September 15, 2025

While deadly flood events like Tropical Storm Chantal provide sobering reminders of the dangers of extreme flooding, flooding always poses risks to human health and safety. Floodwaters can block streets and damage homes. Floodwaters also contain dangerous bacteria and other contaminants.

As part of their broader work on extreme weather, including extreme heat, the Climate Research and Engagement team has been collaborating with community organizations and academic researchers to engage communities to learn more about the lived experience of flooding and find approaches to improve flood resilience.

Much of this work takes our staff hours away from the Museum’s grounds to talk to communities on the coast. The Sunny Day Flooding Project, which includes researchers at UNC-Chapel Hill, NC State University, and the University of Hawai’i, is a national project focused on tidal flooding in coastal communities. Over the past year, the Museum’s Climate Team led community engagement workshops and listening sessions to hear about community members’ experiences with flooding and what they would like to do to improve flood resilience.

On July 22, Max Cawley, Director of Climate Research and Engagement, along with Katherine Anarde (NC State University), Thomas Telen (NC State University), and Miyuki Hino (UNC-Chapel Hill) presented the findings of their work to the Carolina Beach Town Council in Carolina Beach, NC. You can watch the full meeting recording here.

Flooding is increasingly common in urban areas as well. Durham’s aging infrastructure makes the city especially vulnerable to flooding as changing weather patterns favor heavier rainfall. The Museum — which sits along Ellerbe Creek — is collaborating with Merrick Moore CDC and the Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association (ECWA) on a project focused on urban flooding in Durham.

Flooding doesn’t affect everyone in Durham equally; some neighborhoods deal with chronic flooding, while others deal with floods only during very heavy rains. The City of Durham recently created an option for community members to report flooding through its One Call system. Stormwater officials use these flood reports to set priorities for where to place infrastructural improvements. However, not everyone knows how to use this system, which raises concerns that flooding may be underreported in the communities that are the most heavily affected by it.

Flooding is a growing problem for North Carolinians here in Durham and across the state. Through the work of the Climate Research and Engagement Team, the Museum of Life and Science is helping communities and researchers come together to find solutions.