Source: U.S. Dept. of Housing and  Urban Development

Photo: Flooding during San Diego County's January 2024 severe storms

April 23, 2024 (Washington D.C.) – Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) published a Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS) final rule in the Federal Register to help communities prepare for and reduce flood damage. This rule aims to protect communities from flood risk, heavy storms, increased frequency of severe weather events and disasters, changes in development patterns, and erosion.  

The new rules apply in areas designated as 100-year floodplains, such as portions of San Diego County that experienced severe flooding in January, prompting disaster declarations at the local, state and federal levels.