New Executive Order Regarding Floodplains in Comment Phase

By Donna Conneely The new Executive Order (EO) 13690, enacted by President Obama earlier this year, is currently in the public comment phase. Comments from builders, floodplain managers, city officials, or members of the general public will be heard until the date of April 6, 2015. After that date, the comments will be sifted and…
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Will New Flood Barriers Hold?

By Donna Conneely This last year there has been frequent flooding in the major river basins across the US Midwest. The Mississippi River hovered at or above flood stage for weeks, leaving residents in a state of constant vigilance and anxiety. Above-average precipitation caused more than inconvenience for many people — it caused life-threatening floods…
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New Executive Order to Change Floodplain Management Policy

By Donna Conneely On January 30, 2015, President Obama signed Executive Order 13690, a move that will have far-reaching effects on federal and local flood management, community building policies, and the insurance industry. The new Executive Order (EO) will amend and replace the previous EO regarding federal Floodplain Management, which was established in the year…
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Boston Considers Allowing Water In …

By Donna Conneely Hurricane Sandy was a disaster for much of the eastern seaboard, with the cities of New York and New Jersey particularly hard-hit. The city of Boston was also in line for a direct hit, but was saved by something the other two cities lacked that day: pure luck. The hurricane hit Boston…
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