The growing threat of urban flooding: a national challenge 2018

Aging and inadequate infrastructure, coupled with rapid land development, increased the amount of storm runoff to already stressed drainage systems, creating pockets of flooding in ill-equipped and vulnerable neighborhoods. In many communities, a lack of resources, a division of responsibilities among various departments, and a reluctance to deal with the impacts of increasingly intense precipitation and climate change has slowed progress in meeting the challenges of urban flooding. 

In 2016, the Center for Texas Beaches and Shores at Texas A&M University, Galveston Campus and the Center for Disaster Resilience at the University of Maryland initiated a joint study to determine the extent and consequences of urban flooding in the United States and explore what actions might be taken to mitigate this flooding in the future. Center researchers analyzed available data concerning urban flooding, surveyed municipal flood and stormwater managers, and met with professionals whose disciplines intersect with urban flooding at the local, state, and national level. This report presents the results of that study, addressing issues that affect urban flood risk reduction, examining critical challenges, and offering recommendations for action.