“Obama’s plan, executive order No. 13690, mandates that all federally funded projects located in a floodplain be built higher and stronger than previously required. It is the first update to the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard since the policy was created 38 years ago. It applies to both new construction and rebuilding following a disaster.”

News from WetlandsWatch.org:

The new policy is contained in an executive order issued by President Obama in January that says federal actions (think projects funded directly or in part by the federal government = highways, airports, military bases) have to take future flood risks into account.

The Executive order from January 2015:
FACT SHEET: Taking Action to Protect Communities and Reduce the Cost of Future Flood Disasters

More than 50 percent of Americans live in coastal counties, where key infrastructure and evacuation routes are increasingly vulnerable to impacts like higher sea levels, storm surges, and flooding.

News about Executive Order green lighted by Congress in recent omnibus bill:

Under Obama’s executive order, buildings must now be elevated 2 or 3 feet above the 100-year flood level (the higher standard is for “critical” infrastructure, like hospitals), or at the 500-year flood level. A third option is for federal agencies to analyze future climate change scenarios and build according to those projections, such as for sea level rise or expected heavier rain events.

Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS) at FEMA.gov:

FEMA, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and Housing and Urban Development (HUD) have produced fact sheets in response to several frequently asked questions regarding the intended scope of the President’s Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS) and the anticipated impacts to many of the programs of these agencies.

2 thoughts on ““Obama’s plan, executive order No. 13690, mandates that all federally funded projects located in a floodplain be built higher and stronger than previously required. It is the first update to the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard since the policy was created 38 years ago. It applies to both new construction and rebuilding following a disaster.””

He needs to learn to mind his own business….

I believe the impacts of Sea-Level Rise and global warming will be evident in more intense hurricanes and flooding events. Our cities need to address this flooding in their building codes or we will take more damage. The increases in our property’s FEMA Flood Insurance rates will continue to go up. If you don’t think that is an issue, just ask your mortgage company if you need to carry flood insurance. Living in a flood zone will be like having two recent DWI’s on your driver’s license and trying to renew your car insurance at a reasonable cost. You can argue that it isn’t fair, but you will not be in the “driver’s seat”.