All articles tagged with #flood risk
New satellite mapping using InSAR reveals that 40 major river deltas are sinking about 4 mm per year, faster than global sea level rise, increasing flood and saltwater intrusion risks for roughly 236 million people; mitigation focuses on reducing groundwater pumping and employing managed aquifer recharge.
Recent storms have highlighted the vulnerabilities of aging U.S. levee systems, which were often built informally and are now underfunded and outdated, increasing the risk of catastrophic flooding, especially for disadvantaged communities, amid more extreme weather caused by climate change.
Multiple tropical systems, including remnants of hurricanes Priscilla and Octave and a developing storm off Mexico, are causing a prolonged flood threat in the Desert Southwest, with Arizona facing a potential major flood risk by the end of the week.
A new tropical storm, potentially impacting the US Southeast by Monday or Tuesday, is forming in the Atlantic alongside Hurricane Humberto, which is rapidly intensifying and may influence Imelda's path. The Carolinas are most at risk for landfall, with threats of heavy rain, flooding, storm surge, and coastal erosion across the Eastern seaboard. Residents should stay alert as the situation develops.
Minnesota faces ongoing flash flooding threats as additional storms are expected to bring heavy rain and strong winds, especially impacting areas already saturated from previous storms, including the Twin Cities and central Minnesota, with potential for significant rainfall through Monday.
FEMA's outdated flood maps often overestimate flood risks, leading to frequent appeals and adjustments that tend to shrink flood zones, especially in wealthier areas, potentially incentivizing risk negotiation. New advanced mapping tools incorporating climate models and high-resolution data are being developed to better predict and manage flood risks amid increasing climate-related weather extremes.
The recent devastating floods in Texas highlight the increasing frequency and severity of such disasters driven by climate change, inadequate warning systems, and risky development in flood-prone areas, emphasizing the urgent need for better planning and restrictions to prevent future tragedies.
Experts recommend parents ask camp operators about measures to mitigate heat, flood, and wildfire risks, including infrastructure, emergency plans, and environmental monitoring, especially given the lack of comprehensive federal regulation and increasing climate-related hazards.
US regulators reportedly removed Camp Mystic buildings from official flood risk maps before a deadly flood in July 2022, raising concerns about the accuracy of flood risk assessments and the safety of the camp, which lost 27 children in the disaster. The maps initially designated the area as high risk, but appeals led to exemptions, despite some cabins being within hazardous flood zones. The incident has prompted questions about flood warning systems and safety regulations.
The article reports that FEMA repeatedly granted appeals to remove Camp Mystic's buildings from its 100-year flood map, potentially reducing oversight and flood insurance requirements, despite the camp's location in a high-risk floodplain. The camp expanded after exemptions were granted, and the recent severe floodwaters caused significant damage and loss of life, raising concerns about the adequacy of flood risk assessments and regulations.
Camp Mystic's cabins, built in flood-prone areas along the Guadalupe River, were inundated during a severe flood on July 4, resulting in the deaths of at least 27 children and staff. Despite longstanding awareness of flood risks and regulations against construction in floodways, new cabins were built in hazardous zones, highlighting failures in risk management and planning. The tragedy underscores the need for better flood risk assessment and relocation of vulnerable structures, especially those housing children.
Despite weather models indicating a high risk of heavy rainfall, with potential for 10 to 20 inches of rain in Central Texas, the National Weather Service's forecast underestimated the rainfall, highlighting a gap between model predictions and official forecasts during the July 4th floods.
The article warns that President Trump's proposed budget cuts to NOAA and related agencies could significantly degrade weather forecasting and disaster warning systems, potentially leading to more severe impacts from natural disasters like floods, as staffing and technological capabilities are reduced, risking lives and property.
FEMA flood risk maps reveal that over a dozen summer camps along the Guadalupe River in Kerr County, Texas, are located in high-risk flood zones, highlighting potential dangers of severe flooding in the area.
Kerr County in Texas considered implementing modern flood warning systems like sirens and water gauges after previous floods threatening youth camps, but ultimately rejected the idea due to cost concerns, relying instead on word-of-mouth warnings.