City of Imperial Beach awarded first-ever grant to study innovative insurance protections from sea level rise

News: 2024 Press Release

IMPERIAL BEACH, Calif. — The City of Imperial Beach has received an $848,000 grant to develop flooding adaptation strategies to help better prepare residents for coastal flooding expected to intensify due to climate change. The grant was approved on Tuesday, June 4, by the California Ocean Protection Council, a state council charged with protecting California’s coast and ocean.

"Coastal flooding threatens our homes, businesses, and overall quality of life,” said Imperial Beach Mayor Paloma Aguirre. “This grant allows us to develop targeted strategies to adapt to rising sea levels and improve our community’s resilience, ensuring a safer, healthier, and more sustainable future for all our residents. Climate Change continues to be unmitigated, and as a frontline community, Imperial Beach needs to plan ahead to be resilient against sea level rise.”

“Extreme weather events disproportionately impact communities of color and underinvested areas like Imperial Beach, where sea-level rise and pollution are already evident,” said Nora Vargas, Chairwoman of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors. “This funding highlights the importance of seeking collaborative, innovative, and informed solutions through initiatives like the Community Resilience District. By working together with other cities and regional partners, we can effectively address the adverse economic impacts of climate events on our communities."

“Imperial Beach is taking critical steps to protect its community from the devastating impacts of coastal flooding and pollution,” added Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara. “By making the most of these funds, we are addressing immediate risks and setting a precedent for innovative insurance solutions and climate resilience financing, This collaborative effort will serve as a model for other communities facing similar challenges.”

The newly awarded funds will enable the City to create a road map to guide the development of future coastal resiliency projects in a coordinated effort between the City of Imperial Beach, federal, State and local agencies, landowners, and the public.

One of the strategies that the City will explore is the use of innovative insurance approaches, with support from the Department of Insurance. The idea for using insurance to protect people before a flood comes from the Department’s groundbreaking 2021 report on climate insurance.

Imperial Beach is surrounded on three sides by water and currently experiences coastal flooding. Because of its location at the mouth of the Tijuana River, the City has a long history of severe pollution impacts, which affect beach water quality, health of residents, and recreational opportunities along the coast. The beach is regularly closed due to toxic contamination of the waters from Mexico, which flow through the City and contaminate the entire shoreline of Imperial Beach. The pollution has greatly affected the City’s economic development. Projected sea level rise threatens to exacerbate coastal flooding over time and has the potential to overwhelm large areas of the City should appropriate measures not be taken.

The award builds on and leverages previous funds the City received from the National Fish and Wildlife Federation to perform substantial community and agency engagement to understand local concerns about coastal flooding.

“Protecting communities and ecosystems against the threats of sea level rise requires proactive planning and innovation solutions,” said California Ocean Protection Council Executive Director Jenn Eckerle. “This investment will help the City of Imperial Beach identify adaptation priorities that will safeguard people and nature.”

"Scripps Institution of Oceanography is proud to collaborate with Imperial Beach on this crucial initiative," said Tom Corringham, Economist at Scripps Institution of Oceanography. "Our expertise in understanding coastal dynamics and flood risks will be instrumental in developing effective, nature-based adaptation strategies. This partnership underscores our commitment to applying cutting-edge science to protect communities and enhance resilience against the growing threats of climate change."

"The Ocean Science Trust is excited to support Imperial Beach in this innovative endeavor,’ said Dr. Liz Whiteman, Executive Director of the California Ocean Science Trust. “By combining scientific research with practical adaptation strategies, we aim to provide the city with the tools necessary to tackle the pressing challenges of sea level rise and coastal flooding. This project will serve as a model for other coastal communities facing similar threats.”

Two critical components of the grant address financing and insuring coastal flooding adaptation strategies. First, the City will collaborate with the Department of Insurance and Scripps institution of Oceanography to understand the risk and exposure associated with coastal flooding and implementation of nature-based flood adaptation strategies. The team will explore gaps in insurance, cost of action and inaction, and development of parametric insurance products to reduce risk. These actions derive from suggestions included in the Climate Insurance Working Group Report.

Second, the City will develop a framework to establish a climate resilience financing district to fund projects addressing flooding in the community. Commissioner Lara sponsored SB 852 (Dodd) to enable the development of climate resilience districts.

This groundbreaking grant from the California Ocean Protection Council, with support from the California Department of Insurance, marks a significant step toward developing comprehensive strategies to address the multifaceted challenges posed by sea level rise and pollution. Through collaboration with state, federal, and local agencies, as well as leading scientific institutions, Imperial Beach aims to build a sustainable and secure future for all its residents.  

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