From the beach to the river, Folly Beach has always lived with water. From beach nourishment and drainage work to building codes and seawalls, the work of responding to flooding, storms, and sea level rise is our top priority. Without a coordinated regional state and federal effort, Folly could suffer the very real consequences of sea level rise.
The City of Folly Beach, nicknamed The Edge of America, is the closest beach to Charleston, South Carolina. It has been a vacation destination for Charleston residents for over a century, but today is home to 2,600 residents and over 1 million visitors every year.
Led by Mayor Tim Goodwin, the City has been studying flooding, drainage, and beach erosion for many years. The City is south of the Charleston Harbor jetties, which leads to substantial beach erosion, and the City must now contend with increased tidal flooding from the Folly River on the back side of the island. The City recently conducted a comprehensive Sea Level Rise study to determine the potential impacts of an additional 2’ of sea level rise on the homes, roads, bridges, and infrastructure.
