Geography
The Role of Floodplain Zoning in Reducing Disaster Risk
Quick fact
In the United States, properties in the 100-year floodplain face a 1% chance of flooding each year, but over a 30-year mortgage that risk rises to about 26%—far higher than most people assume.
Why this is interesting
Imagine building your dream home right in the path of a river's natural overflow—would you blame the river or the builder? Floodplain zoning is the tool that stops this costly mistake before it happens.