The way the federal government analyzes intense rain events isn’t keeping up with the reality of climate change, and that has serious implications for infrastructure projects and the availability of, and rising cost of, flood insurance.
Severe rainstorms, sometimes described as “atmospheric rivers” or “torrential thunderstorms,” are making the concept of a “1-in-100-year flood event” obsolete, according to a report from First Street Foundation, an organization focused on weather risk research.
These events are occurring more frequently due to the impact of climate change, but federal rainfall analysis, managed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, isn’t keeping up with the new weather conditions, First Street says.
Half the people in the U.S. live in a county where a 1-in-100-year flood is at least twice as likely now as it had been in the past, coming once every 50 years instead of every 100 years. In some areas, a so-called “1-in-100-year” rainfall could now happen far more frequently—as often as every 5 to 10 years.
The outdated analysis has serious implications for the way infrastructure projects are initiated and designed. And, because FEMA’s federal flood insurance program greatly underrepresents the number of people that could fall into FEMA’s Special Flood Hazard Areas, millions of Americans may be unaware of their current flood risk.
Inaccurate flood risk data due to underestimating the impact of rainfall also impacts the cost and availability of flood insurance—this is especially true for property that isn’t close to the ocean or inland bodies of water.
The government is working to remedy the situation, though. NOAA, as reported by CNN, says it is working on a revamped approach to its rainfall analysis that is expected to be completed in 2027.
Related Stories
Codes and Standards | Oct 5, 2016
New York becomes the first city to adopt a target for energy storage
Mayor de Blasio also announces increased solar generation goals
Codes and Standards | Oct 4, 2016
New global residential floor space measurement standard unveiled
The new standards will produce better transparency and are said to benefit investors.
Codes and Standards | Sep 29, 2016
Dept. of Energy forecasts big jump in LED use, resulting energy savings
Big gains are expected in both commercial and residential markets.
Codes and Standards | Sep 28, 2016
San Francisco commercial, multifamily regulations aim to reduce traffic volume
City planners will require design features to cut miles driven.
Codes and Standards | Sep 28, 2016
Society of Landscape Architects releases guide to resilient design
The goal is to retrofit communities to better withstand extreme weather events.
Codes and Standards | Sep 26, 2016
Washington State Energy Code updates include dedicated outdoor air system requirements
The updates will change design approach to HVAC.
Codes and Standards | Sep 22, 2016
Construction firms pulling back from federal market due to new reporting rules
‘Subjective, very vague’ policies are said to create too much risk.
Codes and Standards | Sep 21, 2016
Airbnb presents legal liability for multifamily owners
How building owners can reduce risks.
Codes and Standards | Sep 21, 2016
Healthy buildings becoming a key design priority for both architects and building owners
Nationwide survey finds nearly three of four architects cite health impacts influencing design decisions
Data Centers | Sep 19, 2016
New ANSI/ASHRAE data center standard is performance-based, more flexible
The aim of the standard was to ‘not stifle innovation.’