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"?
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."

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."

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.

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.

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.

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.
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.
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.

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.

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.

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.
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.

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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".
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.
Pagination
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