Orrin Pilkey, always a lightening-rod for coastal climate change issues, has written a gloomy forecast for the world’s beaches, and has the photos to justify his positions. He acknowledges that predicting the effects of sea level rise on beaches is complex, and that results will vary greatly depending on many factors. But overall, the picture […]
Tag Archives | Insurance
Why and How Businesses (and Municipalities) can Prepare for Disasters
Posted on November 17, 2010
The folks over at the Education Disaster Education Network (EDEN) have come up with a brief video explaining why it’s so critical that businesses develop a business continuity and disaster preparedness plan. Easy enough to translate most of it for municipal offices/departments, too. Worth a quick watch, and a good outreach tool you can use […]
Is Your Community Getting New Flood Maps? Here's How to Ease the Sting
Posted on September 28, 2010
The fine folks over at Colorado State’s Natural Hazards Center have a neat summary of the National Flood Insurance Program’s Preferred Risk Policies program in their monthly newsletter. The short version? Property owners who find themselves newly mapped into high risk flood areas now have up to two years to apply for a Preferred Risk […]
Senate Passes 1-Year National Flood Insurance Program Extension
Posted on September 22, 2010
The US Senate agreed today to a one-year extension of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The House (which has already approved a five-year extension) is expected to adopt the Senate extension. This is obviously a short-term fix, but given that the program has expired four times this year alone, it’s still welcome news.
Five Years After: The Changing Landscape of the Lower Ninth Ward
Posted on August 27, 2010
The New York Times has created a mesmerizing and troubling (and clever) webpage that allows you to virtually drive down two streets in New Orleans’s Lower Ninth Ward in 2006, 2007, 2009, and 2010. The animation stops at various properties along the way, so you can see how certain buildings have fared (some gone, some […]
White House Opposes Multiple Peril Insurance Bill [UPDATE]
Posted on July 22, 2010
The White House released a statement today saying that it would not support the expansion of the National Flood Insurance Program to cover wind damage. Such a move would likely do no good, the statement explains, because the government’s rates would be comparable to current market prices. The whole statement: EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT […]
NOAA Announces New Coastal Resilience Networks Grant Program
Posted on July 20, 2010
From our friends at NOAA: CRest Grant Program – Coastal Resilience Networks Pacific Islands – Gulf of Mexico – West Coast Coastal Resilience Networks (CRest) is a new and exciting grant opportunity for the Pacific Islands, Gulf of Mexico, and West Coast regions. The program funds projects that help communities become more resilient to the […]
It's Back . . . Senate Reauthorizes National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)
Posted on July 1, 2010
From the bright and informed folks over at the Association of State Floodplain Managers: As part of a unanimous consent agreement last night, the Senate cleared a measure (HR 5569) that would extend the authorization of the National Flood Insurance Program until September 30, 2010. It was previously passed by the House, so it will […]
Federal Flood Insurance Will Cover Flood-Related Oil Damage [FEMA Memo]
Posted on June 11, 2010
FEMA has released a memo clarifying that in the event of a declared flood disaster, National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) coverage will apply even if oil is mixed with flood waters. The brief memo suggest that the NFIP will bill the party that caused the oil damage (in this case, British Petroleum) for the damages. […]
Editorial Advises Better Planning and Building, NOT the Ike Dike
Posted on May 28, 2010
A new Houston Chronicle article argues that building the so-called “Ike Dike” will put more, not less people and property at great risk, and that the best way to protect property from hazards is to keep them out of hazardous areas. In “Forget the Ike Dike, let’s improve building methods” Texas A&M professor John Jacob […]