Abstract
The average flood event in the United States costs Americans $4.7 billion. Flood events have become more frequent, widespread, and of longer duration due to climate change. The United States attempts to combat the emerging threat of flooding through federal and private insurance programs. Still, as flooding risk rises, property owners are burdened by the responsibility to assess and prepare for these risks independently since standard homeowners’ and renters’ insurance does not cover flood damage under any circumstances in the United States. Rural communities are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change due to economic foundations that are intricately linked to natural systems. These communities’ importance to the country’s economic and social well-being is disproportionate to its population, and it is crucial not to let them drown. The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) contains several shortcomings, including outdated flood maps that fail to assess risks accurately and the program’s financial instability due to an over-reliance on borrowed funds. The current flood risk is quantifiable, which allows the government to calculate and predict when and where flooding will impact the hardest. This Note recommends that the current NFIP be revitalized through direct funding to create a competitive and profitable market for flood insurance or by a broader national mandate.
Recommended Citation
Trevor Johnson,
WAVES OF CHANGE: A CALL TO FEDERALLY SAFEGUARD AGAINST CLIMATE-DRIVEN FLOODS,
49
S. Ill. U. L.J.
131
(2024).
Available at:
https://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/siulj/vol49/iss1/8