The hints that sea level rise and resulting water intrusion could have cause structural damage leading to the collapse of a high-rise condominium in Surfside, Florida, must be causing some sleepless nights for residents and owners associations in Honolulu’s many aging condominiums.

Of course, the cause of the Florida building’s collapse will likely take years to establish, but the release of prior engineering reports, and anecdotal reports of frequent flooding in the building’s basement parking area, are pointing fingers at water intrusion that eventually led to cracks in concrete, giving the water access to the internal rebar. Over time–the building is 40 years old–the damage could have been, well, catastrophic.

Some initial news reports following the Surfside disaster pointed to the possible role played by “frequent flooding in the building’s lower parking garage, including the possibility of water seeping up underneath through the porous limestone rock on which the barrier island sits that includes Surfside and Miami Beach.”

All in theory, of course. But most of Honolulu rests on multiple layers of that same porous limestone, and many of Oahu’s condominiums have been fighting flooding for years, including those in Waikiki, and across the Ala Wai along Kapiolani, where the water table has been rising. And then there’s Kakaako, of course.

Some may remember back in 1989, when a new Duty Free building was under construction in Waikiki. They foundation required excavating to a depth of 30 feet in an area where the water table was, at that time, just six feet below the surface. The contractor had to continuously pump water from the excavation as part of a massive dewatering operation prior to pouring the concrete foundation. And as they pumped, Waikiki began sinking. Buildings throughout the area, and along Kapiolani, reported damage from settling triggered by the dewatering. It brought public attention to the water not far below the surface throughout much of Honolulu.

And as sea level rises, the layer of brackish or fresh water floats on top of it, a process which accounts for much of what until now has been considered just “nuisance flooding” in many buildings, often in underground parking areas.

I know of one Kapiolani condominium that required major repairs after water began flooding into its elevator shafts during high tides or heavy rains, and another where persistent groundwater intrusion played havoc with underground equipment rooms, including electrical centers, and was believed to have damaged sewer lines running under the building. I’m sure these buildings are not alone. The gossip network between building managers and managing agents is likely loaded with other examples.

There are a slew of Honolulu buildings that have reached or are near the 40-year mark. Could cracks in concrete, and the resulting spalling, cause structural issues over time as these building continue to age, and water levels continue to rise? These concerns will obviously have to inform future long-range maintenance and repair plans for aging buildings, including shorter timelines for routine repairs, and ongoing testing of structural integrity of older buildings.

I’m surprised that Senate Bill 474, which was approved by legislators on the last full day of this year’s session, has received so little attention. The bill requires anyone selling real property to disclose if it is in an area exposed to likely effects of the predicted 3.2-foot rise in sea level over the next 30 years, just as sellers already have to disclose a property’s location in a flood zone.

An article in Pacific Business News this week was the only mention of the measure that I’ve seen in the media.

Anyone living along the ocean knows that sea level rise has already taken a toll, and will likely speed up in the years ahead. The state and counties are now planning for this future, even publishing detailed maps identifying specific areas most at risk. Some of this is the stuff of science fiction dystopia movies, but it doesn’t seem like the public is paying as much attention as the issue deserves.

It is now possible to look up specific parcels by their street address or tax map key using the State of Hawai?i Sea Level Rise Viewer. It’s not pretty. Our home appears to be safe outside of the predicted sea level rise zone, but lots of other parts of Honolulu aren’t so lucky.

Interestingly, the Hawaii Association of Realtors testified in favor of the measure’s mandatory disclosure provisions, and is already using an “Oceanfront Property Addendum” which is included in its standard purchase contracts.

“Climate Changes and Natural Hazards. Climate changes (including sea level rise) could affect properties in Hawaii, particularly those at the shoreline and in coastal areas. All properties in Hawaii are also subject to natural hazards such as: hurricanes, storms, earthquakes, tsunami, floods, landslides, etc. Buyer is advised to consult experts of Buyer’s choice regarding any questions concerning the effects of climate changes and natural hazards that may affect the Property. For more information, visit the Hawaii Climate Adaptation Portal (climateadaptation.hawaii.gov).”

Will this affect oceanfront property sales? I tend to doubt that it will, at least not yet. But it should inform future decisions about whether or not public resources should be used to bail out private property owners as they are hit by the impacts of sea level rise. I’m sorry, folks. You’ve been warned. When the inevitable arrives, you will be largely on your own.