Study Reveals U.S. Cities Successfully Limit Floodplain Development Using Existing Tools
Contrary to common belief, most U.S. cities are effectively managing floodplain development, preventing costly disasters by utilizing established ordinances, plans, and programs rather than relying on novel strategies. This is the central finding of a new study titled "How local governments avoid floodplain development through consistent implementation of routine municipal ordinances, plans, and programs," published in Oxford Open Climate Change.
Despite significant investments in flood mitigation, the cost of disasters in the United States has continued to rise, with floods being the most frequent and expensive disaster. The main driver behind these increasing costs is not just climate change, but also the growing concentration of people and infrastructure in flood-prone areas.
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