I am researching the contrasting approaches taken by two global port cities - Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and the Hampton Roads region in VIrginia - to address the common threat of sea-level rise. Rotterdam and other Dutch coastal cities have centuries of water management experience and, since the North Sea storm of 1953, have aggressively sought to weather-proof themselves. The Netherlands has empowered Dutch cities to reduce their vulnerability and increase their resilience. The Hampton Roads area (Chesapeake Bay) faces a similar threat of extreme weather storm surges and flooding. In contrast to the Netherlands, the Virginian coastal cities have largely ignored this threat and the state is reluctant to delegate authority and provide resources. I am particularly interested in understanding the political institutions that influence these behaviors.