Community Corner
Los Angeles Faces State's Greatest Flooding Risk, Study Finds
The First Street Foundation Flood Model suggests that the risk of flooding across the U.S. is "significantly more" than previous estimates.
LOS ANGELES, CA — About 20 percent of Los Angeles homes are at risk of flooding, according to a new report by a nonprofit aimed at reducing flood dangers across the country.
The study by the First Street Foundation found that 132,046 homes in Los Angeles are currently at risk of flood damage in a major storm or rainy season. That number is expected to rise to 135,515 in 2050 as the climate changes. Statewide, Los Angeles has more properties at risk than any other city. However, several California cities are likely to see their flood risk rise dramatically over the next 30 years including Coronado, Long Beach and Huntington Beach.
The First Street Foundation provides a national analysis of flood risk in states and cities across the United States. The report is aimed at arming communities with flood models and information to help them prepare for the risk. The nonprofit, dedicated to the research and development of flood prevention, released a model that allows users to assess flood risk in the past, present and future at the individual property level by location. The risk assessment takes into account sea-level rise, rainfall and flooding along smaller bodies of water.
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The new in-depth report estimates that 14.6 million properties across the United States are at substantial risk of flooding, which is a staggering 5.9 million more properties than the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) shows on federal government flood maps.
First Street uses three risk description levels to classify the chances of flooding in an area:
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- Almost certain risk: 20 percent annual probability
- Substantial risk: 1 percent annual probability
- Any risk: 0.2 percent annual probability
Here’s the risk of flooding in California, according to the First Street Foundation.
- Total properties at substantial risk in 2020: 1.09 million
- Total properties at substantial risk in 2050: 1.15 million
- Difference in the number of properties currently at substantial risk compared to FEMA maps: 595,500.
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