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 | May 20, 2019
Effort launched to develop better process for zero-carbon retrofits in multifamily sector
Rocky Mountain Institute, Dept. of Energy, California Energy Commission join forces.
Codes and Standards | May 20, 2019
Property lenders shouldn’t invest for 30 years in most of Florida, expert warns
Climate ignorance driving some ‘insane’ deals.
Codes and Standards | May 17, 2019
NIMBYism is the biggest multifamily construction barrier
National Apartment Assn. report assesses reasons for difficulty in creating more apartments.
Codes and Standards | May 17, 2019
Dept. of Energy to award up to $33.5 million for advanced construction R&D
Focus is on techniques to reduce energy bills.
Codes and Standards | May 16, 2019
Mixed reviews on targeted tax break for San Francisco neighborhood
“Twitter tax break” may have worsened some of the area’s problems.
Codes and Standards | May 15, 2019
OSHA inspections to increase, says Secretary of Labor
Newly hired inspectors getting up to speed.
Codes and Standards | May 14, 2019
Database records more than 1,360 K-12 school shooting incidents since 1970
Naval Postgraduate School program maps locations nationwide.
Codes and Standards | May 13, 2019
In many cities, downtown housing comes with a hefty premium
Urban core living costs hundreds of thousands more in largest U.S. cities.
Codes and Standards | May 7, 2019
San Francisco plan would require largest commercial buildings to use 100% renewable electricity
First in the U.S. mandate would be phased in from 2022 to 2030.
Codes and Standards | May 7, 2019
ABC says best practices can improve construction companies’ safety by 680%
Daily ‘toolbox safety talks’ were most effective safety measures.