Welcome to The Ozarks, and in particular, the Camden County, Missouri, communities surrounding the Lake of the Ozarks, where FEMA’s revised -and many would say “flawed” – flood maps serve as a cautionary tale for property owners: Verify your flood zone designation! Courtesy of KY3 (Springfield, MO), here’s their story: CAMDENTON, Mo. — “They have […]
Flood Risk Abstract: Louisiana
The month of August is not particularly kind to the state of Louisiana. In 2005, Hurricane Katrina and a failed levee left a trail of devastation. Eleven years later, this month, a no-name storm delivered an unrelenting rainfall resulting in flash flood emergencies, an overtopped levee, and widespread flooding throughout southern Louisiana. The Red Cross […]
Flood Risk Abstract: Houston, TX
Last month in Houston, TX, torrential rains dumped more than 15 inches in some areas. The following screen capture illustrates the fury of flood warnings in the region on April 18. The severe weather resulted in massive flooding, impassable roads, citizen evacuations, closed schools and crippled businesses. According to local reports, April’s relentless downpour will […]
Understanding the Occurrence of Flooding – What’s in a Name?
By now, given Mother Nature’s wrath over the past year, you’ve no doubt heard plenty of references to 100-year flood events, 500-year flood events and 1,000-year flood events. The description of flooding by the likelihood of occurrence in a geographic area is a predictive measure, commonly used by those in the scientific, emergency management and […]
Increasing Value, Capturing Savings and Managing Flood Risk – An Upscale Resort Owner’s $19 Million Dollar Story
Six years ago, the global economic crisis hit the luxury hotel and resort industry hard, like a ton of 14 carat bricks. Even the most resilient of destinations and properties were not immune to the fallout and many owners, operators and their agents sought proactive measures to protect the brand, status and investment value during […]