Pew, fiscally conservative groups urge stronger flood standards for building

The Pew Charitable Trusts—together with fiscal conservatives, engineers and architects, emergency managers, and insurance representatives—sent a letter to the White House Monday urging tougher standards for building or rebuilding homes and other structures in areas at risk of flooding. The recent devastation caused by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria underscores that now more than ever, the country needs a pragmatic and prudent disaster risk management strategy that ensures that we don’t repeatedly pay to rebuild in vulnerable places. The letter, endorsed by 28 other organizations, stresses that a stronger federal flood standard can help safeguard the nation’s infrastructure, protect businesses, communities, and homes, and save taxpayers money.