Following a month of deadly flash-floods across the country, there is a good deal of talk about improving early warning systems. While this is certainly appropriate in areas that have not yet been destroyed by flooding, it is inadequate when it comes to saving lives in the future.
We must stop building on floodplains, especially in areas that are repeatedly prone to destructive and deadly flooding. The Guadalupe River valley in Central Texas offers a prime example; known as Flash-Flood Alley for many years, it finally demonstrated the risk of rebuilding along its channel on July 4 of this year.
Life-saving policies must include common sense building codes. Nature's power cannot be confined by dams and seawalls. We need to give her space, especially as our warming climate greatly increases the risk of both coastal and inland flooding.
