North Carolina officials will not rely on FEMA to identify high-risk flood zones.
Instead, the state will strive to compile its own data. Officials say FEMA maps have not been updated quickly enough based on recent experience. As proof, they say that more than 77% of homes damaged by Hurricane Matthew in 2016 were not located in federally designated flood zones.
When a home is rebuilt after suffering storm damage, state officials are going beyond a federal block grant program requirement that homes be elevated two feet above FEMA’s base flood elevation. They are using the high-water mark that inspectors find in the home as the point from which the home is raised two feet.
A 2017 report by the Department of Homeland Security’s Inspector General found that 58% of flood maps nationwide were either outdated or inaccurate. At least 22 states and hundreds of local communities already require new construction to be elevated higher than federal requirements, according to the Weather Channel.
Related Stories
Codes and Standards | Dec 11, 2018
Strict seismic building codes credited with minimizing damage in Alaskan earthquake
Magnitude 7.0 temblor cracked roads and collapsed road ramps, but buildings held up well.
Codes and Standards | Dec 7, 2018
Florida tops ABC’s 2018 Merit Shop Scorecard rankings
Michigan rose fastest after passing prevailing wage law.
Codes and Standards | Dec 6, 2018
North American steel yields lower GHG emissions than Chinese steel
North American construction steel saves about half of GHG emissions on building project.
Codes and Standards | Dec 5, 2018
Canadian retailer builds net-zero stores
Other chains also boost green efforts with PVs, EV charging stations.
Codes and Standards | Dec 4, 2018
Action on building codes would spur low-carbon cities
Faster retrofit cycles, increased energy-efficiency requirements for existing buildings needed.
Codes and Standards | Nov 30, 2018
Best solution to prevent California wildfire disasters: Stop building in places likely to burn
Approach would be unpopular as people attracted to stunning wooded landscapes.
Codes and Standards | Nov 29, 2018
USGBC and BRE form partnership
Two green standards groups will collaborate on standards, platforms, and research.
Codes and Standards | Nov 29, 2018
Parking garages in N.Y. State will have to be inspected every three years
Professional engineer must assess conditions.
Codes and Standards | Nov 28, 2018
To build water-efficient cities, water managers and urban planners must coordinate better
Lack of time and resources, and practitioners not in habit of working together hamper efforts.
Codes and Standards | Nov 27, 2018
AAMA updates specification for roller assemblies in sliding doors, and lift and slide doors
Last update was in 2015.
