9/5/2024 – The Congressional Budget Office has produced a series of reports that provides a wealth of flood data.
Economist Evan Herrnstadt, Ph.D., was interviewed today in a First Street Foundation webinar. He has produced an impressive, data-packed series of reports on different aspects of flooding for public-policy makers. Herrnstadt is the Principal Analyst in the Microeconomic Studies Division of the Congressional Budget Office.
Nine Studies Examine Financial, Demographic Impacts of Flooding
To make his team’s work easier to find and review, I’ve posted their studies on the Reports Page of ReduceFlooding.com under a new Congressional Budget Office Tab. Below are links to and one sentence descriptions for each of the nine reports.
Climate Work provides an overview of several different studies and presents key findings. It’s a good starting point.
Effects of Flood Damage on the Subsidy Cost of Federally Backed Mortgages. Uses data on mortgages and expected flood damage for each residential property in the United States to examine how much flood damage is expected to increase the cost of federally backed mortgages (referred to as the subsidy cost).
Flood Insurance in Communities at Risk of Flooding. Examines how properties at risk of flooding share the cost of NFIP policies across communities with different economic and demographic characteristics.
Climate Change, Disaster Risk, and Homeowner’s Insurance. Analyzes recent changes in property insurance markets and considers alternative insurance products as well as policy approaches to increase the availability and affordability of insurance for homeowners and renters.
Communities at Risk of Flooding. Examines how projected flood risk varies across communities with different economic and demographic characteristics in two multiyear projection periods, one centered on 2020 and the other centered on 2050.
The wealth of flood data in these reports is national, not local. Regardless, good economists have a way of clearing out the cobwebs. And Herrnstadt clearly knows how to put things in perspective. I will refer to these reports from time to time in the future.
For now, let me just quote a couple eye-bulging stats from the last report. “Flood Damage avoided by Potential Spending on Property-Level Adaptations” looks at buyouts and home elevations. When looking at 1.3 million homes, Herrnstadt found that avoided costs averaged $2.69 for every $1 invested. If those projects were all completed, they would cost a total of $193 billion and prevent $519 billion of expected damages during the next 30 years.
In extreme cases, Herrnstadt found the payback ratio could be 6 to 1. And that doesn’t even include “pain and suffering” costs associated with flood damage.
This data shows how we could be saving hundreds of billions of dollars. These reports are literally gold mines of data.
For the First Street Foundation’s interview with Herrnstadt, see this YouTube video.
Learn more about the purpose and methodologies of the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office here.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 9/5/24
2564 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Avoid-Damage-Per-Dollar-Spent.png?fit=2108%2C1596&ssl=115962108adminadmin2024-09-05 18:41:302024-09-06 09:06:21Congressional Budget Office Provides Wealth of Flood Data
More than 2000 years ago, Aristotle coined the phrase, “Nature abhors a vacuum.” But in the case of River Grove Park since Beryl, it should be, “Nature enjoys a vacuum.”
Flooded out, sanded in, and still under repair from May flooding and Beryl, humans may be visiting River Grove Park less frequently these days. But nature is filling the void.
Park Still Has Plenty to Offer
The park still has plenty to offer. I drove there today to test some new camera gear and found the park practically deserted.
A few people were using the boardwalk.
The soccer fields and playground were empty.
Disc golf is undergoing major repairs as crews clear dozens of fallen trees (from Beryl).
The main parking lot was virtually empty, thanks to sand blocking the boat dock.
So, I didn’t get the sports action shots I thought I might see. But I got something equally as impressive. Nature…up close and unspoiled.
Instead of water skiers and fishermen, great blue herons and great egrets stalked the shallows at the entrance to the Kingwood Diversion Ditch by the boat dock.
Great egret dining near the boat dock.As I crept closer, the egret prepared to swallow its catch.Note the drop of water dripping from the beak.Gulp…and it was gone.Farther out in the river, beyond the newly deposited sand bar, a great blue heron staged its own fishing expedition.
Even though River Grove repairs are far from complete, the park still has much to offer nature lovers.
Dredging Prospects
For now, the boat dock is still open for canoes, kayaks, jet skies, and other smaller watercraft that can get over the sand bar. KSA and the City are currently waiting to hear from FEMA about a possible grant to dredge the mouth of the channel. So enjoy the natural aspects of the park while you can.
Many thanks to the Kingwood Service Association for maintaining this precious gem for all Kingwood residents. Even those with feathers.
Posted by Bob Rehak
2563 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240904-DSC_0368.jpg?fit=1100%2C733&ssl=17331100adminadmin2024-09-04 17:09:172024-09-05 17:49:35Nature Enjoys a Vacuum
9/3/2024 – Today, the Texas General Land Office (GLO) posted six state action-plan amendments for public comment. The amendments reallocate remaining money from federal grants for disasters between 2008 and 2019.
Includes Disaster Recovery Reallocation Program
Each of the six amendments includes a new Disaster Recovery Reallocation Program (DRRP). The DRRP will let the GLO utilize de-obligated and un-utilized funds remaining within the action plan for each disaster.
The $135 million being reallocated pales in comparison to the billions of dollars in unmet needs around the state. Better matching remaining dollars with remaining needs will help create a more resilient Texas. And simplifying the application process will help use up available money before federal deadlines expire.
Action-Plan Amendments, Deadlines, Major Changes
The GLO provided this summary of the deadlines for public comment on each amendment:
Hurricanes Ike and Dolly Amendment 7
Federally required public comment period of 7 days will end at 5:00 PM on September 11, 2024.
2015 Floods and Storms Amendment 6
Federally required public comment period of 14 days will end at 5:00 PM on September 18, 2024.
2016 Floods and Storms Amendment 8
Federally required public comment period of 14 days will end at 5:00 PM on September 18, 2024.
Hurricane Harvey $5.6 Billion Amendment 16
Federally required public comment period of 30 days will end at 5:00 PM on October 4, 2024.
Includes updates to the Harris County Homeowner Assistance, Residential Buyout, Affordable Rental and Single Family New Construction Programs.
Includes updates to the City of Houston Single Family Development and Buyout Programs.
2018 South Texas Floods Amendment 2
Federally required public comment period of 30 days will end at 5:00 PM on October 4, 2024.
Includes updates to the Specific Conditions Report in Appendix H.
2019 Disasters Amendment 3
Federally required public comment period of 30 days will end at 5:00 PM on October 4, 2024.
Includes updates to the Specific Conditions Report in Appendix G.
Submit all comments to cdr@recovery.texas.gov by 5:00 p.m. on their respective ending dates.
$135 Million Reallocated
The Hurricane Ike action plan amendment creates the DRRP. It will utilize remaining program funds from current disaster recovery grants from 2008 to 2019, with the exception of the 2011 Wildfires grant.
DRRP will expedite the expenditure of funds to comply with HUD’s timely expenditure requirements through a call for projects across multiple grants.
Each project will undergo eligibility analysis based on the grant that used to fund it.
As funds continue to be identified through the de-obligation process, they will be added to the DRRP program. All remaining funds will be reallocated to this program for each grant.
The amounts going into the DRRP “pot” total $135 million. That includes:
Based on the Dolly/Ike amendment, GLO will do a single call for projects statewide. Each agency that responds can submit up to two applications, and they will score them based on the published criteria.
Those criteria total more than 800 pages. Criteria for each of the six amendments are hyperlinked with the amounts above.
While that’s a daunting number of pages to read, GLO provides tables that show where money is going from and to, plus rules that will govern grant awards.
The GLO will perform the eligibility analysis to make applications easier. “We want this to be as simple as possible for applicants, so they will only have to submit one application and have all of the difficult analysis of eligibility and funding streams on our end,” said Brittany Eck, a GLO spokesperson.
If nothing else, these amendments dramatize how complex the flood mitigation process is. Today is 2562 days since Hurricane Harvey. But Hurricane Ike struck Houston on September 11, 2008. That’s 5836 days ago!
How to Submit Public Comments
Submit all comments to cdr@recovery.texas.gov by 5:00 p.m. on their respective ending dates to be considered. GLO requests that you please include the name and number of the action-plan amendments that you’re commenting on in the subject line.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 9/3/24
2562 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Harvey-Action-Plan-Amendment-16.jpg?fit=1100%2C825&ssl=18251100adminadmin2024-09-03 18:37:492024-09-04 12:31:10GLO Posts Six State Action-Plan Amendments for Public Comment
Congressional Budget Office Provides Wealth of Flood Data
9/5/2024 – The Congressional Budget Office has produced a series of reports that provides a wealth of flood data.
Economist Evan Herrnstadt, Ph.D., was interviewed today in a First Street Foundation webinar. He has produced an impressive, data-packed series of reports on different aspects of flooding for public-policy makers. Herrnstadt is the Principal Analyst in the Microeconomic Studies Division of the Congressional Budget Office.
Nine Studies Examine Financial, Demographic Impacts of Flooding
To make his team’s work easier to find and review, I’ve posted their studies on the Reports Page of ReduceFlooding.com under a new Congressional Budget Office Tab. Below are links to and one sentence descriptions for each of the nine reports.
Clearing out the Cobwebs
The wealth of flood data in these reports is national, not local. Regardless, good economists have a way of clearing out the cobwebs. And Herrnstadt clearly knows how to put things in perspective. I will refer to these reports from time to time in the future.
For now, let me just quote a couple eye-bulging stats from the last report. “Flood Damage avoided by Potential Spending on Property-Level Adaptations” looks at buyouts and home elevations. When looking at 1.3 million homes, Herrnstadt found that avoided costs averaged $2.69 for every $1 invested. If those projects were all completed, they would cost a total of $193 billion and prevent $519 billion of expected damages during the next 30 years.
In extreme cases, Herrnstadt found the payback ratio could be 6 to 1. And that doesn’t even include “pain and suffering” costs associated with flood damage.
This data shows how we could be saving hundreds of billions of dollars. These reports are literally gold mines of data.
For the First Street Foundation’s interview with Herrnstadt, see this YouTube video.
Learn more about the purpose and methodologies of the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office here.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 9/5/24
2564 Days since Hurricane Harvey
Nature Enjoys a Vacuum
More than 2000 years ago, Aristotle coined the phrase, “Nature abhors a vacuum.” But in the case of River Grove Park since Beryl, it should be, “Nature enjoys a vacuum.”
Flooded out, sanded in, and still under repair from May flooding and Beryl, humans may be visiting River Grove Park less frequently these days. But nature is filling the void.
Park Still Has Plenty to Offer
The park still has plenty to offer. I drove there today to test some new camera gear and found the park practically deserted.
So, I didn’t get the sports action shots I thought I might see. But I got something equally as impressive. Nature…up close and unspoiled.
Instead of water skiers and fishermen, great blue herons and great egrets stalked the shallows at the entrance to the Kingwood Diversion Ditch by the boat dock.
Even though River Grove repairs are far from complete, the park still has much to offer nature lovers.
Dredging Prospects
For now, the boat dock is still open for canoes, kayaks, jet skies, and other smaller watercraft that can get over the sand bar. KSA and the City are currently waiting to hear from FEMA about a possible grant to dredge the mouth of the channel. So enjoy the natural aspects of the park while you can.
Many thanks to the Kingwood Service Association for maintaining this precious gem for all Kingwood residents. Even those with feathers.
Posted by Bob Rehak
2563 Days since Hurricane Harvey
GLO Posts Six State Action-Plan Amendments for Public Comment
9/3/2024 – Today, the Texas General Land Office (GLO) posted six state action-plan amendments for public comment. The amendments reallocate remaining money from federal grants for disasters between 2008 and 2019.
Includes Disaster Recovery Reallocation Program
Each of the six amendments includes a new Disaster Recovery Reallocation Program (DRRP). The DRRP will let the GLO utilize de-obligated and un-utilized funds remaining within the action plan for each disaster.
The $135 million being reallocated pales in comparison to the billions of dollars in unmet needs around the state. Better matching remaining dollars with remaining needs will help create a more resilient Texas. And simplifying the application process will help use up available money before federal deadlines expire.
Action-Plan Amendments, Deadlines, Major Changes
The GLO provided this summary of the deadlines for public comment on each amendment:
The six action-plan amendments are available for review at https://recovery.texas.gov/public-notices.
Submit all comments to cdr@recovery.texas.gov by 5:00 p.m. on their respective ending dates.
$135 Million Reallocated
The Hurricane Ike action plan amendment creates the DRRP. It will utilize remaining program funds from current disaster recovery grants from 2008 to 2019, with the exception of the 2011 Wildfires grant.
Each project will undergo eligibility analysis based on the grant that used to fund it.
As funds continue to be identified through the de-obligation process, they will be added to the DRRP
program. All remaining funds will be reallocated to this program for each grant.
The amounts going into the DRRP “pot” total $135 million. That includes:
Together, they total $135,000,000.
Consult Individual Plans for More Details
Based on the Dolly/Ike amendment, GLO will do a single call for projects statewide. Each agency that responds can submit up to two applications, and they will score them based on the published criteria.
Those criteria total more than 800 pages. Criteria for each of the six amendments are hyperlinked with the amounts above.
While that’s a daunting number of pages to read, GLO provides tables that show where money is going from and to, plus rules that will govern grant awards.
The GLO will perform the eligibility analysis to make applications easier. “We want this to be as simple as possible for applicants, so they will only have to submit one application and have all of the difficult analysis of eligibility and funding streams on our end,” said Brittany Eck, a GLO spokesperson.
If nothing else, these amendments dramatize how complex the flood mitigation process is. Today is 2562 days since Hurricane Harvey. But Hurricane Ike struck Houston on September 11, 2008. That’s 5836 days ago!
How to Submit Public Comments
Submit all comments to cdr@recovery.texas.gov by 5:00 p.m. on their respective ending dates to be considered. GLO requests that you please include the name and number of the action-plan amendments that you’re commenting on in the subject line.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 9/3/24
2562 Days since Hurricane Harvey