On Feb. 12, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report on extreme weather events and how the Federal government can limit its financial risk, especially in light of climate change. According to the report, the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), creates significant “fiscal exposure.” In 2012, [...]
President Barack Obama announced his 2015 budget on March 4, calling for a $1 billion climate resilience fund. The fund would support adaptation efforts as well as research and technology that improves community preparedness for extreme weather events, such as drought and flooding. According to the White House, the $1 billion price tag is small [...]
Canada’s insured loss totaled $3.2 billion (US$2.88 billion) in 2013, the highest in the country’s history, reports the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC). The losses of 2013 came after four consecutive years of natural disaster losses for the insurance industry that hit the $1 billion (US$900 million) mark. The largest insured disaster – and Canada’s [...]
Con Edison, the energy utility for metropolitan New York, is taking measures to make its systems more storm resistant under a rate-setting agreement with New York officials. The company will invest $1 billion over the next four years in storm and climate change protection measures while maintaining its commitment to greener communities. Con Edison is [...]
On Oct. 23, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 3080, the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2013, with a 417 to 3 vote. H.R. 3080 is now in conference to resolve the differences between it and Senate bill S. 601, passed in May. If the final bill is approved by the president, this [...]
On Oct. 29, the 1-year anniversary of Hurricane Sandy, Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell announced a $100 million Hurricane Sandy Coastal Resiliency Competitive Grant Program. The program will fund the research and restoration of natural areas along the Atlantic Coast for improved storm resiliency. The grant program will be administered through the National Fish [...]
Damages caused by flooding could cost cities an annual $1 trillion worldwide if mitigation efforts are not taken, according to the article, “Future Flood Losses in Major Coastal Cities,” in Nature: Climate Change. New Orleans, Boston, New York City, and two Florida cities (Miami and Tampa-St. Petersburg) were among the 20 cities most at risk [...]
On Sept. 6, Greater New Orleans, Inc., a regional economic development alliance, released their urban water plan. The goal is to reduce flooding and subsidence while increasing the quality of life for area residents through efficient and aesthetically pleasing designs. The Greater New Orleans Urban Water Plan was funded by a $2.5 million Community Development [...]
The Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT) — a Chicago-based nonprofit — is hosting the National Urban Flooding Forum during the Water Environment Federation’s Stormwater Congress. A CNT survey of 30 major cities in the Great Lakes region shows that all surveyed cities are affected by urban flooding caused by rain overwhelming drainage systems and waterways. [...]
On Aug. 13, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn signed SB 1869 in Orland Park, an area that is leading the way in sustainable stormwater infrastructure. The legislation recognizes the effectiveness of new stormwater management practices and gives municipalities greater flexibility to build and invest in green infrastructure and other innovative approaches. The law expands the list [...]
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