Researchers from University of Montana Report Findings in Environmental Change (Flood risk management in the USA: implications of national flood…

Researchers from University of Montana Report Findings in Environmental Change (Flood risk management in the USA: implications of national flood insurance program changes for social justice)

By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Obesity, Fitness & Wellness Week -- Current study results on Environmental Change have been published. According to news reporting out of Missoula, Montana, by NewsRx editors, the research stated, "The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), an essential element of US flood management, has been modified by recent legislation to make it financially solvent. Primarily affecting policy types that have long been subsidized, the reconfigured program will result in these being converted to risk-based policies and this has produced concerns over policy affordability, especially for moderate- to lower-income households."

Our news journalists obtained a quote from the research from the University of Montana, "The Homeowners Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2014 does require the program's administrator, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to develop an affordability framework and program to present to the US Congress for enactment. These NFIP changes are considered in the context of its historic challenges and through the lens of risk perception studies and their social justice implications. Studies show that perception of flood risk is conditioned by experience with flooding as much as by economic factors, and coupling of flood risk and climate change in FEMA communications is likely to be counterproductive. More deliberative and collaborative engagement with at-risk communities is important."

According to the news editors, the research concluded: "The NFIP changes might exacerbate social injustice, but less so than a retreat from or dismantling of the program."

For more information on this research see: Flood risk management in the USA: implications of national flood insurance program changes for social justice. Regional Environmental Change, 2017;17(8):2323. Regional Environmental Change can be contacted at: Springer Heidelberg, Tiergartenstrasse 17, D-69121 Heidelberg, Germany. (Springer - www.springer.com; Regional Environmental Change - www.springerlink.com/content/1436-3798/)

Our news journalists report that additional information may be obtained by contacting D. Shively, University of Montana, Dept. of Geog, Missoula, MT 59812, United States (see also Environmental Change).

The direct object identifier (DOI) for that additional information is: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-017-1228-z. This DOI is a link to an online electronic document that is either free or for purchase, and can be your direct source for a journal article and its citation.

Keywords for this news article include: Missoula, Montana, United States, North and Central America, Environmental Change, University of Montana.

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