Co-escrito por Ilissa Ocko. Los efectos tangibles del cambio climático provocado por el hombre son cada vez más visibles. Un estudio reciente, encontró por ejemplo, que la temporada de huracanes 2017 fue más intensa como resultado de nuestro clima cambiante. Limitar los niveles de calentamiento global es esencial para frenar los impactos futuros del cambio […]

The post Seis aportes del nuevo informe sobre el clima appeared first on Climate 411.

Co-escrito por Ilissa Ocko. Los efectos tangibles del cambio climático provocado por el hombre son cada vez más visibles. Un estudio reciente, encontró por ejemplo, que la temporada de huracanes 2017 fue más intensa como resultado de nuestro clima cambiante. Limitar los niveles de calentamiento global es esencial para frenar los impactos futuros del cambio […]

Co-authored by Ilissa Ocko. Haz click aquí para leer en español. The tangible effects of human-induced climate change are increasingly visible. A recent study, for example, found that the 2017 hurricane season was more intense as a result of our changing climate. Limiting global warming levels is essential to curbing the future impacts of climate change, but how […]

The post Six takeaways from the new climate report appeared first on Climate 411.

Co-authored by Ilissa Ocko. Haz click aquí para leer en español. The tangible effects of human-induced climate change are increasingly visible. A recent study, for example, found that the 2017 hurricane season was more intense as a result of our changing climate. Limiting global warming levels is essential to curbing the future impacts of climate change, but how […]

Co-authored by Ilissa Ocko. Haz click aquí para leer en español. The tangible effects of human-induced climate change are increasingly visible. A recent study, for example, found that the 2017 hurricane season was more intense as a result of our changing climate. Limiting global warming levels is essential to curbing the future impacts of climate change, but how […]

3 actions the government can take today to lessen the damage of future floods

Another devastating hurricane, another bill for American taxpayers: The tally from Hurricane Florence may go as high as $22 billion, according to Moody’s, placing it in the top 10 category for damages.

We can either continue down this path, or make a collective reevaluation of how we manage risk. It means we must revisit the myriad of local, state and federal laws and policies that guide how we cope with storms in our changing climate. And it means we must challenge long-held assumptions.

The time may be just right. Congress just passed a bipartisan bill to reform the Federal Emergency Management Agency that includes funding to help communities better prepare for disaster. It signals that lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are open to solutions.

Here are three initial, common-sense and nonpartisan actions the Trump administration and Congress can take to strengthen America’s resilience against floods, which kill more Americans than any other disaster and cost us billions annually. All are doable and necessary.

1. Make FEMA’s flood maps accurate

Let’s start with the maps. FEMA’s maps are developed to establish annual flood insurance rates for properties, but are also used to guide local decisions on development.

Unfortunately, the agency’s maps today fail to capture the true extent of river, rainfall and storm flooding, a recent report found. In particular, they miss risks associated with smaller streams, which are often where development of residential and commercial properties occurs.

Plus, the maps are based on historic events and the past is no longer a good forecaster of future conditions in our rapidly changing climate. Making things worse, they’re not updated frequently enough to reflect the effects of recent extreme weather.

This means FEMA’s maps woefully underestimate the number of Americans who are exposed to a “100-year flood event” – which actually has about a 26-percent probability of occurring during a 30-year mortgage.

Privatizing flood mapping may be a solution if federal standards can establish that findings are readily available, methods transparent, updates occur far more rapidly and localized map revisions are possible. Either way, nobody can argue against the fact that we need better maps to guide development. 

2. Reward states that reduce risks

Higher standards for siting, designing and constructing projects reduce risks of loss of life and property from floods and represent an important step in proactively managing increasing flood risks associated with more intense storms and sea level rise.  

On one hand, FEMA recognizes higher state standards as a method to reduce risk and rewards areas with better standards with discounts to flood insurance premiums. When the federal government is sharing the cost of a project with a local sponsor, however, that sponsor has to pay any additional costs for building the project to their higher flood risk management standards.

This sends the wrong message and is a problem that can easily be fixed. The federal government can share the costs of superior local requirements, a solution that should appeal to members of both parties.

3. Emphasize risk reduction benefits

Recovery spending should emphasize actions that help communities become more resilient to future floods. Greater funding is needed for FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, for example. It helps communities prevent flood vulnerabilities such as undersized culverts, and to elevate buildings to reduce flood damage.

Far more could be done to look at how other federal decisions can mitigate flooding. The White House Council on Environmental Quality could organize such an effort.

Federal agencies can also look at protection and restoration of habitats that lessen the impacts of floods. Healthy forests absorb rainfall and slow its flow into streams, wetlands lower flood heights and velocity, and dunes provide protective barriers to waves.

Through wetland loss, the Houston area lost roughly 4 billion gallons worth of flood retention. If North Carolina [PDF] had not lost about half of its wetlands, flooding from Hurricane Florence would probably have been less damaging in some areas.

The risk reduction benefits provided by habitats should be formally recognized in federal policy, while policies that erode protection of wetlands and floodplains should be reconsidered.   

Water respects no political boundaries, and given the expanding landscape of flood risk, every agency needs to step up and find solutions that preserve floodplain functions and protect our economy and citizens.

Is it doable? Most certainly. Can it be bipartisan? You bet.

How 300 farmers are saving NYC billions krives October 8, 2018 - 10:44

See comments

All the actions here will not solve the situation the Good USA Requires, what is needed are freshwater grid, a power grid-like distribution network, but for freshwater instead of power, using the Mississippi (or any lake) as a temporary “holding tank.”

[It will be] a water backbone utilizing high-volume water at low discharge pressure axial flow propeller pumps, to dump in it flash flood water from hurricanes, storms etc from miles away. [We can] micro-monitor and route water as required, using this freshwater grid for states that need Water the most: California, Nevada, Colorado, Texas etc. — places where water is needed desperately.

Instead of investing billions in useless projects that solves nothing, with a moment’s notice, axial flow propeller pumps can move from 500 to 1,000,000 GPM, sucking-up the extra water in matters of minutes or hours [while] preventing very expensive flash floods and stagnant water that damages houses and cause billions in insurance losses, not to mention loss of life and environmental damage.

These pumps can be solar-powered and have thousands of dark fibers installed alongside on American aluminum pipelines with no rust. Built using American labor, the dark fiber [along with] the freshwater will provide an additional source of income to states, counties and cities.

I do not understand why America with all its wisdom and brain power can’t use this solution. FEMA should be in the business of preventing disasters, which is a hell of a lot cheaper that repairing flood-damaged houses, roads, churches, farms etc. — not to mention poor, defenseless animals and birds.

TITO M SANDOVAL October 9, 2018 at 2:17 am

Good comments!! I would add that building in coastal areas at risk of high tides/flooding need oversight of plans prior to issuing permit to construct .
Piles supporting an elevated slab must be considered.

James October 21, 2018 at 10:57 am

In reply to All the actions here will… by TITO M SANDOVAL

This solution is not practical. Although you mention axial flow, there's still line losses and elevation head to overcome. At a reasonable 20 psi head pressure, a 1,000,000 GPM pump would require more than 15,000 HP and more than 11,000 KW of electrical power. You mentioned solar power...it's rare the the sun is shining when it's raining, and that's especially true at night. So the storage of that much Elec power (batteries) would be monumental, and commercial power would require a new substation to power that load. That being said, your overall idea of a comprehensive water management program is a good idea.

Brian November 1, 2018 at 9:59 am

In reply to All the actions here will… by TITO M SANDOVAL

These seemingly simple tasks can and must be done, on a non-partisan basis, to start the ball rolling toward developing a sensible approach to handling flooding. It’s time to take the first step now!

Sue E. Dean October 9, 2018 at 4:27 pm

Flood maps are outdated; the stormwater management of DuPage County [Ilinois] is a joke. Politicians allow developers to overbuild so they can increase the tax base to the detriment of the existing community. [They all] run on a flood plain promise, but as soon as they are elected they start raising funds to stay in power.

CN Avella October 10, 2018 at 4:43 pm

We need to position ourselves better for the future climate to minimize our future loss. These measures will lower future FEMA expenditures as well as helping to lower loss of homes, businesses, infrastructure — and most importantly — human life.

Lyn Hecker October 12, 2018 at 6:39 am

These suggestions make so much sense. Now Congress needs to exhibit some good sense and implement them.

Jan Samet O'Leary October 12, 2018 at 8:32 pm

How about phasing out National Flood Insurance, altogether, with a goal of zero federal taxpayer support for flood insurance, by 2080?

Any economist will tell you that the property values of water-front and low-lying properties are increased, in direct proportion to the number of federal and state dollars that allow insurance to be provided to people who would not, otherwise, be able to recover from catastrophic losses, as a result of flooding.

Absent subsidies, values of higher-elevation properties would increase, and values of waterfront properties would decrease. Laws would have to be changed to prevent hotels from springing up, operating until a flood hits, and then dissolving — leaving wreckage, but no demolition or clean-up funds.

During the transition period, the government could “take on” some part of the cost of moving businesses from low-lying or waterfront areas to higher-elevation areas. Or [it can] place those monies into escrow accounts that would help clear the wreckage that’s left when a business that would not or could not move to higher ground, flooded and “went under.” In my opinion, the EDF would do well to examine the events associated with the Mike-Espy-era Mississippi River floods [1990s], and the G.W. Bush-era flooding in New Orleans and Texas 9Hurricanes Katrina and Rita).

Giving attention to claims made against Brad Pitt — or whoever the celebrity is, who built environmentally-naive housing in New Orleans, only to see it ruined by the climate and lack of maintenance — might inform EDF’s policy recommendations, also. Best wishes, Larry Powers.

Larry Powers October 13, 2018 at 7:23 pm

We must do better in re-mapping flood zones and do what we can to protect areas from flooding.

Jane Jones k October 18, 2018 at 10:49 pm

Build a house on the train tracks and eventually the train comes. There has been massive development along the Gulf Coast since the last storms. Where a storm would basically do nothing there is now wanton destruction. Also our records only go back 150 years. It is the utmost arrogance to assume the storms we see are the strongest ever. We are ignoring millions of years of history.

Bendix20 October 19, 2018 at 8:35 pm

While there should be and could be a team dedicated to solving these solutions, to these horrific situations, there never will be. There are thousands of patriotic Americans that are brilliant in their fields and have great wisdom that could shine bright light on situations like such, unfortunately they will never be shined upon.

The simple reality is that currency does and always will rule all avenues of life. Has anyone checked on how much is the cost to die; most of us who live paycheck to paycheck could not afford to die without fear of putting our family on the streets. The grim reality is that the insurance companies, the real estate investors, construction companies and top officials stand to lose money if these problems were solved. The best I can say is make sure that you take care of your family the best you know how, and always be prepared for the worst.

No one else will watch out for you better. God Bless America.

Anthony M Diaz October 20, 2018 at 1:54 pm

These suggestions seem reasonable for new developments. However, many homes and towns already exist in flood-prone areas. Generally, these are low-income towns. That is, flood-prone areas have cheaper land values, and as such attract those with less means. Simply re-categorizing existing communities as more flood-prone would only serve to raise insurance premiums, and in turn cause many to not purchase insurance.

It seems the only time to address flood prone areas is after they have been flooded and the re-building starts. FEMA and local governments should offer reasonable buy-outs to those areas to create buffer flood zones around rivers and low lying areas.

Zack63 October 25, 2018 at 10:30 am

Sand dams for increased water in arid and semi-arid areas will increase small-scale farming, enable tree growing and raise the water table, which will enable trees and pastures to regrow. This will reduce the effect of climate change [and] increased periods of drought.

Andrew musila silu December 4, 2018 at 11:59 am

The simplest thing to do would be to eliminate the Federal Flood Insurance Program or make it a ONE TIME payout per property.
Once the government pays out on a property Federal Flood insurance would NEVER be available on that property again.
If someone is dumb enough to build in a high risk area the taxpayers should not be a party to that happening again.
If people had to get private insurance on a high risk property they would think twice about building there.

Wayne Tarapilli December 24, 2018 at 9:52 am

3 actions the government can take today to lessen the damage of future floods

Another devastating hurricane, another bill for American taxpayers: The tally from Hurricane Florence may go as high as $22 billion, according to Moody’s, placing it in the top 10 category for damages.

We can either continue down this path, or make a collective reevaluation of how we manage risk. It means we must revisit the myriad of local, state and federal laws and policies that guide how we cope with storms in our changing climate. And it means we must challenge long-held assumptions.

The time may be just right. Congress just passed a bipartisan bill to reform the Federal Emergency Management Agency that includes funding to help communities better prepare for disaster. It signals that lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are open to solutions.

Here are three initial, common-sense and nonpartisan actions the Trump administration and Congress can take to strengthen America’s resilience against floods, which kill more Americans than any other disaster and cost us billions annually. All are doable and necessary.

1. Make FEMA’s flood maps accurate

Let’s start with the maps. FEMA’s maps are developed to establish annual flood insurance rates for properties, but are also used to guide local decisions on development.

Unfortunately, the agency’s maps today fail to capture the true extent of river, rainfall and storm flooding, a recent report found. In particular, they miss risks associated with smaller streams, which are often where development of residential and commercial properties occurs.

Plus, the maps are based on historic events and the past is no longer a good forecaster of future conditions in our rapidly changing climate. Making things worse, they’re not updated frequently enough to reflect the effects of recent extreme weather.

This means FEMA’s maps woefully underestimate the number of Americans who are exposed to a “100-year flood event” – which actually has about a 26-percent probability of occurring during a 30-year mortgage.

Privatizing flood mapping may be a solution if federal standards can establish that findings are readily available, methods transparent, updates occur far more rapidly and localized map revisions are possible. Either way, nobody can argue against the fact that we need better maps to guide development. 

2. Reward states that reduce risks

Higher standards for siting, designing and constructing projects reduce risks of loss of life and property from floods and represent an important step in proactively managing increasing flood risks associated with more intense storms and sea level rise.  

On one hand, FEMA recognizes higher state standards as a method to reduce risk and rewards areas with better standards with discounts to flood insurance premiums. When the federal government is sharing the cost of a project with a local sponsor, however, that sponsor has to pay any additional costs for building the project to their higher flood risk management standards.

This sends the wrong message and is a problem that can easily be fixed. The federal government can share the costs of superior local requirements, a solution that should appeal to members of both parties.

3. Emphasize risk reduction benefits

Recovery spending should emphasize actions that help communities become more resilient to future floods. Greater funding is needed for FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, for example. It helps communities prevent flood vulnerabilities such as undersized culverts, and to elevate buildings to reduce flood damage.

Far more could be done to look at how other federal decisions can mitigate flooding. The White House Council on Environmental Quality could organize such an effort.

Federal agencies can also look at protection and restoration of habitats that lessen the impacts of floods. Healthy forests absorb rainfall and slow its flow into streams, wetlands lower flood heights and velocity, and dunes provide protective barriers to waves.

Through wetland loss, the Houston area lost roughly 4 billion gallons worth of flood retention. If North Carolina [PDF] had not lost about half of its wetlands, flooding from Hurricane Florence would probably have been less damaging in some areas.

The risk reduction benefits provided by habitats should be formally recognized in federal policy, while policies that erode protection of wetlands and floodplains should be reconsidered.   

Water respects no political boundaries, and given the expanding landscape of flood risk, every agency needs to step up and find solutions that preserve floodplain functions and protect our economy and citizens.

Is it doable? Most certainly. Can it be bipartisan? You bet.

How 300 farmers are saving NYC billions krives October 8, 2018 - 10:44

See comments

All the actions here will not solve the situation the Good USA Requires, what is needed are freshwater grid, a power grid-like distribution network, but for freshwater instead of power, using the Mississippi (or any lake) as a temporary “holding tank.”

[It will be] a water backbone utilizing high-volume water at low discharge pressure axial flow propeller pumps, to dump in it flash flood water from hurricanes, storms etc from miles away. [We can] micro-monitor and route water as required, using this freshwater grid for states that need Water the most: California, Nevada, Colorado, Texas etc. — places where water is needed desperately.

Instead of investing billions in useless projects that solves nothing, with a moment’s notice, axial flow propeller pumps can move from 500 to 1,000,000 GPM, sucking-up the extra water in matters of minutes or hours [while] preventing very expensive flash floods and stagnant water that damages houses and cause billions in insurance losses, not to mention loss of life and environmental damage.

These pumps can be solar-powered and have thousands of dark fibers installed alongside on American aluminum pipelines with no rust. Built using American labor, the dark fiber [along with] the freshwater will provide an additional source of income to states, counties and cities.

I do not understand why America with all its wisdom and brain power can’t use this solution. FEMA should be in the business of preventing disasters, which is a hell of a lot cheaper that repairing flood-damaged houses, roads, churches, farms etc. — not to mention poor, defenseless animals and birds.

TITO M SANDOVAL October 9, 2018 at 2:17 am

Good comments!! I would add that building in coastal areas at risk of high tides/flooding need oversight of plans prior to issuing permit to construct .
Piles supporting an elevated slab must be considered.

James October 21, 2018 at 10:57 am

In reply to All the actions here will… by TITO M SANDOVAL

This solution is not practical. Although you mention axial flow, there's still line losses and elevation head to overcome. At a reasonable 20 psi head pressure, a 1,000,000 GPM pump would require more than 15,000 HP and more than 11,000 KW of electrical power. You mentioned solar power...it's rare the the sun is shining when it's raining, and that's especially true at night. So the storage of that much Elec power (batteries) would be monumental, and commercial power would require a new substation to power that load. That being said, your overall idea of a comprehensive water management program is a good idea.

Brian November 1, 2018 at 9:59 am

In reply to All the actions here will… by TITO M SANDOVAL

These seemingly simple tasks can and must be done, on a non-partisan basis, to start the ball rolling toward developing a sensible approach to handling flooding. It’s time to take the first step now!

Sue E. Dean October 9, 2018 at 4:27 pm

Flood maps are outdated; the stormwater management of DuPage County [Ilinois] is a joke. Politicians allow developers to overbuild so they can increase the tax base to the detriment of the existing community. [They all] run on a flood plain promise, but as soon as they are elected they start raising funds to stay in power.

CN Avella October 10, 2018 at 4:43 pm

We need to position ourselves better for the future climate to minimize our future loss. These measures will lower future FEMA expenditures as well as helping to lower loss of homes, businesses, infrastructure — and most importantly — human life.

Lyn Hecker October 12, 2018 at 6:39 am

These suggestions make so much sense. Now Congress needs to exhibit some good sense and implement them.

Jan Samet O'Leary October 12, 2018 at 8:32 pm

How about phasing out National Flood Insurance, altogether, with a goal of zero federal taxpayer support for flood insurance, by 2080?

Any economist will tell you that the property values of water-front and low-lying properties are increased, in direct proportion to the number of federal and state dollars that allow insurance to be provided to people who would not, otherwise, be able to recover from catastrophic losses, as a result of flooding.

Absent subsidies, values of higher-elevation properties would increase, and values of waterfront properties would decrease. Laws would have to be changed to prevent hotels from springing up, operating until a flood hits, and then dissolving — leaving wreckage, but no demolition or clean-up funds.

During the transition period, the government could “take on” some part of the cost of moving businesses from low-lying or waterfront areas to higher-elevation areas. Or [it can] place those monies into escrow accounts that would help clear the wreckage that’s left when a business that would not or could not move to higher ground, flooded and “went under.” In my opinion, the EDF would do well to examine the events associated with the Mike-Espy-era Mississippi River floods [1990s], and the G.W. Bush-era flooding in New Orleans and Texas 9Hurricanes Katrina and Rita).

Giving attention to claims made against Brad Pitt — or whoever the celebrity is, who built environmentally-naive housing in New Orleans, only to see it ruined by the climate and lack of maintenance — might inform EDF’s policy recommendations, also. Best wishes, Larry Powers.

Larry Powers October 13, 2018 at 7:23 pm

We must do better in re-mapping flood zones and do what we can to protect areas from flooding.

Jane Jones k October 18, 2018 at 10:49 pm

Build a house on the train tracks and eventually the train comes. There has been massive development along the Gulf Coast since the last storms. Where a storm would basically do nothing there is now wanton destruction. Also our records only go back 150 years. It is the utmost arrogance to assume the storms we see are the strongest ever. We are ignoring millions of years of history.

Bendix20 October 19, 2018 at 8:35 pm

While there should be and could be a team dedicated to solving these solutions, to these horrific situations, there never will be. There are thousands of patriotic Americans that are brilliant in their fields and have great wisdom that could shine bright light on situations like such, unfortunately they will never be shined upon.

The simple reality is that currency does and always will rule all avenues of life. Has anyone checked on how much is the cost to die; most of us who live paycheck to paycheck could not afford to die without fear of putting our family on the streets. The grim reality is that the insurance companies, the real estate investors, construction companies and top officials stand to lose money if these problems were solved. The best I can say is make sure that you take care of your family the best you know how, and always be prepared for the worst.

No one else will watch out for you better. God Bless America.

Anthony M Diaz October 20, 2018 at 1:54 pm

These suggestions seem reasonable for new developments. However, many homes and towns already exist in flood-prone areas. Generally, these are low-income towns. That is, flood-prone areas have cheaper land values, and as such attract those with less means. Simply re-categorizing existing communities as more flood-prone would only serve to raise insurance premiums, and in turn cause many to not purchase insurance.

It seems the only time to address flood prone areas is after they have been flooded and the re-building starts. FEMA and local governments should offer reasonable buy-outs to those areas to create buffer flood zones around rivers and low lying areas.

Zack63 October 25, 2018 at 10:30 am

Sand dams for increased water in arid and semi-arid areas will increase small-scale farming, enable tree growing and raise the water table, which will enable trees and pastures to regrow. This will reduce the effect of climate change [and] increased periods of drought.

Andrew musila silu December 4, 2018 at 11:59 am

The simplest thing to do would be to eliminate the Federal Flood Insurance Program or make it a ONE TIME payout per property.
Once the government pays out on a property Federal Flood insurance would NEVER be available on that property again.
If someone is dumb enough to build in a high risk area the taxpayers should not be a party to that happening again.
If people had to get private insurance on a high risk property they would think twice about building there.

Wayne Tarapilli December 24, 2018 at 9:52 am

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released today a special report that details the dramatic consequences of current and future climate change, and identifies the benefits of limiting global warming as much as possible.

Trump Administration Attacks Life-Saving Mercury and Air Toxics Standards

El nuevo informe científico confirma la necesidad urgente de reducir la contaminación climática

Texas’ two largest natural gas electricity generators are pressing state officials to implement a self-serving policy change that would significantly impact how wholesale electricity is priced in Texas. Calpine Corporation and NRG Energy are pushing for “marginal losses” – a way of accounting for electricity that is lost on transmission lines as it moves from […]

EDF and Health Advocates Prevail: FDA Bans Seven Cancer-Causing Flavorings

The Trump EPA announced plans to roll back the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, another working, life-saving policy that nobody actually wants to get rid of except Trump, Acting EPA Administrator Wheeler and their polluter friends. DOF. C3. Regional.

The Trump EPA announced plans to roll back the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, another working, life-saving policy that nobody actually wants to get rid of except Trump, Acting EPA Administrator Wheeler and their polluter friends. DOF. C3. Regional.