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report by the Department of Homeland Security’s Inspector General found that 58% of flood maps nationwide were either outdated or inaccurate.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
School Construction | Jul 11, 2016
Fight over school funding in Arizona headed to court
Legislature accused of ignoring 1994 ruling ordering state to pick up some of the costs.
Green Specifications | Jul 8, 2016
World Green Building Council sets goal of 100% net-zero buildings by 2050
All new buildings and major renovations to be net-zero by 2030.
Market Data | Jul 7, 2016
Airbnb alleged to worsen housing crunch in New York City
Allegedly removing thousands of housing units from market, driving up rents.
Urban Planning | Jul 7, 2016
Y Combinator project would build new city using new technology, urban policies
Zoning, property rights, building codes all could be re-imagined.
Green | Jul 6, 2016
U.S. healthcare system’s GHG emissions rise 30% in past decade
If U.S. healthcare were a country, it would rank 13th in GHG emissions.
Codes and Standards | Jul 5, 2016
State legislature fails to pass law to extend design-build for New York City projects
Would have allowed five city agencies to use alternate delivery method.
Energy | Jun 30, 2016
Energy Department partnership with CoStar Group will study sustainability impact on property valuation
Database will offer rich data set on energy-efficient buildings in the U.S.
Contractors | Jun 30, 2016
Chicago contractor found guilty of fraud on city’s requirement on minority-owned businesses
Alleged to have been sham business in bid to win city public works contract.
Codes and Standards | Jun 29, 2016
OSHA starts evaluation of construction industry noise standards
New studies indicate significant number of construction workers suffer hearing loss.
Seismic Design | Jun 28, 2016
ASTM International updates seismic risk standards
Expected to improve consistency of risk evaluation on commercial real estate transactions.