A lack of a coordinated regulatory environment for development and a failure to adequately warn residents of potential flooding dangers made flood impact worse from Hurricane Harvey, according to a new report.
The report by Colorado nonprofit ISET-International, the American Red Cross Global Disaster Preparedness Center, and Switzerland-based Zurich Insurance, also recommended making flood insurance more appealing to home and business owners. The report precedes an August election that will ask voters to approve $2.5 billion in bonds for flood control projects.
Hurricane Harvey made landfall last August as a Category 4 hurricane and caused an estimated $125 billion in damage in Texas. Thousands of homes in the Houston area were damaged.
The report cited numerous steps that could have been taken in the years before Harvey that would have reduced the impact of flooding from area reservoirs. These included not allowing homes to be built in the surrounding floodways and giving adequate disclosures about flooding risks to home buyers.
Related Stories
Codes and Standards | Jan 16, 2018
Engage code officials early for better building performance, predictable enforcement expectations
White paper says code officials should be collaborators and facilitators.
Codes and Standards | Jan 12, 2018
Arlington County, Va., earns first LEED for Communities Platinum Certification
Honor recognizes efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, manage stormwater.
Codes and Standards | Jan 11, 2018
TRUE Zero Waste provides roadmap to divert waste away from landfills
USGBC program signs on more than 130 companies or facilities for certification.
Codes and Standards | Jan 10, 2018
Sliding-scale proposal for civil damages resulting from construction fatalities, injuries draws ire of trades
New York City Council proposal puts limits on penalties for safety violations leading to death, serious injury.
Codes and Standards | Jan 9, 2018
Federal appeals court orders EPA to revise lead standard within a year
Current exposure levels for lead in paint and dust have been in place for 17 years.
Codes and Standards | Jan 5, 2018
Building code officials should vet building product evaluation methods
Evaluation service providers should be properly accredited.
Codes and Standards | Jan 4, 2018
U.S. military needs to do more to address climate change risk for facility design
GAO report cites hundreds of overseas facilities in peril.
Codes and Standards | Jan 3, 2018
China Construction America faces billions of dollars in liability in lawsuit
Court filing alleges massive fraud and breaches of contract in Baha Mar Resort Project.
Codes and Standards | Jan 2, 2018
Smart building tech can reap utility savings of 8% to 18% in commercial buildings
Potential for increased deployment of smart building technology is great beyond early adopters.
Reconstruction & Renovation | Dec 21, 2017
Interactive map includes detailed information on historic New York City buildings
The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission launched a new, enhanced version of its interactive map, Discover NYC Landmarks.
