Residents of Whitesburg, Ky., rarely worried about flooding. Then, last July, a 1,000-year storm hit.
illustrated a growing and often overlooked threat that scientists say is exacerbated by climate change: severe flooding across swaths of the inland U.S.In nearly four decades living in Whitesburg, Kasey Wright had never seen the North Fork of the Kentucky River flood her neighborhood. Last July's storms sent a torrent of water 6 feet high through her home.
In determining special flood-hazard areas, FEMA focuses on coastal storm surge and large rivers, not accounting for precipitation and small streams. Yet those factors—which First Street includes—are the main causes of flooding in Appalachia, where the mountainous topography sends rainfall streaming down hillsides and into networks of small waterways, Porter said.
Letcher County, which has a population of about 21,000, has the nation’s largest hidden flood risk, along with Virginia’s Buchanan County, according to First Street. Among the 20 counties in the U.S. with the most hidden flood risk, eight are in eastern Kentucky. More than 2,100 homes in Letcher County—about 25% of the total occupied housing units—were damaged in last year’s flooding, according to a study by the Ohio River Valley Institute and Appalachian Citizens’ Law Center. Only about 4% of the damaged homes in the county had flood insurance, said Eric Dixon, one of the report authors.
Argentina Últimas Noticias, Argentina Titulares
Similar News:También puedes leer noticias similares a ésta que hemos recopilado de otras fuentes de noticias.
Weather Authority: Flash flood warnings issued as storms enter Delaware ValleyFlash flood warnings have been issued for portions of Berks and Chester counties, as thunderstorms pop over Chester and Montgomery counties.
Leer más »
University of Delaware can keep Biden Senate papers hidden: court rulingThe Delaware Supreme Court affirmed a lower court ruling on Thursday denying a conservative watchdog group and media outlet access to a trove of documents from President Biden’s time in the Senate.…
Leer más »
Zapdos Raid Guide For Pokémon GO Players: Hidden GemsUse a mixture of Ice-types and Rock-types to defeat Zapdos during the currently live 7th Anniversary Party event in Niantic's PokemonGO. Pokemon
Leer más »