Context:

Recent floods in central New Jersey and across the U.S. highlight the increasing impact of climate change, with heavier rainfall and more frequent extreme storms becoming common. In New Jersey, flash floods caused significant property damage and fatalities, prompting Governor Phil Murphy to link the devastation to climate change. Despite FEMA's flood maps, experts warn that they may underestimate flooding risks, suggesting that more properties are at risk than previously thought. States are adapting by improving warning systems and infrastructure, like New York City's flood walls, while also reconsidering zoning and insurance regulations. With climate change accelerating the frequency of such events, individuals and governments must reassess flood risks and implement protective measures promptly.

Dive Deeper:

• In central New Jersey, heavy rains led to severe flooding, overwhelming local infrastructure and causing significant property damage, with roads turning into rivers and numerous homes affected. Tragically, two people lost their lives when their car was swept into a stream by fast-rising waters.

• Governor Phil Murphy attributed the severity of the floods to climate change, noting that water-related events have been the deadliest during his tenure, surpassing other weather-related fatalities.

• Climate change is linked to increased atmospheric moisture, leading to heavier rainfall and more frequent extreme weather events globally, with recent weeks seeing deadly floods across several U.S. states, including Texas, where over 130 people died.

• FEMA's flood maps, critical for zoning and insurance requirements, are criticized for potentially underestimating the risk of severe storms, with experts suggesting that many more properties are vulnerable to flooding than these maps indicate.

• In response, some states are enhancing their flood warning systems and constructing protective infrastructure. For instance, New York City is developing a system of flood walls and gates to safeguard parts of Manhattan, while Vermont is buying floodplain homes to convert into parkland to mitigate future flood damage.