Start Year: 2018

Using Geographic Tools to Identify Industrial and Commercial Facilities in Flood-Prone Areas

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Pollution Prevention Program provided EAC with a grant to use geospatial analytical tools to analyze publicly available state and federal environmental data, along with data regarding current and projected flood hazards and changing climate conditions, to inform state and federal program’s operations, local resilience planning and public awareness about potential flood hazards. EAC identified active industrial and commercial facilities in New Jersey that may be subject to impacts from flood hazards resulting from changing climate conditions, thus creating potential future exposures in communities where the facilities reside. The data and presentation products from the project can inform federal, state and local environmental program operations (e.g. facility inspections), raise awareness about potential flood hazards in the proximity of industrial and commercial operations, and assimilate data that is useful for enhancing resilience considerations in local hazard mitigation and land use planning processes.  In addition to a final report, the project generated a Map Story that outlines major findings.

Jeanne Herb was quoted in February 6, 2018 article in the New York Times about the links between extreme weather impacts, such as increased frequency and severity of flooding, and amplified risk of toxic spills at chemical sites.  Read the full article here.

Additional Topics
Campo | Climate | Herb | Jeanne Herb | Matt Campo | Whytlaw