January Advisors’ Post

https://lnkd.in/g4gyn-_P A major challenge comes from the lack of accurate understanding of flood risk. Better maps result in better protected people. Even though better, more accurate, maps may result in short term challenges and costs, these benefits are weighed in lives and homes not lost due to better knowledge and higher standards.

Accurate maps are crucial in emergencies and natural disasters. Maps can be updated by adding development and infrastructure changes, as well as considering variables such as climate change and land development. Texas A&M's Institute for Disaster Resilient Texas is one of the organizations working to update Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) and other maps that can help mitigate disasters such as floods and landslides. https://lnkd.in/gmmVMVVw #Sustainability #Maps #DisasterPreparedness

90% of all natural disasters in the United States involve flooding, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (#FEMA). Floods have multiple sources beyond isolated weather events like #heavyrainfall. Melting ice entering a home or business can cause a flood, as can a dam or levee failure. Sadly, southern MN and surrounding areas are feeling the effects of major flooding. Three *scary* truths about flood insurance: 1. A standard homeowner's insurance policy does not provide #flood coverage. 2. You cannot depend on disaster assistance. You only get assistance when the impact is declared a #disaster. Since less than 50 percent of "floods" are declared disasters, most flood victims are on their own. 3. Paying for flood insurance is less expensive than paying back a disaster loan. Homeowners need to consider their #coverage considerations carefully with their trusted risk advisor. Partner with our team to determine your exposures, limits, and comfort with deductibles. Preparation now could impact recovery later. #mmapcs #floodcoverage #mankatoflooding #prepare

Excellent article by Christopher Flavelle in this morning's NYT. It nicely sums up the problems flooding causes throughout the U.S. and our complicated relationship with water - living next to it, wanting to be around it, and what happens when it goes where it wants to go, regardless of our efforts. Time is coming (and sooner that any of us want to readily admit) that we will need to start looking at land and asking the toughest of questions, "Should we really be building or rebuilding there?" From the article, quoting ASFPM chief Chad Berginnis, CFM, "Berginnis suggests a fourth option for flood protection: In especially high-risk areas, stop building new homes." Wise words, if we have the ears to hear them.

Great to see FEMA starting to proactively address the reality of our changing climate. "Under the new rule, the agency will “integrate current and future changes in flooding based on climate science” when it estimates flood risk, factoring in sea level rise and intensified erosion that will get worse over the course of the century." And requiring riverine areas to rebuild above the 500-year floodplain. Bravo! A great step forward, and hopefully not the last. #climatechange #planning #resilience

Hi can the US gird against more extreme flooding? Governing magazine cited a vital consideration: we don’t have statewide or national watershed system models, just FEMA floodplain models. #USinfrastructure #communityplanning #HurricaneHelene #waterinfrastructure

Excellent article portraying how FEMA flood maps currently used to assess flood risk are woefully lacking and outdated, and many peoole located outside these floodplains are at high risk of flooding. GCCDD is taking a close look at the development standards that we use to judge flood risk to make sure we are using standards that address these shortfalls and reflect the true risks of flooding in our jurisdiction. https://lnkd.in/gr2cvNaV

Nice article, Karl: short and direct. Increasing flooding losses are not rocket science: more people and structures being built in vulnerable creations + climate change impacts = more frequent and severe flooding damages. Kudos to Chad Berginnis for being so succinct as to why these combined trends continue: human irrationality and elections. If we can overcome some of our irrational traits in thinking about disasters, as summed up, for example, in the book "The Ostrich Paradox: Why We Underprepare for Disasters," that might help us learn the hard truths necessary for us to stop increasing the frequency and scale of flooding disasters. And then maybe we could find our way to supporting politicians that understand these difficult realities and the hard policy choices required.

This is an excellent article portraying how FEMA flood maps currently used to assess flood risk are woefully lacking and outdated, and many people located outside these floodplains are at high risk of flooding. GCCDD is taking a close look at the development standards that we use to judge flood risk to make sure we are using standards that address these shortfalls and reflect the true risks of flooding in our jurisdiction. https://lnkd.in/gr2cvNaV

With recent world events, our latest blog is more pertinent than ever. FEMA’s new Federal Flood Risk Management Standard marks a major shift from disaster recovery to resilience! Communities rebuilding with FEMA funds must now use science-backed plans to address future flood risks, including climate change. While upfront costs may be higher, every dollar spent on mitigation saves $6 in future recovery costs. This forward-thinking approach also highlights the importance of retrofitting buildings for flood resilience to protect against future disasters. Learn more about this vital change and its impact on our nation’s infrastructure: https://ow.ly/4y6o50TzCHz #RetrofitMagazine #Retrofit #FEMA #FloodResilience #DisasterMitigation #BuildingRetrofit #ClimatePreparedness