Pew Among Broad Group Urging Stronger Federal Flood Standards

On Aug. 15, 2017, President Donald Trump signed an executive order repealing the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard—a measure that encouraged government agencies to consider future risk when taxpayer dollars are used to build or rebuild in flood plains. Just 10 days later, Hurricane Harvey devastated parts of Texas and Louisiana with historic rainfall and flooding. Following the storm, the Trump administration stated its intent to update the federal flood standard, but the White House has yet to do so.

That’s why on Aug. 26 The Pew Charitable Trusts—together with leaders from the insurance industry, fiscal conservatives, business organizations, architects, engineers, emergency management agencies, and public works professionals—sent a letter to White House officials urging the administration to seize the opportunity to develop and implement standards that better protect the nation’s infrastructure and communities from increasingly extreme weather.