Government Entities Ignore Science, Put People At Risk

• The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) – the U.S.’ primary flood insurer – uses such outdated and inaccurate maps that less than half of them adequately assess flood risk.
• North Carolina legislators didn’t like scientists’ sea-level rise projections six years ago, so they passed a law prohibiting the use of climate forecasting in policy-making, instead requiring that historical data be used.

Why it matters

Flood insurance

People who buy homes in flood zones are typically required by their mortgage lender to buy flood insurance. Folks thus make the reasonable assumption that if the insurance isn’t required, they must not be at risk.

The thing is, flood zones are determined by FEMA flood risk maps, which are so outdated and inaccurate that the Department of Homeland Security’s Inspector General published a report last year – right after Hurricane Harvey – showing that 58 percent failed to adequately identify the level of flood risk.

The maps also fail to account for the sea-level rise that is taking place as a result of climate change. While FEMA has begun to incorporate some climate data into its process, there remains a time-lag problem, as the agency only updates its maps every five years.

Thus, many people don’t carry flood insurance who really should.

Policy for low-lying areas

In 2012, North Carolina’s Coastal Resources Commission presented its prediction that sea levels could rise by 39 inches over the following century. Coastal developers and their allies argued that setting policy on that basis would hurt property values and drive up insurance costs.

They found support in the state legislature, which passed a law banning policies based on such forecasts, and requiring only the use of historical data.

North Carolina has a long, low-lying coastline and is considered one of the U.S. areas most vulnerable to rising sea levels.

As Wired explains:

“Sea level rise is a direct consequence of global warming; the warming of the ocean has resulted in thermal expansion and melted ice sheets and glaciers that are causing the oceans to rise. Since 1950, the sea level has risen 6.5 inches ― a number that sounds small but has actually had major consequences across the country.”

The state is currently confronting the prospect of a direct impact from Hurricane Florence, which has the potential to bring dangerous storm surges and catastrophic flooding with it.

What do you think?

Should science be used to inform policy-making? Why or why not? Hit Take Action to tell your reps what you think, then share your thoughts below.

—Sara E. Murphy

(Photo Credit: iStock.com / Marc Bruxelle)