Most of Miami is barely five feet (1.5 meters) above sea level. Basements and underground garages are extremely rare because the water table is so high.
Just a century ago, Miami Beach was just a sandbar, with the ocean on one side and mangroves and swamps on the other. It was filled in during the early 20th century to make the area livable.
Rising sea levels are threatening to flood Miami. In fact, some scientists estimate that the entire city could be underwater by the end of the 21st century.