844,000 Houses Built In Floodplains, Mostly Flordia

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A new study published in Earth’s Future showed that 844,000 houses were built on floodplains between 2001 and 2019. The homes were built across areas that totaled 2.1 million acres. The article was titled “A Nationwide Analysis of Community-Level Floodplain Development Outcomes and Key Influences.”

According to the authors, “Development in areas prone to flooding increases flood risk by increasing the exposure of people and infrastructure. Reducing or limiting development in hazardous areas can be a critical way for communities to manage flood risk.” They were heartened by the fact that many communities blocked similar developments.

Florida Concentration

The building was highly concentrated, with over half of it in Florida. This was about 21% of all housing built in the state over the period covered.

The Florida building has not come without risk. As climate change increases the number and power of hurricanes, the state is becoming more prone to them. Less than two years ago, Hurricane Ian sent a 15-foot storm surge into the areas around Ft. Myers. The total cost of the storm’s destruction was estimated at over $113 billion, making it the third costliest hurricane on record.

NOAA Forecasts

If NOAA and other experts are right, a warming Atlantic Ocean will increase wind speeds, storm surges, and rain levels.