Flooding
Flooding is the most frequent disaster in the United States, resulting in billions of dollars in damages every year. Our research and technical assistance for communities is aimed at discovering solutions and coordinating resources for flood mitigation projects, especially in rural or disadvantaged communities.
Featured research
Local funding options for disaster resilience
Projects that prepare communities to resist wildfire and flooding can save money in the long run, but they can be hard to finance upfront. Headwaters Economics has created two guides to help local leaders identify sustained funding strategies for resilience projects.
States must modernize stream crossing standards to protect communities from flooding
More than half of the culverts protecting roads from flooding in the United States do not meet modern design standards, endangering communities and local economies. New standards and replacement programs must be adopted.
Reclaiming abandoned mines can protect against harmful and costly flood disasters
More than 68,000 abandoned or inactive mines in areas with high flood risk endanger people and places across the U.S.
The unequal impacts of flooding
Headwaters Economics has conducted an analysis of flood and socioeconomic data to illustrate where flood risks disproportionality affect vulnerable populations.
Rising demand for FEMA’s BRIC program far exceeds available funding
An analysis of FEMA’s BRIC program for climate adaptation and disaster resilience funding shows rising demand, but unequal access.
Mobile home residents face higher flood risk
Mobile homes are the most common unsubsidized, affordable housing in the United States but have disproportionately higher flood risk than other housing types.
Need assistance with flooding?
FloodWise Community Assistance provides communities with strategic planning assistance, capacity building, and customized research that helps decrease flood risk. FloodWise seeks to improve communities’ technical capabilities, discover project funding sources, and bring together regional networks that can improve flood resilience as well as develop economic benefits.
Featured tool:
Custer, SD – A FloodWise community
After a devastating flood in 2019, the city of Custer and Custer County in South Dakota started making plans to better handle the next disaster. Headwaters Economics, through their FloodWise Community Assistance program, came alongside city and county officials to help access funding for implementing these plans.
Recent Flooding Posts
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Local funding options for disaster resilience
Projects that prepare communities to resist wildfire and flooding can save money in the long run, but they can be hard to finance upfront. Headwaters Economics has created two guides to help local leaders identify sustained funding strategies for resilience projects. Read more
-
States must modernize stream crossing standards to protect communities from flooding
More than half of the culverts protecting roads from flooding in the United States do not meet modern design standards, endangering communities and local economies. New standards and replacement programs must be adopted. Read more
-
Reclaiming abandoned mines can protect against harmful and costly flood disasters
More than 68,000 abandoned or inactive mines in areas with high flood risk endanger people and places across the U.S. Read more
-
Rising demand for FEMA’s BRIC program far exceeds available funding
An analysis of FEMA’s BRIC program for climate adaptation and disaster resilience funding shows rising demand, but unequal access. Read more
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Prioritizing people in mobile home park buyouts
Many mobile home parks face higher flood risk and relocation may be the best option. A review of 12 mobile home park buyout projects illustrates how policy innovation and resident engagement can increase success. Read more
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Latinos face higher flood risks than other groups
Headwaters Economics and the Hispanic Access Foundation have released a report that shows that 44% of Latinos live in counties with high flood risk, as opposed to 35% of non-Latinos. Read more
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Los latinos enfrentan mayores riesgos de inundaciones que otros grupos
Headwaters Economics y Hispanic Access Foundation han publicado un reporte que muestra que el 44% de los latinos viven en condados con un alto riesgo de inundaciones, en contraste con el 35% de los no latinos. Read more
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The unequal impacts of flooding
Headwaters Economics has conducted an analysis of flood and socioeconomic data to illustrate where flood risks disproportionality affect vulnerable populations. Read more
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FEMA’s BRIC program continues to fund innovative risk reduction – but community capacity limits access
Headwaters Economics has analyzed the latest project selections announced by the Federal Emergency Management Agency for its Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant program. Read more
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Decreasing flood risk in the Midwest with regional collaborations
A regional approach to flood risk can help communities pool resources and implement effective solutions. Five case studies offer lessons. Read more