Continued Development in Floodplains Contributing to Increase Risks

Researchers from the University of North Carolina have published a new study shedding light on communities continuing to develop in flood-prone areas despite efforts designed to reduce risks like buyouts, elevated structures, and upgraded infrastructure. The findings have important implications given that the increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events.

The study found “more than ten new residences have been built in the state’s 100-year floodplains for every residence removed through government buyouts.” While many communities did have buyout programs for houses in risky areas as part of flood risk management programs, the team determined communities did not put the same level of effort into restricting future development in those same areas. The scale of new construction on floodplains was much larger than expected, highlighting the limitations of risk management programs that do not address climate risks with a multipronged approach. Read more at the Journal of the American Planning Association.