REHOBOTH BEACH, Del. - One flooding model shows former Vice President Joe Biden's North Shores home and others in the community completely underwater in 80 years. While some potential home buyers say they wouldn't invest in property that close to the water, local real estate agencies say climate change studies aren't negatively impacting sales.
According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, Biden's home and others in the community are at risk from flooding caused by climate change by 2045. This scenario assumes that continued rise in global carbon emissions and an increasing loss of land ice would cause global average sea level to rise 2 feet by 2045.
Aaron Daniels and Lisa Dezzutti have a home down the street from Biden. "We'll pass it on to our children and them to their children," says Daniels.
Coastal flooding studies do concern them but they don't expect to live to see the predictions through.
"That shouldn't be a reason we don't buy a home here," says Dezzutti. "Now we did raise our house."
A flooding model by Climate Central shows Biden's home completely underwater by 2100. From chopper 16 You can see The home is about half a mile from the coast. Adding to that, a 2013 study by Delaware's Sea Level Rise Advisory Committee and DNREC found that 8 to 11% of land statewide could be underwater by 2100.
"Beach front is real nice but maybe not so practical," says Darka Jordan.
Steve and Darka Jordan from Germantown, Md., would consider retiring here, but not near the water.
"It seems like it'd be a lot safer bet to be a little further inland," says Steve.
Broker and owner of Mann & Sons, Inc. Bob McVey doesn't see concerns like this reflected in beach house sales.
"We have not had any buyers or sellers that are showing concerns," he says. "I do not believe it is affecting our sales."
In a campaign video Biden mentions plans to keep coastal flooding at bay and prevent climate change predictions that would hinder coastal real estate from coming true.
In phone calls with WRDE, Bryce and Bill Lingo agree that climate change predictions aren't negatively impacting sales in Rehoboth Beach nor the North Shores community.
In a statement to WRDE, DNREC says: "Delaware, as the lowest-lying state, is already feeling the impacts of climate change. DNREC will continue to work with the US Army Corps of Engineers to protect the state’s shoreline and infrastructure."