Hurricanes and Nor’easters are major hazards that face the coastal communities of Massachusetts. As pressure from coastal development increases, less-intense storms that occur more regularly and sea level rise will lead to costly flooding and erosion damage. Educating and preparing youth for these kinds of coastal hazards is important to help keep them safe in dangerous storm events. NOAA’s Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve offsite link, located on Cape Cod, has developed a series of educational programs in an effort to tackle these issues and help coastal communities better prepare for coastal hazards.
![STEM Academy Middle School 8th grade students using measuring poles and levels to determine the location of the hypothetical high tide line given projected one and two meter increases in sea level to their local beach on Cape Cod. (Image credit: Amy Ferreira/STEM Academy Middle School) STEM Academy Middle School 8th grade students using measuring poles and levels to determine the location of the hypothetical high tide line given projected one and two meter increases in sea level to their local beach on Cape Cod.](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_width_1275/public/legacy/image/2019/Jun/wbnerr_fy16_coastalhazardslesson.jpg?itok=fbJYQ4fR)
STEM Academy Middle School 8th grade students using measuring poles and levels to determine the location of the hypothetical high tide line given projected one and two meter increases in sea level to their local beach on Cape Cod. (Image credit: Amy Ferreira/STEM Academy Middle School)