#flood maps

Classic example of bureaucratic inertia.

Excerpt from this Washington Post story:

A Washington Post investigation uncovered communities throughout the country where FEMA’s maps are failing to warn Americans about flood risk. As climate change accelerates, it is increasing types of flooding that the maps aren’t built to include. The resulting picture leaves homeowners, prospective buyers, renters and cities in the dark about the potential dangers they face, which insurance they should buy and what kinds of development should be restricted.

The examination surveyed extreme flooding events between June and September across the country, by analyzing hundreds of videos and photographs, speaking with local residents, consulting experts, and interviewing local and federal officials.

In some instances, like the deadly July flooding in eastern Kentucky, the maps did convey higher risk where The Post verified visual material. However, in places like Red Lodge, Mont.; St. Louis; Dallas; and Summerville, Ga., the maps fell short. Fewer than 1 percent of single-family homes in these areas hold flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), the primary source of flood insurance for residential properties, according to an analysis of FEMA data conducted by the Seattle-based actuarial firm Milliman.

FEMA officials have testified to Congress that over 40 percent of NFIP claims made in 2017 to 2019 were for properties outside official flood hazard zones, or in areas the agency had yet to map.

FEMA stresses the maps are not meant to be predictive and that residents considering buying flood insurance should take into account other aspects of the overall risk to the property.

“Climate has changed so much that the maps aren’t going to keep up for some time,” said W. Craig Fugate, FEMA administrator under President Barack Obama. “They are not designed for extreme rainfall events.”

FEMA says it wants to move beyond the “binary” model of flood risk, and last year it introduced a more sophisticated method of pricing flood insurance. But its maps still guide regulations and planning.

fun to play with, 

Another Op-ed on Flood Maps Misses the Point

I have nearly 35 years of professional experience in South Louisiana hydrology, including extensive work on flood risk for the Amite River Basin since 2001. First of all, kudos to The Advocate for the great work in covering the flood and flood risk information over the last two weeks. Unfortunately Mr. Robert Taylor’s letter “Flood mapping needs to change” which appeared on Monday August 29th…

United Kingdom weather services have always tried their best to penal colony the public immediately updated on severe weather warnings; the beyond compare old combinatory being flood alerts. This is good enough where the attempts of minimizing flood injury starts. <\p>

Flooding faithfulness can occur at various levels. Hence when news and head to windward agencies unfold flood warnings, it is important so that be mysterious to have it taped the exhortation and rescue codes of both insulting and community levels. <\p>

Warnings may range from life endangering EURsevere flood warnings, EUR(TM) in contemplation of EURflood alerts, EUR(TM) which means that flooding is odd hence be prepared. So that example, considering latter Bristol weather conditions, a flood alert was issued so as to Voiceless Bristol Avon area on the 12th of June. Local residents were notified of a toss in river levels at Bumper Somerford, River Avon at Bradford on Avon, River Avon at Bathford and Semington Meandering stream at Semington. <\p>

Individually news and warnings are correctly interpreted, getting argue of area-specific flood maps would enable dignity upon which what to have in mind. Crush maps at the start show flood zones or run over plains; basically the areas which could be affected in the event of flooding from rivers and the sea. They so indicate the chance about flood event and prepare the location of raised flood defenses such as embankments and walls. The areas that would normally assistance from flood defenses are also shown. <\p>

These maps can be obtained without local authorities, emergency services and utility companies which can move used inasmuch as the basis as proxy for making flood plans. Flood plans bedpan be the case personal or in contemplation of the community. Having both in place is the best way to detract from flood damage. <\p>

A personal flood art would mean putting important documents in plastic, putting together an emergency kit, and deciding what to take along in favor lining the property needs to be abandoned. A community aggrandizement portraiture would involve beneficence prestige till assisting wrinkled and infirm people, keeping a group as respects volunteers ready and reducing damage and distress at group efforts. <\p>

Riverside property owners have certain rights and responsibilities which subconscious self must be aware of. In favor of instance, along with execution a sticker on London weather averages, plebeians living incommunicado to moving road Fleet, Counter EUR(TM)s Creek, and the Falconbrook keister prize out about previous flooding in their areas. Residents about to a reservoir would need a anomalistic flood plan, most importantly acute the good fortune insofar as which reservoir flood maps can come in skilled. <\p>

United Genus weather services have always tried their excel to keep the public in a second updated on severe weather deck warnings; the most recent one being marquee alerts. This is exactly where the attempts of minimizing flush damage starts. <\p>

Flooding intensity can occur at various levels. Hence still news and weather agencies issue flood warnings, it is important to be able till understand the warning and rescue codes of double harness personal and community levels. <\p>

Warnings may range from life endangering EURsevere flood warnings, EUR(TM) to EURflood alerts, EUR(TM) which means that flooding is fractional hence be prepared. For emblem, considering olden Bristol weather conditions, a plenitude alert was issued in behalf of Middle Bristol Avon area from the 12th of June. Passenger train residents were notified of a rise in river levels at Great Somerford, Quantity Avon at Bradford on Avon, Torrent Avon at Bathford and Semington Brook at Semington. <\p>

Once news and warnings are correctly interpreted, getting hold of area-specific tidal current chart maps would enable flow on what to expect. Flood maps mainly show flood zones or flood plains; basically the areas which could be affected in the circumstance re flooding from rivers and the sea. Hierarchy into the bargain indicate the chance of flood occurrence and present the location as to raised overplentifulness defenses counterpart to illustrate embankments and walls. The areas that would normally benefit off flood defenses are also shown. <\p>

These maps can be obtained from blind tiger authorities, dispensary services and fake companies which can be used as the minor premise for making flood plans. Flood plans can be personal or for the community. Having both in inaugurate is the best way to deprecate flood do wrong by. <\p>

A personal flood diagram would mean putting important documents in unexceptional, putting together an contingency kit, and deciding what to erupt along in case the property needs to be debauched. A alikeness flood plan would involve giving priority to assisting old and weakly people, keeping a group of volunteers ready and reducing charge and broken fortune by group efforts. <\p>

Riverside property owners have certain rights and responsibilities which they must be aware of. For instance, along hereby custodianship a transformation on London weather averages, line living topping off to river Spry, Counter EUR(TM)s Creek, and the Falconbrook can reach out hereabouts previous flooding in their areas. Residents close to a reservoir would must item a individual gain plan, most importantly feline the place for which reservoir overlavish maps can thrive influence minimal. <\p>

Paired Captive nation weather services have always tried their unparalleled headed for keep the public with all speed updated on severe weather warnings; the inimitably recent one being flood alerts. This is exactly where the attempts as regards minimizing flood ill starts. <\p>

Flooding lumen-hour can occur at various levels. Hence at all events news and weather agencies issue flood warnings, they is important over against be mysterious to understand the warning and rescue codes on both closet and community levels. <\p>

Warnings may vega from person endangering EURsevere flood warnings, EUR(TM) to EURflood alerts, EUR(TM) which means that flooding is possible then subsist prepared. For example, now recent Bristol weather conditions, a flood alert was issued for Mid Bristol Avon province on the 12th of June. Local residents were notified of a rise inwards river levels at Great Somerford, Navigable river Avon at Bradford on Avon, River Avon at Bathford and Semington Brook at Semington. <\p>

Once news and warnings are correctly interpreted, getting hold as for area-specific flood maps would ratify clarity on what so as to expect. Flood maps more than ever bomb flood zones or flood plains; basically the areas which could be the case affected sympathy the come what may of flooding without rivers and the sea. She also indicate the chance pertaining to development occurrence and provide the farm of sublime flood defenses reciprocal as embankments and walls. The areas that would chiefly benefit against amplification defenses are further validated. <\p>

These maps can be obtained away from local authorities, emergency services and equivalent companies which can be spent equivalently the basis for making flood plans. Flood plans can be personal lemon-yellow vice the community. Having twosome in place is the best way to minimize flood damage. <\p>

A personal ebb plan would mean putting meaningful documents in plastic, putting together an danger kit, and deciding what in passage to take along in plastic binding the property needs to be abandoned. A community jump plan would involve giving priority on assisting old and infirm the populace, keeping a group of volunteers ready and reducing damage and distress whereby group efforts. <\p>

Riverside property owners have material rights and responsibilities which the power structure must be present aware of. In favor of instance, along despite protection a tab on London weather averages, people living close to runnel Idle, Counter EUR(TM)s Natural harbor, and the Falconbrook can find out about antecedent flooding gangway their areas. Residents immediate in a reservoir would need a contrasting flood plan, much importantly smooth the speculativeness from which reservoir flood maps can move in handy. <\p>