Flooding

North Carolina Outer Banks Cape Hatteras National Seashore

Working With Nature, Not Against It

The concept of ‘natural capital’ calls on policymakers to consider the value of natural infrastructure, which can often improve climate resilience without expensive construction projects.

March 22, 2023 - Scientific American

Sandbags in a flood with flooded buildings in background

U.S. Houses Facing Increased Flood Risk Overvalued by as Much as $237 Billion, Study Says

Housing markets are failing to price in climate risks in their assessment of housing values, according to a recent study published by Nature.

March 3, 2023 - Nature

San Francisco, California

The High Cost of Climate Disasters

Extreme weather events in the United States cost $165 billion and killed more than 474 people last year.

January 11, 2023 - Bloomberg Green

Tidal flooding at Brickell Bay Drive and 12 Street, Downtown Miami

Florida Home Insurance Prices Increasingly a Burden for Residents

Climate change is coming for the state of Florida, and it’s already showing up in the insurance market.

December 29, 2022 - Miami Herald

Aerial view of San Gabriel River where it meets the ocean in Long Beach, California

L.A. County Calls for Flood Control Improvements

Recently revealed estimates put far more people in the region at risk for catastrophic flooding than previously thought.

December 8, 2022 - Los Angeles Times

Sandwich sign with "Flooded" and "CIty of Los Angeles Dept of Rec and Parks" sits in ground near orange traffic cone

The True Scale of Flood Hazard Facing Los Angeles

New research sheds light on how L.A.’s aging and poorly maintained infrastructure is putting hundreds of thousands more residents in flood hazard zones than previously estimated.

November 2, 2022 - The New York Times

Aerial view of East Boston shoreline

Study To Assess Climate Mitigation Options for East Boston

A grant-funded research team will evaluate solutions for shoring up the area’s flood protection strategies and improving access and service on the Blue Line for local residents.

October 4, 2022 - Streetsblog Massachusetts

The Pearl River floods with brown near downtown Jackson, Mississippi.

Costs to Fix Jackson's Water System Estimated at $1 Billion

Planning and funding are both in dire need in Jackson, Mississippi. The question is who should be in charge of all the planning and funding.

September 28, 2022 - Mississippi Free Press

Floodwaters and damaged road in Yellowstone National Park

How the Yellowstone Floods Laid Bare a Housing Crisis

This year’s historic floods ravaged communities already roiled by spiking housing costs and a shortage of available workforce housing near the nation’s oldest national park.

September 23, 2022 - High Country News

Aerial view of Flagstaff, Arizona at sunset

Where Floods Follow Wildfires

Neighborhoods not previously at risk of flooding face new challenges as burn scars from recent fires leave them vulnerable to floods.

September 14, 2022 - Arizona Public Radio

Harvey Floods Houston

Access to Flood Risk Data Shifts Homebuyer Behavior

With climate risks threatening more communities, providing clear, accessible risk information to potential homebuyers can help households make informed decisions and inform local resiliency efforts.

September 12, 2022 - Redfin

The Pearl River floods with brown near downtown Jackson, Mississippi.

Water Supply Failure in Jackson, Mississippi

A catastrophic failure of the water supply in Jackson is leaving state and local officials scrambling to deliver clean water to some 180,000 residents of the state’s capital.

August 30, 2022 - Mississippi Free Press

Flooding at the Whitehall Street station, New York

How Extreme Weather Threatens Transit Systems

As weather events become more intense and unpredictable, transit agencies must take steps to protect their aging infrastructure from flooding, storms, and extreme heat.

August 18, 2022 - Next City

Sandbags in a flood with flooded buildings in background

Infrastructure Must Catch Up With Climate Change

The worsening effects of extreme weather events are accelerating the deterioration of critical infrastructure, leaving communities more vulnerable.

August 4, 2022 - Axios

Rendering of tiered park with trees and benches at Battery Place

In Battery Park City, Public Infrastructure Meets Climate Resilience

A massive project underway in Lower Manhattan seeks to protect the shoreline from future flooding and mitigate the effects of climate change and rising sea levels.

August 1, 2022 - Bloomberg CityLab

Floodplain

FEMA Flood Mitigation Initiative Will Pay Homeowners To Move

The Swift Current grant program will distribute $60 million to homeowners in high-risk counties to help pay for flood mitigation measures or relocation.

March 24, 2022 - Grist

Rendering of Arverne East development

Net Zero Development Coming to New York City

The project, which relies largely on geothermal energy to minimize its carbon footprint, will bring affordable housing and boost storm resilience to an area devastated by Hurricane Sandy.

March 11, 2022 - Bloomberg CityLab

Wastewater California

Wastewater System Upgrade Plans Already Out of Date

Some Midwest cities' plans to upgrade decades-old sewer systems rely on outdated rainfall predictions as flood risks grow due to climate change and shifting weather patterns.

March 10, 2022 - Grist

 The remains of a mobile home park in Sylmar, California. 480 of the park's 600 mobile homes were burned in the Sayre Fire in November 2008.

Rental Housing at Risk From Environmental Hazards

From wildfires to hurricanes, environmental risks pose a threat to around 40 percent of U.S. rental units.

March 10, 2022 - Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University

New York City

Opinion: One Solution to Manhattan's Land Shortage: Just Build It

A New York Times op-ed calls on the city to add landfill development on Manhattan's southern shoreline, claiming it would increase affordability and protect the city from rising sea levels.

January 23, 2022 - The New York Times

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Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.