Flood Risk in Hoover AL
According to Flood Factor, there are 2,519 properties in Hoover that have greater than a 26% chance of being severely affected by flooding over the next 30 years. This represents 9% of all properties in the city (Flood Factor[1]). Of course, a major concern of flooding is property damage, at least 390 Hoover residents experienced flood damage in October of 2021. While Hoover has a moderate risk of flooding over the next three decades, disruptions to daily life, potential utility outages, interruptions in emergency services and transportation are possible.
EPA reports that Alabama will become warmer and experience more severe floods in coming decades. Soils are drier, rainfall has increased, more rainfall arrives in downpours. This leads to flooding (EPA August 2016, 430-F-16-003).
“Alabamians are experiencing more intensive, flooding rainfall. Our insurance agents selling flood insurance know it, our meteorologists know it, our road crews and state troopers know it, as do homeowners living along our creeks and rivers.” More rain over shorter times, not more rain each year is the problem. This leads to erosion of the Cahaba River banks, bank sediments combine with construction site run off and sewage—often raw sewage. What needs to be done? Better sewage treatment plants, protect infrastructure with enlarged and improved drainage systems, avoid building in flood prone areas. (Sept. 13, 2021 Dr. Jim McClintock UAB faculty)P https://WWW.UAB .edu/CAS/news/faculty/item/7281-McClintock-climate-change-essay
The Birmingham-Hoover metro area is among the nation’s top 15 metro areas that will experience negative economic effects from increased heat and extreme weather events and other consequences. Based on NOAA data. (Published 2-2, 20`9 in Birmingham Watch)
In addition, construction and development increase the likelihood of flooding. Land-disturbing activities clear large areas and channelize water. See Magnolia Grove for more information on the impact of land-disturbing activities.
[1] Flood Factor is a free online tool created by the nonprofit First Street Foundation that makes it easy for Americans to find their property’s risk of flooding and understand how flood risks are changing because of a changing environment. Flooding is the most expensive, natural disaster in the United States, costing over $1 trillion in inflation adjusted dollars since 1980.
Plan Action Against Flooding
Five steps to plan action against flooding and other hazards (U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit)
1. Explore Hazards
In Hoover those include: Drought, Hail, Heat Wave, Ice Storm, Landslide, Lightening, Riverine Flooding, Tornado and Wildfire.
Which assets are exposed? Residents, roadways, residential and commercial properties, and parks.
During rain events, which assets are paired with hazards? Residential properties and flooding, roadways and flooding and landslides, commercial properties and flooding, parks and flooding and landslides.
What role do climate stressors play? What about non-climate stressors such as land development, construction projects, traffic patterns and population growth?
Who will champion our cause? Who will be on the team? How will our problem be defined? Do we agree that assets are threatened?
Are we ready to move on to step 2?
2. Assess Vulnerability and Risks
3. Investigate Options
4. Prioritize and Plan
5. Take Action
https://toolkit.climate.gov/steps-to-resilience/explore-hazards