A scientific study published in the journal Nature Sustainability on December 9th claims flooding is the costliest form of natural disaster. It also claims that those costs should increase due to new developments built in floodplains. Overall, the study found that for large areas, avoided damages exceed land acquisition costs by a factor of at least five to one. “Strategic conservation of floodplains would avoid unnecessarily increasing the economic and human costs of flooding while simultaneously providing multiple ecosystem services,” says the study.
Avoided Damages Can Exceed Land Acquisition Costs Up to 5:1
The new study by The Nature Conservancy (TNC), the University of Bristol (United Kingdom) and flood analytics company Fathom seeks to answer an important question related to flooding in the United States: What would save American taxpayers more? Protecting undeveloped flood-prone areas now or allowing development and paying for flood damages when they inevitably occur?
“A dollar invested in floodplain protection today returns at least $5 in savings from avoided flood damages in the future,” says Kris Johnson, PhD, The Nature Conservancy’s North America Deputy Director of Agriculture and one of the study’s authors.
High-density starter homes in Northpark Woods near West Fork San Jacinto flood plain. Photo taken 10/4/2019.
Flooding Costliest Form of Natural Disaster
TNC points out that “Flooding is among the most common of natural disasters. And it is the costliest. Average flood losses in the U.S. have increased steadily to nearly $10 billion annually. Meanwhile, the American taxpayer-backed National Flood Insurance Program is in record debt at nearly $25 billion.”
Would It Work in Houston?
Houston Chronicle reporter R.A. Schuetz interviewed several people at Harris County Flood Control about whether the national benefits found in the study translated to Harris County.
The Chronicle quoted Robert Lazaro, a communication officer with Flood Control. Lazoro agreed that buying land likely to flood plays an important role in minimizing future damages. “We’ve found that an ounce of prevention is definitely worth a pound of cure down the road,” Lazaro said.
However, Lazaro also felt the national analysis may not take into account regional regulations and other considerations, such as elevation requirements. Regardless, he hoped that it would inspire local policymakers to consider measures to reduce future flood damages.
Buy Low Before Population Arrives
The trick, it seems is getting to areas before they become highly populated and the price of housing is pushed up by the limited availability of land.
Net: the findings of this article may make more sense in rural counties surrounding major metropolitan areas, such as Chambers, Walker, Grimes, Liberty, Waller and Chambers.
Applying the Principle to the Elm Grove Disaster
The people in Elm Grove and North Kingwood Forest sure wish the community had gotten together and purchased the Woodridge Village land for preservation. It sold to Perry Homes’ for about a million dollars, and had it been left in its natural state might have prevented an estimated $100 million in property damage.
Good market research has a knack of clarifying the obvious. This study did that. It quantified once again that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 12/26/2019
849 Days after Hurricane Harvey and 98 after Imelda
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/EF-WF-Aerial_585.jpg?fit=1500%2C1000&ssl=110001500adminadmin2019-12-26 17:47:332019-12-26 17:48:49Study Shows It’s Cheaper to Preserve Floodplains Than Buy Out Properties After They Flood
Numerous people have sent ReduceFlooding.com stories about how Perry Homes and Kathy Perry Britton changed their Christmas. Some are real and some are just expressions of anger.
Adaptations Reported by Residents This Christmas
Stringing Christmas tree lights three feet up from the floor for safety.
Converting Christmas yard decorations to blow up plastic types that float.
Monitoring radar screens for storms instead of Santa.
Instead of toys, kids get interior doors, Home Depot gift cards, wallboard and wet vacs.
Ornamental reindeer on the roof equipped with scuba gear.
Several folks have also shared their letters to Santa:
Dear Santa, All I want for Christmas is for you to get Perry Homes to finish the job they started so we can be safe.
Dear Santa,
Our elderly neighbors and the children are suffering. So please make Kathy Perry Britton admit her mistakes, apologize and go away.
Dear Santa,
Perry Homes has done nothing to stop flooding since May. Imelda proved that. We need someone who knows what they’re doing to step in and fix things.
CEO Deprived Thousands of Christmas
Yep. You get the idea. The Grinch has nothing on Kathy Perry Britton. The new “Queen of Mean” has already taken homes, Thanksgiving and Christmas from thousands of kids. Ms. Britton could soon take Easter, too. She:
This is the stuff of legend. Or delusion. Perhaps we buy her a one-way Greyhound ticket to Guatemala.
No. On second thought, Guatemala is too nice. Other ideas gratefully accepted.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 12/25/2019 with input from Jeff Miller, Isabelle Fleenor and the community
848 Days after Hurricane Harvey and 95 since Imelda
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Merry-Perry.jpg?fit=1200%2C672&ssl=16721200adminadmin2019-12-25 13:49:532019-12-25 14:09:56Elm Grove Says Merry Christmas to Perry Homes and Kathy Perry Britton in Strange and Wonderful Ways
After a year of dredging, the Army Corps and its contractors are gone. Even though they didn’t get all of the West Fork Mouth Bar, they made dramatic conveyance improvements on the West Fork as these before/after photos show.
Sand Island Before Dredging
The first was a blockage that dredging contractors nicknamed “Sand Island.” It sat in the middle of the river just downstream from River Grove Park in Kingwood. According to the Corps, it blocked 90% of the river.
Sand Island formed during Hurricane Harvey. Boats that drew 18 inches of water could not navigate upstream past this giant sandbar.Photo taken 9/14/2019.
Sand Island After Dredging
Sand Island is now Gone Island.Photo taken 12/3/2019.
The Corps removed approximately 15 feet of sand over a 15 acre area that was 566.7 feet wide at its widest point. An acre is about the size of a football field. So this would be like stacking sand on a football field 225 feet high (15×15)! And that doesn’t even include the sand they removed from the channels on either side of the island in the background.
Sand Island Dredging Profile.
Diversion Ditch Bar Before Dredging
A second huge sand bar deposited by Harvey blocked the Kingwood Diversion Ditch, also at River Grove Park. The Diversion Ditch empties the western third of Kingwood. Approximately 600 homes flooded above this one blockage. They were in Barrington, Kingwood Cove, Trailwood, Kingwood Lakes and Kings Forest.
Diversion Ditch (center left) was virtually closed off by a new sandbar deposited by Harvey.Photo taken 9/14/2017.
Army Corps measurements show that at its highest point this bar measured 10 feet about the water surface. It forced water coming out of the ditch to make a 90 degree left turn where it then hit another downstream blockage.
Diversion Ditch Bar After Dredging
Photo taken 10/2/2019 after dredging opened up the channel and reduced the downstream bar.Photo of same area taken on 11/4/2019, but looking upstream.
The Corps dredged a channel 150 feet wide through this bar to a depth of 35 feet above sea level. That’s about 7.5 feet below the normal water surface elevation of the Lake. The channel narrowed to 50 feet wide where it meets the mouth of the ditch.
From the highest point on the bar to the target depth, the Corps removed 17.5 vertical feet of sand. From the mouth of the channel to the outer edge of the bar measured 750 feet.
Comparison in Satellite Images from Google Earth
Here’s how this section of the river looked from a satellite BEFORE dredging. The numbers refer to the discussions above.
Here’s how it looked AFTER. (Note this image was taken on 2/23/19 and the dredge was still removing sand island.
Altogether, the Corps removed approximately 2.3 million cubic yards of sediment. Even if the Corps didn’t finish the mouth bar, that’s a lot to be grateful for. Thank you, FEMA, Army Corps, Great Lakes Dredge and Dock and Callan Marine.
Have a merry Christmas!
Posted by Bob Rehak on 12/24/2019
847 Days after Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/BeforeAfter.jpg?fit=1200%2C1600&ssl=116001200adminadmin2019-12-24 11:44:182019-12-24 12:10:24San Jacinto West Fork Before-After Photos Show Dramatic Conveyance Improvements from Dredging
Study Shows It’s Cheaper to Preserve Floodplains Than Buy Out Properties After They Flood
A scientific study published in the journal Nature Sustainability on December 9th claims flooding is the costliest form of natural disaster. It also claims that those costs should increase due to new developments built in floodplains. Overall, the study found that for large areas, avoided damages exceed land acquisition costs by a factor of at least five to one. “Strategic conservation of floodplains would avoid unnecessarily increasing the economic and human costs of flooding while simultaneously providing multiple ecosystem services,” says the study.
Avoided Damages Can Exceed Land Acquisition Costs Up to 5:1
“A dollar invested in floodplain protection today returns at least $5 in savings from avoided flood damages in the future,” says Kris Johnson, PhD, The Nature Conservancy’s North America Deputy Director of Agriculture and one of the study’s authors.
Flooding Costliest Form of Natural Disaster
TNC points out that “Flooding is among the most common of natural disasters. And it is the costliest. Average flood losses in the U.S. have increased steadily to nearly $10 billion annually. Meanwhile, the American taxpayer-backed National Flood Insurance Program is in record debt at nearly $25 billion.”
Would It Work in Houston?
Houston Chronicle reporter R.A. Schuetz interviewed several people at Harris County Flood Control about whether the national benefits found in the study translated to Harris County.
The Chronicle quoted Robert Lazaro, a communication officer with Flood Control. Lazoro agreed that buying land likely to flood plays an important role in minimizing future damages. “We’ve found that an ounce of prevention is definitely worth a pound of cure down the road,” Lazaro said.
However, Lazaro also felt the national analysis may not take into account regional regulations and other considerations, such as elevation requirements. Regardless, he hoped that it would inspire local policymakers to consider measures to reduce future flood damages.
Buy Low Before Population Arrives
The trick, it seems is getting to areas before they become highly populated and the price of housing is pushed up by the limited availability of land.
Net: the findings of this article may make more sense in rural counties surrounding major metropolitan areas, such as Chambers, Walker, Grimes, Liberty, Waller and Chambers.
Applying the Principle to the Elm Grove Disaster
The people in Elm Grove and North Kingwood Forest sure wish the community had gotten together and purchased the Woodridge Village land for preservation. It sold to Perry Homes’ for about a million dollars, and had it been left in its natural state might have prevented an estimated $100 million in property damage.
Good market research has a knack of clarifying the obvious. This study did that. It quantified once again that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 12/26/2019
849 Days after Hurricane Harvey and 98 after Imelda
Elm Grove Says Merry Christmas to Perry Homes and Kathy Perry Britton in Strange and Wonderful Ways
Numerous people have sent ReduceFlooding.com stories about how Perry Homes and Kathy Perry Britton changed their Christmas. Some are real and some are just expressions of anger.
Adaptations Reported by Residents This Christmas
Stringing Christmas tree lights three feet up from the floor for safety.
Converting Christmas yard decorations to blow up plastic types that float.
Monitoring radar screens for storms instead of Santa.
Instead of toys, kids get interior doors, Home Depot gift cards, wallboard and wet vacs.
Ornamental reindeer on the roof equipped with scuba gear.
Decorating the dumpster in the front yard.
Letters to Santa Express Christmas Wishes
Several folks have also shared their letters to Santa:
Dear Santa,
All I want for Christmas is for you to get Perry Homes to finish the job they started so we can be safe.
Dear Santa,
Our elderly neighbors and the children are suffering. So please make Kathy Perry Britton admit her mistakes, apologize and go away.
Dear Santa,
Perry Homes has done nothing to stop flooding since May. Imelda proved that. We need someone who knows what they’re doing to step in and fix things.
CEO Deprived Thousands of Christmas
Yep. You get the idea. The Grinch has nothing on Kathy Perry Britton. The new “Queen of Mean” has already taken homes, Thanksgiving and Christmas from thousands of kids. Ms. Britton could soon take Easter, too. She:
And yet her highly paid PR staff positions her as a business leader. Only in Houston!
This is the stuff of legend. Or delusion. Perhaps we buy her a one-way Greyhound ticket to Guatemala.
No. On second thought, Guatemala is too nice. Other ideas gratefully accepted.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 12/25/2019 with input from Jeff Miller, Isabelle Fleenor and the community
848 Days after Hurricane Harvey and 95 since Imelda
San Jacinto West Fork Before-After Photos Show Dramatic Conveyance Improvements from Dredging
After a year of dredging, the Army Corps and its contractors are gone. Even though they didn’t get all of the West Fork Mouth Bar, they made dramatic conveyance improvements on the West Fork as these before/after photos show.
Sand Island Before Dredging
The first was a blockage that dredging contractors nicknamed “Sand Island.” It sat in the middle of the river just downstream from River Grove Park in Kingwood. According to the Corps, it blocked 90% of the river.
Sand Island After Dredging
The Corps removed approximately 15 feet of sand over a 15 acre area that was 566.7 feet wide at its widest point. An acre is about the size of a football field. So this would be like stacking sand on a football field 225 feet high (15×15)! And that doesn’t even include the sand they removed from the channels on either side of the island in the background.
Diversion Ditch Bar Before Dredging
A second huge sand bar deposited by Harvey blocked the Kingwood Diversion Ditch, also at River Grove Park. The Diversion Ditch empties the western third of Kingwood. Approximately 600 homes flooded above this one blockage. They were in Barrington, Kingwood Cove, Trailwood, Kingwood Lakes and Kings Forest.
Army Corps measurements show that at its highest point this bar measured 10 feet about the water surface. It forced water coming out of the ditch to make a 90 degree left turn where it then hit another downstream blockage.
Diversion Ditch Bar After Dredging
The Corps dredged a channel 150 feet wide through this bar to a depth of 35 feet above sea level. That’s about 7.5 feet below the normal water surface elevation of the Lake. The channel narrowed to 50 feet wide where it meets the mouth of the ditch.
From the highest point on the bar to the target depth, the Corps removed 17.5 vertical feet of sand. From the mouth of the channel to the outer edge of the bar measured 750 feet.
Comparison in Satellite Images from Google Earth
Here’s how this section of the river looked from a satellite BEFORE dredging. The numbers refer to the discussions above.
Here’s how it looked AFTER. (Note this image was taken on 2/23/19 and the dredge was still removing sand island.
Altogether, the Corps removed approximately 2.3 million cubic yards of sediment. Even if the Corps didn’t finish the mouth bar, that’s a lot to be grateful for. Thank you, FEMA, Army Corps, Great Lakes Dredge and Dock and Callan Marine.
Have a merry Christmas!
Posted by Bob Rehak on 12/24/2019
847 Days after Hurricane Harvey