How Government Decisions Left Tennessee Exposed to Deadly Flooding --Flood insurance - building codes

[underpants]

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/26/climate/tennessee-flood-damage-impact.html

Choices about building rules, insurance programs, flood maps and more put residents at higher risk, according to climate and disaster experts.

No building codes

As officials in Humphreys County spurned the federal government’s offer of flood insurance, they were shaping the future of the county in another way: by declining to adopt residential building codes.

Those codes govern the way houses must be built, to make them more likely to withstand natural disasters and other dangers. For example, Nashville, where catastrophic flooding in 2010 displaced thousands of people, requires the ground floor of new houses be constructed at least four feet above the expected height of a major flood, one of the toughest requirements in the country.

Flood maps understated the risk

As homes were being constructed in Humphreys County without a building code, the county’s ability to prepare for flooding was also being affected by a decision in Washington.

FEMA produces maps showing which areas are at risk from flooding, so that homeowners, builders and local officials can make informed decisions about where and how to build houses. Federal law requires the agency to review its flood maps at least once every five years and update them if needed.

[70sEraVet]

1. I assume that the last paragraph is implying

that the county ignored FEMA's maps.
But even homes that were built 100 years ago flooded for the first time. 17 inches of rain within 12 hours is a phenomenal event. There has been a LOT of phenomenal events lately.

[hatrack]

2. So, they are free to build a house with no building codes, sited w/o awareness of flood risk . . .

And they're free to sell that house and enjoy the profits of that sale.

And, on the flip side, Humphreys County residents are also able to enjoy the freedom of living in such a house.

'Murca!!!

[SharonAnn]

3. Yep, freedumb! And they're able to build a house that might fall down and kill everyone inside, gue

And they're able to build a house that might fall down and kill everyone inside, children, guests and adult residents.

Then they can sell it to some one else who might experience the failures.

I live in Tennessee and about 10 years ago tour county was considering the creation of a Building Codes Enforcement department. We had building codes, but no inspection or enforcement. It was quite a heated issue and I fought hard for the enforcement side. And we actually won! The issue brought out all the typical East TN attitudes and the County Commission meetings were beyond exciting.

We won! The county now has inspections and enforcement! Almost unbelievable.

[Lars39]

4. Right wingers will never take responsibility for this...

I’m betting they’re going to blame it on the railroad after watching this segment:
https://www.wsmv.com/news/sheriff-source-of-surge-of-water-likely-caused-deaths/article_171ec598-0781-11ec-b9d9-c782f26b2423.html