Association of State Floodplain Managers, Inc. (ASFPM)

NRDC released a study today that found home buyers can incur hundreds of thousands of dollars in flood damage if they unknowingly purchase a previously flooded home. The study, conducted by the actuarial and risk management firm Milliman, estimates the costs due to flooding that a buyer in one of 25 states may incur over the life of their mortgage and how those costs may increase as climate change makes flooding more likely.  According to the study, over a typical 30-year mortgage, the average buyer of a previously flooded home could incur more than $55,000 in flood damages and potentially as high as $283,000 in the case of Connecticut.   Many Americans who are about to make one of the biggest financial investments of their lives have zero knowledge of whether a house has flooded and is likely to flood again. The findings in the report underscore the need for strong real estate disclosure laws that require a seller to inform a buyer about a property’s flood history and risk would help address this problem. https://lnkd.in/eR7JDfKK

New interactive dashboard from FEMA provides a detailed view of BRIC & Flood Mitigation Assistance obligations across the nation. https://lnkd.in/g2kcYNqf

Due to the timing of its release just before the holidays, this report by the US Joint Economic Committee may have gone under the radar but we don’t have to look far to see a housing market that’s under pressure as wildfires, hurricanes and floods become more frequent and destructive. Not only are these disasters causing physical damage, but they’re also driving up insurance premiums, leaving many homeowners underinsured—or without insurance at all.

In Ashland County, WI, severe flooding in 2016 highlighted the need for smarter flood mitigation strategies. The Marengo River Watershed Project, led by ASFPM and Wisconsin Wetlands Association, showcases the power of wetlands in reducing flood risks and supporting habitat health. The overall goals of this research were: 1️⃣ develop new methods to help characterize where the loss of wetland and floodplain storage and connectivity has occurred, and evaluate how improved restoration of storage and connectivity affects streamflow and provides opportunities to reduce downstream flood risks using nature-based solutions (NBS); and 2️⃣ develop a transferrable and replicable process and strategy that can benefit other impaired watersheds around the Great Lakes region and possibly beyond. 🔗 Learn more and access the interactive map and final assessment: https://lnkd.in/gxtjdRNi

In an effort to streamline funding requirements following a disaster, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has published in the Federal Register a “Universal Notice” that outlines the requirements for Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funding after a qualifying presidential disaster declaration. It explains the steps, timelines, and any exceptions that will guide the use of these funds for disaster recovery. https://lnkd.in/gqGia72j

Flood risk for extreme storm events doubles with just 2 to 4 inches of sea level rise, “and therefore, in the coming decades, hurricanes will likely cause more severe impacts than in the recent past for coastal North Carolina,” according to the study. Read more at Coastal Review, coastalreview.org.

⏰ The clock is ticking! Nominations for the 2025 ASFPM Awards close Jan. 24, 2025. Don’t miss your chance to recognize the outstanding individuals, agencies, and organizations making a difference in flood risk management. 🏆 Winners will be honored at our Annual Conference in New Orleans! Review the categories and nominate someone today => https://lnkd.in/g7Bddwz

As climate change intensifies, flooding is emerging as a threat for homes not previously seen as high-risk. Some residents are responding by lifting up their homes. Read this unlocked article from the New York Times: Flood-Soaked Homeowners Face a Costly Choice: Raise or Raze https://lnkd.in/gyb7xtME

Two congressional reports make clear that, with increasingly frequent hurricanes, floods, and fires, "the model of insurance as it stands right now isn't working." https://lnkd.in/eMTh3QbU

In new research from Natural Hazards Center, Yang Zhang analyzed floodplain ordinances in five Virginia communities and then developed the Flood Risk Reduction Framework to describe the three main approaches to flood risk reduction: 1️⃣ Reducing flood hazard; 2️⃣ Limiting development exposure; and 3️⃣ Reducing vulnerability Read more about his findings and recommendations:  https://lnkd.in/garDY9qP