In the wake of severe coastal flooding that swept through Maine this week, some residents are reevaluating the allure of beachside living. With stronger storms and rising sea levels projected to significantly increase the risks of flooding in the coming decades, Mainers are starting to take into account the proximity to the Maine coast when making housing decisions.

Ellen Coniaris, a longtime resident of Camp Ellis in Saco, expressed her frustration as she dug out sand from a storm drain in front of her home and worked to pump water out of her basement. Coniaris declared that this would be her last year living in her beachfront property, citing the escalating risks posed by severe floods.

Coniaris is not alone in her concerns. Mike Haggett, a weather forecaster residing near the coast in Kennebunk, acknowledged that he knew the dangers of owning oceanfront property and felt the impacts of Mother Nature's unpredictable force. The recent flooding in Maine has caused extensive damage to homes, businesses, and waterfronts along the coast.

The rise in sea levels has been an ongoing trend, with Maine experiencing an increase of 8 inches since 1950. According to state data, sea levels are expected to rise an additional 1.5 feet by 2050 and 4 feet by 2100. The First Street Foundation reports that nearly 20% of properties in York County have a high likelihood of severe flooding in the next 30 years, including critical infrastructure.

For instance, Coniaris' home currently has minimal flood risk, but according to the data, there is a 41 percent chance of experiencing an inch of water in the next three decades. In Kennebunk, where the fire department shared a startling video of the ocean overflowing onto Middle Beach, one nearby residence faces a 42 percent chance of a 1-foot flood within the same time frame.

The recent storm caught many residents off guard, including Barbara Berry, who has lived in Kennebunk for 17 years. Berry expressed surprise at the intensity of the flooding and voiced concerns about the proximity of homes to the coastline. She emphasized the need for better wetland protection to mitigate future damage.

On the other hand, some residents, like Don Harty, consciously chose to live further from the coast to avoid the potential effects of severe weather. Harty, who moved from New Hampshire to Maine three years ago, selected a home five miles inland in Kennebunk. Despite their cautious planning, Harty and his wife were still unable to walk along Beach Avenue on Wednesday due to standing floodwater.

Unfortunately, the coastal areas are set to face another bout of flooding this weekend. The National Weather Service predicts that a storm of similar strength to the previous one will bring coastal flooding around midday on Saturday. The areas that lost dune protection earlier in the week are even more vulnerable this time.

The York County Emergency Management Agency has issued a public notice warning coastal residents about an approaching weather system that will bring snow, rain, wind, and potential power outages along with flooding in low-lying properties starting from Friday night.

As residents continue to grapple with the increasingly volatile weather patterns and rising sea levels, the debate between preserving coastal traditions and adapting to a changing climate becomes more significant.