Environmental and planning groups have petitioned the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to update flood maps, set tougher standards for floodplain construction, and prepare for climate change.
The groups noted that the National Flood Insurance Program, managed by FEMA, has paid more than $69 billion in flood insurance claims since 1973, with half of that total disbursed in the last dozen years. The spike in claims is part of the reason the insurance program is more than $20 billion in debt, the petition says.
Development continues on floodplains, while areas at risk of inundation expand due to sea level rise, the petition says. The problem is particularly in acute in Louisiana, Texas, and in coastal regions of the Northeast.
The group also asks for more help for homeowners seeking to cut flood risks, and for FEMA to require all new or substantially improved buildings in floodplains to be raised above the 100-year flood level.
Related Stories
Resiliency | Jun 1, 2016
Federal agencies boost standards for more resilient construction
HUD, FEMA, GSA, Army Corps of Engineers make policy changes.
Green | May 31, 2016
Miami Beach requires developers to meet green standards or pay a fee
Applies to structures larger than 7,000 sf.
Codes and Standards | May 27, 2016
Better enforcement needed for successful implementation of energy efficiency policies
Commercial buildings the focus of recent code initiatives.
Codes and Standards | May 25, 2016
LEED Dynamic is worth the effort, says commercial real estate executive
San Diego office tower is California’s first office building to receive LEED Dynamic plaque in recertification.
Codes and Standards | May 24, 2016
Ontario planning to spend $7 billion on wide-ranging climate change plan
Includes financial incentives to retrofit buildings.
Codes and Standards | May 23, 2016
Facility managers say Internet of Things, analytics will impact maintenance soon
More reliable data needed for optimal results from the technology.
Codes and Standards | May 20, 2016
Industry leaders call for wider use of bamboo as a building material
Benefits include seismic resiliency and sustainability.
Codes and Standards | May 19, 2016
Asphalt roofing group publishes updated shingle installation guide
Technical manual provides best practices for roofing professionals.
Codes and Standards | May 16, 2016
EPA proposes new stormwater discharge regulations for construction sites
Would apply to sites of one or more acres.
Roofing | May 16, 2016
New guide focused on increasing energy and structural performance with raised-heel trusses
Higher trusses simplify attic ventilation, leave more space for insulation.
