Flooding

Louisiana Flooding

This Is Climate Change: Eight 500-Year Storms Since May *2015

The extreme weather events predicted for decades by climate scientists have been on parade in the Southern United States all year. Are we ready to say, "this is climate change"?

August 17, 2016 - The New York Times

Rescue Efforts Underway as Southeast Louisiana Faces Historic Flooding

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards is describing the flooding in Southeast Louisiana as an "unprecedented and historic flooding event."

August 15, 2016 - The New Orleans Times-Picayune

Clear-Sky Flood

Welcome to a Changed Climate: It Even Floods When it's Sunny

A new report by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration documents the increasing frequency of nuisance floods and "clear-sky flooding."

June 11, 2016 - USA Today

New Orleans, Hurricane Katrina

New Flood Maps Downplay Risks in New Orleans

Recently released flood maps created by FEMA for the city of New Orleans are receiving criticism for being 'overly optimistic' when it comes to risks posed by hurricanes and rising sea levels.

June 3, 2016 - The New York Times

Downtown Houston

Opportunities for Urban Innovation in Houston

Kinder Institute director William Fulton discusses Houston's changing demographics and economic prospects. He sees the city as a place to pioneer and implement solutions to Sun Belt problems.

May 22, 2016 - Next City

Houston Bayou

Houston's Floods a Reminder of the Importance of Wetlands Protection

The executive director of the Bayou Land Conservancy takes to the pages of the Houston Chronicle to describe the conservationist and landscape-focused efforts that can prevent floods like those that struck Houston this week.

April 21, 2016 - Houston Chronicle

Paris, River Seine

Paris Prepares for the Worst With a Flood Drill

If the Seine rises to historic levels, Paris officials want to be ready. Earlier this month, an 11-day drill sought to prepare the city for what would happen if the Seine and Marne Rivers rose above their banks.

March 21, 2016 - The Independent (UK)

Shifting the Timeline of Hazard Mitigation Plans

South Carolina recently experienced the impacts of what was called a 1,000-year storm. The problem? The state experienced the same level of storm just 26 years ago, and can expect more of the same in the future.

October 20, 2015 - NRDC Switchboard

9 Dams Breached in South Carolina Flooding

The state of South Carolina is struggling to deal with a catastrophic sign that all of the warnings about the state of the nation's dams and bridges have gone unheeded for too long.

October 6, 2015 - CNN

Bridgeport Rail

Connecticut Shoreline Rail Vulnerable to Floods

Long stretches of Connecticut's "lifeblood" shoreline rail line lie in the path of rising seas and future floods. While moving the tracks further inland is prohibitively expensive, a resilience plan is still needed.

August 7, 2015 - The Connecticut Mirror

China Bridge

Chinese 'Sponge Cities' Will Capture Rainwater

Existing grey infrastructure in China cannot cope with rapid urban expansion and frequent droughts and floods. Several cities, with Beijing's approval, are experimenting with rainwater capture methods as an alternative.

July 13, 2015 - Environment & Energy Publishing (E&E)

Flooded Chicago River

Flooding Provides a Scare for Chicago's Two New Public Spaces

The damage could have been a lot worse, but surely flooding that temporarily closed down the Chicago Riverwalk and The 606 elevated bikeway will require additional evaluation by project planners and engineers.

June 16, 2015 - Curbed Chicago

Houston Stormwater Infrastructure Falls Short in Recent Flooding

Recent floods in Texas, especially prevalent in Houston, reflect a stormwater infrastructure that both worked as it's designed and is in need of improvements.

June 3, 2015 - Houston Chronicle

Subway Tunnel

Federal Dollars Still Erasing Sandy's Footprint

Subway restoration and resilience efforts depend for a large part on federal relief. South Ferry Station, still new when the storm hit, will basically be rebuilt from scratch.

April 9, 2015 - Second Ave. Sagas

United Nations: Hoboken a Role Model for Resilience

The United Nations is looking for cities to model best practices in resilience planning. Look no further than Hoboken, New Jersey.

March 6, 2015 - Next City

Report: Expect Regular Coastal Floods Within 15 Years

Climate change and rising seas will mean higher flood risks for cities. But when exactly will impactful flooding become a regular occurrence? New analysis by the Union of Concerned Scientists says that time is fast approaching.

October 17, 2014 - Climate Central

Boston to Require Developers to Detail Resilience Efforts

Hurricane Sandy served as a wake up call for many cities to the dangers of rising seas and more extreme storms. To prepare for these threats, officials in Boston have proposed zoning rules that would require developers to detail mitigation measures.

November 1, 2013 - The Boston Globe

Disaster or Dodged Bullet? Colorado Debates Environmental Impact of Floods

What was the extent of the environmental damage caused by leaking oil wells during September's flood? Turns out, it depends on whom you ask. Word from both government and the industry is that it was minimal, while environmental advocates disagree.

October 2, 2013 - The New York Times - U.S.

Rebuilding of Roads and Bridges are Key to Colorado Flood Recovery

This month's deluge resulted in damage or total destruction of "an estimated 200 miles of state highways and 50 bridges" in over 12 counties, estimated to cost $475 million. Contracts have been awarded for "initial work to be completed by Dec. 1".

September 30, 2013 - The Wall Street Journal - U.S. News

What is the Key to Improving New York City's Livability?

The candidates competing to emerge from today's mayoral primary confront a host of challenges that threaten the quality of life in the Big Apple. Five experts identify the issues they believe are key to improving the city's livability.

September 10, 2013 - The New York Times

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.

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