Tag: Flood

  • FEMA Quietly Eases Rules Meant to Protect Buildings in Flood Zones

    FEMA Quietly Eases Rules Meant to Protect Buildings in Flood Zones


    The Federal Emergency Management Agency has decided to stop enforcing rules designed to prevent flood damage to schools, libraries, fire stations and other public buildings. Experts say the move, which has not been publicly announced, could endanger public safety and may be in violation of federal law.

    The change in policy was laid out in a Feb. 4 memo by FEMA’s chief counsel, Adrian Sevier, that was viewed by The New York Times.

    The rule in question, called the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard, was one of the Biden administration’s most significant efforts to address the growing costs of disasters. The rule says that when public buildings in a flood zone are damaged or destroyed, those structures must be rebuilt in a way that prevents future flood damage if they are to qualify for FEMA funding. That could include elevating a structure above the expected height of a future flood or relocating it to a safer spot.

    In some cases, the standards also apply to private homes repaired or rebuilt in a flood plain.

    The rule has a tortured history. FEMA first proposed it in 2016, in response to an executive order from President Barack Obama. The powerful home-building industry opposed the rule on the grounds that it would increase construction costs. When President Trump first took office in 2017, he revoked Mr. Obama’s order, stopping FEMA’s effort. Soon after taking office in 2021, President Joseph R. Biden Jr. signed a new executive order calling for a federal flood standard, which culminated in a final rule issued by FEMA last July.

    The goal wasn’t just to protect people and property, according to Deanne Criswell, the head of FEMA at the time. It was also to save taxpayers’ money as climate change made flooding more frequent, causing buildings in flood plains to be repeatedly damaged and then repeatedly rebuilt with government help.

    “We are going to be able to put a stop to the cycle of response and recovery, and rinse and repeat,” Ms. Criswell said at the time.

    Mr. Trump, on his first day back in the White House, again revoked the executive order calling for a federal flood standard. In his memo last week, Mr. Sevier said that while FEMA considers how to amend the rule, the agency will not enforce it. “This pause must be implemented immediately while FEMA takes action to rescind or amend the policies,” Mr. Sevier wrote.

    In a statement, FEMA said that the flood rule “is under review per the president’s executive order.”

    But FEMA cannot simply stop enforcing a regulation, according to David A. Super, a visiting law professor at Yale University who specializes in administrative law.

    If the agency wants to reverse course, it must follow a process clearly laid out by federal law: issuing a public notice, seeking and reviewing public comments and then publishing a new final rule.

    Repealing a regulation can take months or longer. Until that happens, the law says that the rule remains in effect, Mr. Super said.

    FEMA’s effort to “pause” the rule is in keeping with Mr. Trump’s expansionist view of presidential authority, Mr. Super said. “The president is pursuing an extremely ambitious constitutional agenda to invalidate legislation regulating the executive branch.”

    Jennifer Nou, a professor at the University of Chicago Law School, said the legality of FEMA’s decision depends the length of the pause in enforcement. If FEMA stops enforcing the flood rule for an extended period of time, that would put the agency in greater legal jeopardy than just a short pause, she said.

    Courts generally give agencies discretion over enforcing rules, Ms. Nou said. “But that discretion is not unlimited,” she added — for example, if the agency’s position amounts to abdicating its responsibility.

    Chad Berginnis, executive director of the Association of State Floodplain Managers, said failure to enforce the rule would make people less safe.

    Mr. Berginnis offered the example of a water treatment plant that is damaged or destroyed and needs to be rebuilt.

    Under the flood rule, that plant must be built in a way that means it’s unlikely to be damaged by future flooding. Pausing the rule leaves the plant more vulnerable. “We are jeopardizing the safety of the people in that community,” Mr. Berginnis said.

    He said pausing the rule also contradicted Mr. Trump’s state goal of reducing government waste.

    “Wasteful spending is when you’re spending money on repairing something you know is going to get damaged again,” Mr. Berginnis said. If FEMA doesn’t insist on reasonable flood standards, “we literally are wasting taxpayer money.”



    Recently, FEMA has quietly made changes to rules meant to protect buildings in flood zones. These changes have raised concerns among environmentalists and experts in disaster preparedness.

    The rules, which were put in place to ensure that buildings in flood-prone areas are built to withstand potential flooding, have been eased to allow for more flexibility in construction. This means that buildings may not be as resilient to flooding as they once were.

    This decision by FEMA comes at a time when climate change is causing more frequent and severe flooding events. By relaxing these rules, FEMA may be putting more buildings and communities at risk of devastating flood damage.

    It is important for policymakers and the public to be aware of these changes and to advocate for stronger measures to protect buildings in flood zones. We cannot afford to be complacent when it comes to preparing for the impacts of climate change.

    Tags:

    FEMA rules, flood zones, building protection, FEMA regulations, flood risk management, flood mitigation, building safety, flood zone construction, flood zone regulations, FEMA policy changes

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  • Damaging winds, flash flood threats in North Georgia this weekend

    Damaging winds, flash flood threats in North Georgia this weekend


    Saturday features on-and-off showers.

    However, a vigorous line of storms will move through North Georgia before dawn on Sunday, bringing most neighborhoods another half-inch to an inch of rainfall.

    Severe storm threat in north Georgia

    What we know:

    A Slight Risk (Level 2 of 5) for severe weather has been issued for Georgia, particularly on Sunday morning, with a primary concern of damaging wind gusts up to 60 mph. While tornadoes are not the primary hazard, there is still a low potential for a brief tornado, making the situation more unpredictable, especially in the early hours of Sunday. The timeframe for the most intense activity is between 2 a.m. and 10 a.m. on Sunday.

    Heavy rains in metro Atlanta

    What we don’t know:

    While the main risk will be concentrated in the far western parts of the state, flash flooding remains a significant concern across much of north Georgia. A Slight Risk (Level 2 of 4) for flooding will be present, especially given the saturated ground from recent rainfall. Flooding is most likely along and north of Interstate 85. The heavy rain expected early Sunday could exacerbate swollen rivers and increase the potential for a second round of river flooding this week.

    Timing and intensity of Atlanta storms

    Timeline:

    The severe weather threat will unfold overnight, with the peak period occurring between 2 a.m. and 10 a.m. on Sunday. Although the risk for severe weather will extend across most of north and central Georgia, the western portions of the state are expected to experience the greatest intensity. The threat for flash flooding will be most pronounced during this time as well, with rainfall rates at their highest early Sunday morning. River flooding is a more gradual concern and could linger into the start of next week, as rivers that were already receding may rise to flood stage again.

    Risk of tornadoes in Atlanta

    What’s next:

    The overnight timing of this event increases the potential for nocturnal tornadoes, which is an added danger for residents during the night hours when visibility and awareness are lower. Additionally, strong winds coupled with saturated soils could lead to trees and power lines being downed, further complicating the situation. Widespread power outages are possible, especially in areas where trees and power lines are already vulnerable. For rivers affected by recent rains, some could rise to flood stage again, exacerbating existing flooding concerns, especially as rain falls overnight.

    The Source: This article consists of original forecasting by the FOX 5 Storm Team.

     

    Severe WeatherNewsGeorgia



    Attention North Georgia residents: Damaging winds and flash flood threats are expected this weekend. Stay safe and be prepared for severe weather conditions. Keep an eye on weather updates and take necessary precautions to protect yourself and your property. Stay indoors if possible and avoid driving through flooded areas. Let’s all stay vigilant and stay safe during this challenging weather event. #NorthGeorgiaWeather #SevereWeatherAlert #StaySafe

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  • Middle Tennessee under flood watch from Friday into Sunday

    Middle Tennessee under flood watch from Friday into Sunday


    NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for the majority of Middle Tennessee this weekend, with more rain on the way.

    Most of our NewsChannel 5 viewing area has already experienced precipitation this week, and some counties have already dealt with some bouts of flash flooding.

    Starting late Friday night, the NWS predicts a significant rainfall event, which is expected to add another 3 to 5 inches of rain. Locally, higher amounts of 5 to 7 inches are possible.

    Counties under the flood watch:

    • Bedford
    • Cannon
    • Cheatham
    • Clay
    • Coffee
    • Cumberland
    • Davidson
    • DeKalb
    • Dickson
    • Fentress
    • Giles
    • Grundy
    • Hickman
    • Houston
    • Humphreys
    • Jackson
    • Lawrence
    • Lewis
    • Macon
    • Marshall
    • Maury
    • Montgomery
    • Overton
    • Perry
    • Pickett
    • Putnam
    • Robertson
    • Rutherford
    • Smith
    • Stewart
    • Sumner
    • Trousdale
    • Van Buren
    • Warren
    • Wayne
    • White
    • Williamson
    • Wilson

    Additionally, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is watching this weekend’s forecast and how this will effect the dam systems, lakes and rivers.
    Here are the areas the Army Corps is watching.

    • Due to the high volume of expected rainfall, navigation at Cheatham Lock may be impacted by this weekend, with potential short-term restrictions or closures lasting approximately two to three days.
    • The USACE storage reservoirs of J. Percy Priest, Center Hill, Dale Hollow, and Wolf Creek currently have empty flood storage zones and may see rapid rises in lake levels as they hold back flood waters. These waters will be slowly released after the rain ends to prepare them for future events.
    • Cordell Hull, Old Hickory, and Cheatham Dams do not have built-in flood storage and must release the water that runs into them, this may be done using their spillway gates or hydropower turbines, depending on the dam and how much water they must release.

    Do you have weather questions? You can email my5@newschannel5.com.

    Wilson County Rotary Clubs donate 100,000th book to local schools

    It takes a village! Hats off to the Wilson County Rotary clubs for investing in our kids in such a tangible way. Putting 100,000 books in the hands of little learners is something to celebrate. I love that they store the books in a bank vault — they truly are priceless!

    -Carrie Sharp





    Attention Middle Tennessee residents: be aware that our area is under a flood watch from Friday into Sunday. Heavy rainfall is expected throughout the weekend, which may lead to potential flooding in low-lying areas.

    Please take precautions to stay safe during this time. Avoid driving through flooded roads, and keep an eye on weather updates from local authorities. If you live in a flood-prone area, consider taking steps to protect your property and belongings.

    Stay informed and be prepared for possible flooding in the coming days. Let’s all work together to stay safe and weather this storm. #MiddleTennesseeFloodWatch #StaySafe

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  • South under severe weather and flash flood threat, Northeast expecting snow


    A storm system that brought rain and snow to Southern California will move into Texas and the South by Wednesday, bringing flash flood and severe weather threat.

    The storm’s highest rain total was in Santa Barbara County, which saw 2.23 inches. Los Angeles County saw 1.62 inches and Santa Monica had 1.38 inches. Totals were less than an inch at Los Angeles International Airport and in Downtown Los Angeles.

    Western storm will reemerge in southern Plains states by late afternoon on Wednesday, into the overnight hours with severe weather possible for central and northern Texas, including Dallas.

    In addition, this storm system will bring very heavy rain and flash flood threat from Texas to western Kentucky, including Dallas, Texas; Little Rock, Arkansas; Memphis, Tennessee, and Paducah, Kentucky.

    Locally some areas could see more than 4 inches of rain, this will lead to flash flooding on Thursday.

    Snow squalls in the Northeast and Midwest

    Several quick moving storm systems combined with the lake effect, will bring strong winds and snow to parts of the Great Lakes and Northeast today into Thursday.

    Early on Tuesday, a snow squall warning was issued for Syracuse, New York, where visibility was dropping close to zero in spots.

    At least five states this morning are under snow and wind alerts from the Midwest to the Northeast.

    The heaviest snow and strongest winds will be from northern Michigan to western Pennsylvania and New York and into northern New England, where locally a foot of snow is forecast with wind gusts near 60 mph.

    Whiteout conditions are possible in some of these heavier snow bands.

    Further south and east, for the I-95 corridor, a dusting to 1 inch of snow is possible from Hudson Valley in New York to Connecticut and Massachusetts. Boston and Hartford could see the snow.



    South under severe weather and flash flood threat, Northeast expecting snow

    The South is bracing for severe weather and flash floods as a powerful storm system moves through the region. States such as Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama are under a heightened risk for severe thunderstorms, damaging winds, and heavy rainfall.

    Residents are urged to stay weather aware and be prepared for rapidly changing conditions. Flash flood watches and warnings have been issued for several areas, with the potential for significant rainfall totals.

    Meanwhile, in the Northeast, a separate weather system is expected to bring snowfall to parts of New York, Pennsylvania, and New England. Winter weather advisories and snowfall warnings have been issued, with several inches of snow expected in some areas.

    Travel disruptions are possible, so residents are advised to check for updates and exercise caution while traveling. Stay safe and stay informed during these weather events.

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  • X users flood with funny reactions to Benny Blanco being considered for Flynn Rider in the live-action ‘Tangled’


    Benny Blanco is back on the internet headlines after rumors of him being considered for Tangled’s fairytale hero, Flynn Rider poured into social media. As the buzz broke out, fans reacted hilariously and flooded social media with their expertly crafted jokes, quips and memes.

    The details come from social media posts on X about the rumored casting considerations. One such post shared on X (via @DropPopNet) on 21st Jan 2025, features the buzz:

    Some fans are in disbelief while others are happy to welcome the casting rumor. Either way, fun on the internet is not lost. The post shared on X drew lots of humorous comments and reactions.

    A netizen jokingly commented, (via @friskycharm/X)

    Earlier in 2024, Benny and popular pop singer Selena Gomez got engaged and that news took the internet by storm. Now that the buzz around Tangled’s live-action casting is all over the internet, Disney fans are back in action.

    For those unfamiliar with Flynn Rider, he is the hero of the 2010 animated movie Tangled, which is a retelling of the fairytale of Rapunzel. Also known as Eugene Fitzherbert, he is a charming boy who falls in love with the princess with an enormous braid.

    Flynn is the proud owner of a heart of gold underneath a roguish demeanor and quirky, fun-filled attitude. Doubling down on the fun side of the fairy tale, netizens plunged right into action with humor-filled memes and replies.


    X users flood with funny reactions to Benny Blanco being considered for Flynn Rider in the live-action ‘Tangled’

    A lighthearted joke (via @Missed_Thrills on X) goes,

    Haha, Benny Blanco as Flynn Rider? Guess we’re getting a musical number with autotune in the tower!

    Another humorous comment (by @SkaleAlex on X) reads,

    This can’t be real

    A netizen found Benny to fit perfectly in the character of Flynn. This poster meme comes from a scene in the Tangled movie when Flynn steals the crown of Rapunzel and flees. The royal army chases him and puts out these posters across the fairytale city.

    Someone jokingly wrote, (Via @cupofmariel/X)

    People who didn’t like the casting buzz, took a light-hearted jab and replied, (Via @ColeYoung67/X)

    Rapunzel is definitely fleeing back to mother gothel after that

    Another netizen commented, (via @deedeedott/X)

    Another person humorously replied, (via @chitra_gokul/X)

    Some are still in disbelief (via @Gamer_Zonne/X)

    I didn’t know today was April 1

    And a comical observation was shared, (via @rosesandlalli/X)

    maybe mother really does know best

    When talking about Benny, can his beloved Selena be far away? Fans posted funny gifs of Selena to poke fun,

    A user posted, (via @iamdwardth/X)

    Someone playfully jested, (via @HOuseOfHorrorCo/X)

    As always, fans appear to be divided while taking sides on social media. While some fans look forward to seeing a fresh take on one of the most iconic fairytale characters, others surely have differing opinions. Long story short, even when opinions divided digital natives, laughter united them under the comic roof.

    We hope you liked the compilation of funny reactions. Save these and share them away!