Transcript:
A recent analysis shows that the risk of flooding in Washington, D.C., is worse than city planners thought.
Two years ago, the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board, or TPB, found that many of the region’s roads, rails, and bus stops were at risk of flooding.
But something was missing. Many roads that locals say flood regularly did not show up as high risk.
Katherine Rainone, a TPB planner, says that’s because the group used FEMA’s flood plain maps, which only look at flooding near bodies of water like rivers.
So they did a second study with new flood maps that take into account how heavy rain can cause floods and overflow storm drains far from rivers or streams.
Rainone: “Twenty-five percent more roads and highways miles were at risk. … There were 7% more bus stops at risk, 13% more rail stops, and 25% more rail line miles that were at risk.”
The analysis also showed where the chance of flooding will grow as climate change brings more extreme weather.
Rainone says this research can help officials prioritize flood prevention projects.
Rainone: “So that they can start to mitigate the impacts of extreme precipitation.”
… and provide safe, reliable transportation across the D.C. area.
Reporting credit: Ethan Freedman / ChavoBart Digital Media
