Overview
On April 22, 2024, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) published its final rule regarding updated flood insurance requirements in certain areas of the country: Floodplain Management and Protection of Wetlands; Minimum Property Standards for Flood Hazard Exposure; Building to the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard. The new rule implements the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS), which HUD says is aimed at helping communities become resilient to flooding, protecting lives and properties, minimizing damage to households, reducing insurance costs, and ensuring that federally funded construction projects are built to withstand current and future flood risks.
The new rule represents HUD’s attempt to align flood management standards with President Joe Biden’s directive to address climate change and the damage it adds to flooding and other disasters. Specifically, Executive Order 13690 requires buildings and facilities built or renovated with federal money to be elevated above flood levels.
The new rule and public comments make clear HUD’s intent to address climate change issues with “climate informed science,” including the use of a Climate…
