The Biden administration recently announced a significant change in the standards for public infrastructure built with federal emergency funds in response to the escalating climate risk. This new standard, which has been years in the making, mandates that buildings and other infrastructure constructed with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding must now be elevated higher above local flood levels or relocated to safer areas. According to FEMA administrator Deanne Criswell, the impact of climate change, particularly sea-level rise, has exacerbated flood risk across the nation.
The finalized Federal Flood Risk Management Standard emphasizes the critical importance of considering the best available science when designing projects and communities to be more resilient to heightened flood conditions caused by climate change. This marks a significant step forward as it is the first rule adopted by a federal agency that mandates future climate risks to be taken into account when using federal dollars for infrastructure development.
While the new standard is expected to increase project costs, officials assert that such measures will ultimately save money in the long term. Incorporating an additional two feet of elevation into new building designs, on average, only adds an estimated 1.91% to the overall project cost. Prior to this standard, FEMA required non-critical projects to be protected from a 100-year flood risk and critical projects to be safeguarded against a 500-year flood risk. The updated standard increases flood elevations and the width of floodplains to better reflect future flood risks.
In addition to elevating infrastructure above flood levels, the new standard also requires projects located in floodplains or wetlands to utilize natural features and nature-based approaches whenever possible. This approach aims to preserve the beneficial functions of these areas while enhancing the overall resilience of communities facing flood-related challenges. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas highlighted the importance of accounting for current, foreseeable, and future flood threats when reconstructing infrastructure after a disaster.
Despite the positive impact of the new standard, challenges remain, particularly in terms of funding and implementation at the local level. Many local governments have identified funding as a significant barrier to enhancing infrastructure resilience in the face of climate change. A survey conducted by the National League of Cities revealed that only a small percentage of municipalities are currently incorporating climate data into their capital planning processes.
The implementation of stricter flood-risk standards for public infrastructure represents a crucial step towards mitigating the impact of climate change-induced flooding. By prioritizing resilience and sustainability in infrastructure development, communities can better prepare for and respond to future flood events. While challenges persist, the commitment to incorporating climate risks into infrastructure planning is essential for safeguarding lives, property, critical infrastructure, and taxpayer money in the face of an increasingly unpredictable climate.