal homes are at risk of chronic flooding due to sea-level rise over the coming years and decades. A national research analysis from the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) predicts that 311,000 coastal homes are at risk of flooding, which is 26 times or more per year within the next 30 years, a phenomenon called a "chronic inundation." By 2100, that number will exceed 2.4 million homes in the U.S. The implications for coastal residents, communities, and the economy are enormous.

Educating coastal residents

A number of proactive steps must happen for residents to protect themselves, their property and their assets. To help, the Union of Concerned Scientists put together a guide to enable home-buyers to ask smart questions about coastal and tidal flooding. The Know Your Risk brochure suggests that prospective home-buyers talk to specific experts about a number of issues. Click through the slideshow above for the list of questions this organization suggests home-buyers ask before purchasing a coastal residency. Related: Putting climate change into numbers: Why 300,000 homes are at risk