I recall several Houston area surveyors discussing benchmarks and elevation certificates. Ironically, many of us surveyors get hung up with hundredths of a foot when determining if a structure is in or not in the floodplain using a FIRM map BFE.
The reality is the least significant figure for the Houston floodplains may at best be the closest foot versus tenths.
What impact to you think Harvey will have on Flood Insurance and the work us surveyors do?
And, I hope all affected by Harvey get healed quickly,
In about 10 years FEMA will get around to updating their data for the region.
What I have heard is that this is a 1000 year event. So, no update needed, but lots of flooding for properties not in a SFHA.....
There will be a huge number of property owners who will be wishing they had purchased fairly inexpensive flood insurance for their properties adjoining, but not in, an SFHA.
Paul D, post: 443857, member: 323 wrote: What I have heard is that this is a 1000 year event. So, no update needed, but lots of flooding for properties not in a SFHA.....
bout the third 1000-year event around here in the last few years. granted, we're a little bit upstream, but it's still the same ballpark.
otherwise, here's this (one of myriad regarding NO) if one were conjecturing how the country's 4th largest city might be mapped in the future: http://www.npr.org/2016/09/30/495794999/new-maps-label-much-of-new-orleans-out-of-flood-hazard-area
The effect is that we will all be doing more certs. My company very very few certs until after Andrew and again after Charlie (not so much a bump after Katrina). FEMA will go looking for places to bolster the insurance accounts and the whole country will pay... which means more people will be required to have flood insurance... which means more people will be looking for certs to get out.
Paul D, post: 443857, member: 323 wrote: What I have heard is that this is a 1000 year event. So, no update needed, but lots of flooding for properties not in a SFHA.....
The Des Plaines River near Chicago has had 100 yr floods on nearly an annual basis.
There's a lot of 100 yr floods that are a lot more frequent than 100 yrs.
I believe I heard the period for a 100 year flood was closer to 27 years. Statistics majors can clarify that.
Something I have noticed watching the facebook accounts are the people who do have their homes currently just above the water level, until a boat or truck goes by, and the wake from the boat or truck sends water right into the home. Makes the hundreths of a foot in elevation less important.
My suggestion is to get a 50lb tub of 60d nails and run around your service area marking high water debris lines as soon as accessible.
Holy Cow, post: 443889, member: 50 wrote: I believe I heard the period for a 100 year flood was closer to 27 years. Statistics majors can clarify that.
I think that a flood event that has a 1% probability of occurring is deemed to be a 100-year flood. It's a nice short-hand description, but somewhat misleading. Stochastic events don't exhibit such regular behavior.
HC, both your number and the 1% probability could very well be correct.