Flooding - a Growing National and Regional Threat

March 15, 2011

Panelists:

National Flood Perspective:

Dr Gerry Galloway, University of Maryland

The National Capital Region:

Dr Gregory Baecher, University of Maryland;

Dr Mark Houck, George Mason University; and

Dr Pradeep Behera, University of the District of Columbia.

Presentations by members of the newly formed National Capital Region Flood Risk Assessment Program discussed development pressures that are moving more people into hazard areas, a crumbling flood protection infrastructure, and IPCC predictions of increased flooding as a result of climate change threaten to increase already rising flood damages, as well as catastrophic flooding occurring at an increasing rate across the United States, while at the same time much of downtown Washington and many other local areas are only marginally protected.