100k+ Mass homes uninsured and at-risk of flooding

114,552 properties in Massachusetts are at risk for flooding but aren't in a FEMA designated flood zone, according to a Boston Globe article, quoting a report by First Street Foundation, a non-profit that studies building risks across the country.Flood insurance is required for properties located within FEMA's flood zones, but most homeowners aren't aware that their policies likely won't cover flooding, even as flooding becomes more of an issue.While storms in Florida make national headlines, the northeastern US has the highest risk of loss potential, due to the density of housing and lack of adequate flood prevention measures. Just one inch of rain can cause about $25,000 in damage, according to the article.And when homeowners do purchase flood insurance, they may be surprised to learn that coverage maxes out at $250,000 for a 1-4 unit home.

Is Massachusetts finally ready to make changes to Boston Harbor and coastal communities?

Bill Golden, former MA Senator, former city solicitor for Quincy, and one of the founders of the EPA, wonders if the time has come for the various political bodies to work together and protect Boston Harbor and 15 coastal communities in MA  from more flooding.In an op-ed in the Boston Globe, Golden details how he used his position as Quincy's solicitor to get the Harbor cleaned up. He believes a Boston Harbor Coastal Resiliency Authority is the answer and urges city and state officials to act now.

Are New England's dams ready for the 21st century?

The recent devastating flooding in Vermont, caused by massive rainfall into already saturated ground, had officials sounding warnings about the state's dams. Would they hold? The Army Corps of Engineers was on hand to manage the disaster if the dams failed. In the end, they held. Now the question is, for how long?In 2011, a Massachusetts auditor found that 100 dams in the state were unsafe or in poor condition and many communities near those dams did not have emergency action plans to evacuate residents if they failed. As of 2023, 60 of the 100 problem dams are safe but 40 are not.As rain events come more often, what will happen to New England's old dams? Read more in this Boston Globe piece.

How can Boston protect itself against rising sea levels?

The Wharf District Council, a Boston-based non-profit, has put forward a resiliency plan for the city. They believe that with $1.2 billion of upgrades, the city's waterfront could be saved.Without some kind of action, much of downtown's infrastructure could be underwater or washed away by 2070, as this dramatic image illustrates. The Wharf District Council plan was a privately-funded report. You can read more about the flooding issues in this recent Boston Globe article: This is Boston's biggest challenge

Water, Water, Everywhere

The Boston Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) recently released an analysis of locations that were impacted by severe flooding in March 2010, storms that resulted in several counties being designated as Federal Disaster Zones. The report shows that 96% of the FEMA disaster claims from the Greater Boston area were outside of FEMA flood zones.The Boston Globe analyzed the report and interviewed people impacted by the 2010 storm. People interviewed said that they were unprepared for the flooding and lost personal effects and mechanical systems in their basements from the groundwater seepage during the heavy rain.From 1971 to 2000, Massachusetts had an average of 7 days per year of “heavy rain” (meaning one inch or more) and by 2050, that annual average is expected to rise to 15-17 days. Despite being a state that borders the Atlantic Ocean, one of the biggest risks in the state is inland, where lakes, ponds, rivers and streams as well as under-capacitied stormwater systems, overflow and inundate roads and homes.Some indicators in the report that might predict a location that is at-risk for flooding (for properties that don’t lie within acknowledged flood zones) are being built between 1940 and 1980, flat elevations with sandy soils, and being near bodies of water or wetlands. Much of Boston is built on wetlands, so that’s bad news for the state’s capital.The MAPC analysis recommends that MA adopts regulations that require a property’s flood history be disclosed to potential buyers.