2024 Tropical Weather Thread (12 Viewers)

[Madmarsha]

Here's the behind the scenes stuff from Carriacou in Hurricane Beryl.

I had never heard of Carriacou or how to pronounce it either til I heard you guys say it in this video.

I use instant coffee in kefir to make mocha smoothies so don't always be besmirching instant coffee granules.

We were in the eye of Katrina. Seeing the calm and the blue sky and the gulls all flying around stuck in the eye trying to keep up with it as it moved inland was an experience.

 

[superchuck500]

Awesome piece Brandon.

In other news, I think we have been missing a story from Debby that's pretty wild. Sarastoa, FL - including way inland - had massive flooding and in areas that had not flooded before. People in the X flood zone who (foolishly) didn't have flood insurance are wondering what the hell happened. The answer is probably over-development and a perfect storm of rainfall.

Days after the storm moved on, the flood waters have not receded.

 

[bclemms]

Awesome piece Brandon.

In other news, I think we have been missing a story from Debby that's pretty wild. Sarastoa, FL - including way inland - had massive flooding and in areas that had not flooded before. People in the X flood zone who (foolishly) didn't have flood insurance are wondering what the hell happened. The answer is probably over-development and a perfect storm of rainfall.

Days after the storm moved on, the flood waters have not receded.

Yeah, they backfilled a swamp in a river basin and are shocked.

 

[efil4stnias]

Yeah, they backfilled a swamp in a river basin and are shocked.

With development happening in areas that were once off limits, due to demand, folks HAVE to now inquire about watersheds/drainage. AND WHEN BUYING, WHO THINKS ABOUT ASKING THESE QUESTIONS? Shoot, they hardly understand watersheds, flow, basins etc. ( especially if you arent from the area )

Over development wreaks havoc on drainage infrastructure ( natural and man-made ) especially when NO IMPROVEMENTS ( new canals, new drainage areas ) are made to get the water to where it wants to go, with minimal property loss.

We have a subdivision not far from where i am going up on land that was deemed "uninhabitable" by USACOE. The developer is going to reclaim it thru bringing in soil, build it up. So 10-15 acres of land that was once a "drainage path" with 1000s of oaks/pines etc that would swallow up the water, clear cut and built up. So now that same water has to find ANOTHER way to watershed, putting other established neighborhoods at risk since they were built based on prior topography.

Developers are changing the landscape, literally.

I live on a creek and was an X zone. in 2024, FEMA remapped me and now im A15. Went from $697 to $2800 for flood insurance. With all the NEW development DOWNSTREAM from my home/creek and development further up St. Tammany that the creek is drainage to take to Tchefucnte River, its a matter of when, not if any longer.

I got insanely lucky in 2020- within 6 inches of my home that sits 25ft above sea level. I suspect that we ever get another 10 inch rain event in 8 hrs, ill be filing a claim.

 

[bclemms]

With development happening in areas that were once off limits, due to demand, folks HAVE to now inquire about watersheds/drainage. AND WHEN BUYING, WHO THINKS ABOUT ASKING THESE QUESTIONS? Shoot, they hardly understand watersheds, flow, basins etc. ( especially if you arent from the area )

Over development wreaks havoc on drainage infrastructure ( natural and man-made ) especially when NO IMPROVEMENTS ( new canals, new drainage areas ) are made to get the water to where it wants to go, with minimal property loss.

We have a subdivision not far from where i am going up on land that was deemed "uninhabitable" by USACOE. The developer is going to reclaim it thru bringing in soil, build it up. So 10-15 acres of land that was once a "drainage path" with 1000s of oaks/pines etc that would swallow up the water, clear cut and built up. So now that same water has to find ANOTHER way to watershed, putting other established neighborhoods at risk since they were built based on prior topography.

Developers are changing the landscape, literally.

I live on a creek and was an X zone. in 2024, FEMA remapped me and now im A15. Went from $697 to $2800 for flood insurance. With all the NEW development DOWNSTREAM from my home/creek and development further up St. Tammany that the creek is drainage to take to Tchefucnte River, its a matter of when, not if any longer.

I got insanely lucky in 2020- within 6 inches of my home that sits 25ft above sea level. I suspect that we ever get another 10 inch rain event in 8 hrs, ill be filing a claim.

I met with a friend last week in Wilmington for lunch. We went by his house in Carolina Beach. The whole way he was discussing how the property value in the area has been on a rocket. I’m seeing new construction booming everywhere. He kept telling me how great of an investment the real estate is in the area. The sun was setting, the sawgrass was blowing as the Cape Fear River gently swept through the marshes filled with grey remains of trees that somehow made the landscape even prettier.

Then I got ruthless. Asked him if he knew why the trees all in the area were void of branches, bark and left grey? Had to explain to him that it is from salt water intrusion and usually found in places with rapid sea level rise and subsidence, extremely prone areas for hurricane surge, areas impacted by frequent tsunamis or earthquake prone areas that subside from subduction zone faults.

Obviously, he wasnt quite sure what that meant so I had to really spell it out. If a large hurricane were to hit between there and Myrtle Beach the water would be up to the power lines. Hope he never experiences it but the developers have to be in the pockets of the government zoning this crap out so they can peddle the dream to unsuspecting people.

He blew me off, said his house was good that he isnt even required to have flood insurance. Meanwhile, I added another mark on my map app marked “surge” so I can go shoot video when it does happen.

I don’t understand how people can invest without looking into this stuff. Then again, I just see skeletons everywhere I drive so maybe it is just me.

 

[superchuck500]

I met with a friend last week in Wilmington for lunch. We went by his house in Carolina Beach. The whole way he was discussing how the property value in the area has been on a rocket. I’m seeing new construction booming everywhere. He kept telling me how great of an investment the real estate is in the area. The sun was setting, the sawgrass was blowing as the Cape Fear River gently swept through the marshes filled with grey remains of trees that somehow made the landscape even prettier.

Then I got ruthless. Asked him if he knew why the trees all in the area were void of branches, bark and left grey? Had to explain to him that it is from salt water intrusion and usually found in places with rapid sea level rise and subsidence, extremely prone areas for hurricane surge, areas impacted by frequent tsunamis or earthquake prone areas that subside from subduction zone faults.

Obviously, he wasnt quite sure what that meant so I had to really spell it out. If a large hurricane were to hit between there and Myrtle Beach the water would be up to the power lines. Hope he never experiences it but the developers have to be in the pockets of the government zoning this crap out so they can peddle the dream to unsuspecting people.

He blew me off, said his house was good that he isnt even required to have flood insurance. Meanwhile, I added another mark on my map app marked “surge” so I can go shoot video when it does happen.

I don’t understand how people can invest without looking into this stuff. Then again, I just see skeletons everywhere I drive so maybe it is just me.

This common idea of "I'm not required to have flood insurance so I don't" is so weird and misplaced. You're not required to have comprehensive auto insurance (collision) but anyone who can afford it has it because it's foolish not to. There are some pretty obvious examples of insurance that people get as long as they can afford it . . . even though its not required by any authority.

The house is usually the most valuable asset to people - why on earth they would simply go uninsured against a reasonably foreseeable risk (you live in a hurricane zone!) simply because it's not "required" - it's so strange and foolish.

I'm in flood zone X and not required to have it. But I'm about half a mile from the Charleston harbor and five miles from the Atlantic Ocean. Not having flood insurance would be asinine.

 

[St. Widge]

This common idea of "I'm not required to have flood insurance so I don't" is so weird and misplaced. You're not required to have comprehensive auto insurance (collision) but anyone who can afford it has it because it's foolish not to. There are some pretty obvious examples of insurance that people get as long as they can afford it . . . even though its not required by any authority.

The house is usually the most valuable asset to people - why on earth they would simply go uninsured against a reasonably foreseeable risk (you live in a hurricane zone!) simply because it's not "required" - it's so strange and foolish.

I'm in flood zone X and not required to have it. But I'm about half a mile from the Charleston harbor and five miles from the Atlantic Ocean. Not having flood insurance would be asinine.

FEAMA told me a few years ago that I am not required to have flood insurance and now my mortgage company does not pay it from escrow. I live in New Orleans in the Navarre neighborhood between Mid-City and Lakeview. I'm about a mile or so from where the 17th Street Canal breached in Lakeview during Katrina and the house got 8 feet of water in Katrina. Not to mention the fact that my street floods every time we get a hard rain. Thanks FEMA and mortgage company, but I think I'll just go ahead and pay for the flood insurance anyway.

 

[triumph]

FEAMA told me a few years ago that I am not required to have flood insurance and now my mortgage company does not pay it from escrow. I live in New Orleans in the Navarre neighborhood between Mid-City and Lakeview. I'm about a mile or so from where the 17th Street Canal breached in Lakeview during Katrina and the house got 8 feet of water in Katrina. Not to mention the fact that my street floods every time we get a hard rain. Thanks FEMA and mortgage company, but I think I'll just go ahead and pay for the flood insurance anyway.

I wish I did back in 2016 with the Baton Rouge flooding. Wasn't required to have flood insurance, so I didnt. House took on water. Not much, but enough to make a mess of things. Expensive lesson.

 

[St. Widge]

I wish I did back in 2016 with the Baton Rouge flooding. Wasn't required to have flood insurance, so I didnt. House took on water. Not much, but enough to make a mess of things. Expensive lesson.

It was honestly never even a consideration for me not to have flood insurance. The first house I owned required it and flooded in Katrina. The second house I owned required flood insurance and it flooded in Isaac. So there was no way that I was not going to have flood insurance on the third house I bought.

The cost has gone up over the years, but its still worth the cost to pay for flood insurance. But I can certainly understand why people who lived in areas of Baton Rouge that had never flooded would not have it. Nobody really knew at the time that all that development was going to cause wide spread flooding.

 

[bclemms]

This common idea of "I'm not required to have flood insurance so I don't" is so weird and misplaced. You're not required to have comprehensive auto insurance (collision) but anyone who can afford it has it because it's foolish not to. There are some pretty obvious examples of insurance that people get as long as they can afford it . . . even though its not required by any authority.

The house is usually the most valuable asset to people - why on earth they would simply go uninsured against a reasonably foreseeable risk (you live in a hurricane zone!) simply because it's not "required" - it's so strange and foolish.

I'm in flood zone X and not required to have it. But I'm about half a mile from the Charleston harbor and five miles from the Atlantic Ocean. Not having flood insurance would be asinine.

I don't have flood insurance because if my house floods then the world ends. Then again, I also was quite selective where I bought a house.

 

[efil4stnias]

FEAMA told me a few years ago that I am not required to have flood insurance and now my mortgage company does not pay it from escrow. I live in New Orleans in the Navarre neighborhood between Mid-City and Lakeview. I'm about a mile or so from where the 17th Street Canal breached in Lakeview during Katrina and the house got 8 feet of water in Katrina. Not to mention the fact that my street floods every time we get a hard rain. Thanks FEMA and mortgage company, but I think I'll just go ahead and pay for the flood insurance anyway.

the flip side to that is when you bought home, the 17th St canal repair was most likely "touted" as impenetrable. Just like it was PRIOR to 2005.

For folks just starting out, for ANYONE in the industry ( be it real estate broker, mortgage broker, surveyor, seller, FEMA etc ) to say "you arent in a flood zone so you dont need flood insurance" will come across from a place of "authority" and folks will listen.

Ive been selling flood insurance for 35 years now. I cant tell you how insanely hard it is to get a client to purchase a $2000 flood policy in an X zone- because they say " well if i go 10 years with no claim, ive wasted $20k" - REALLY? on your INVESTMENT? folks try to squeeze out every single penny of profit and look at things thru "short term lens" vs long term.
( Or its insinuated " you just trying to sell me flood insurance to make more income" )

As i routinely tell them, when your property floods in year 11, that $22,000 will pale in comparison to saving your $300,000 investment.

Its very hard to get folks to listen and understand the threat of flooding and WE LIVE IN A BOWL. All we hear is USACOE/Pumping stations blah blah blah.

 

[efil4stnias]

I wish I did back in 2016 with the Baton Rouge flooding. Wasn't required to have flood insurance, so I didnt. House took on water. Not much, but enough to make a mess of things. Expensive lesson.

I told this story here during that flood - my BF of 40 years called me about a month prior to that event, griping about his flood insurance cost. ( it had gone up from year prior )
Asked me what he could do. Ill never forget- i was coming off Causeway on phone w/ him- i said NOTHING- its escrowed so who cares? you save what, $20/month on house note??? stop smoking and there is your $20/mo "
He didnt listen. Removed content coverage from his policy to save $228 a year.

2016 hit. He lived just off 12 in Walker. 6 ft up- his driveway was damn near on a 45 degree angle. He got 3 ft of water. ( actuall @bclemms was posted up at the hotel just at the Walker exit IIRC )

We spent weekend gutting home so that any $$$ for the building would offset him having to pay contractor to gut/dry/drwyall and paint.

And the WHOLE time i was there that following weekend, i just gave him the "side eye" LOL

 

[superchuck500]

I don't have flood insurance because if my house floods then the world ends. Then again, I also was quite selective where I bought a house.

Well yeah, some places don’t need it - as a matter of sensibility. I’m referring to people who live in flood risk areas.

 

[St. Widge]

Well yeah, some places don’t need it - as a matter of sensibility. I’m referring to people who live in flood risk areas.

Yeah, there are places that are actually safe from flood, but pretty much so anywhere in the New Orleans area is not. With all the levees, lakes, and rivers surrounding the area all it takes is one levee breach and you will need that insurance even if you don't live in an area that floods from rain. And there are areas outside of the levee system that are subject to tidal flooding from any of several lakes.

 

[efil4stnias]

Yeah, there are places that are actually safe from flood, but pretty much so anywhere in the New Orleans area is not. With all the levees, lakes, and rivers surrounding the area all it takes is one levee breach and you will need that insurance even if you don't live in an area that floods from rain. And there are areas outside of the levee system that are subject to tidal flooding from any of several lakes.

the new flood mitigation talk is protecting Laplace ( River parishes ) from Lake Ponchartrain surges during storms moving water into lake from GoM.

So if they erect a wall on the SW side of lake, that water will still look to go somewhere. Where? Lake Maurepas and Northshore , where there is no protection but for maybe areas with a 4-6ft bulkhead/raised land.

and where the water runs into that, until above that level, will find every river and estuary to run up into.

The largest issue on the Northshore isnt heavy rains ponding up on streets....its when you get heavy rains AND south surge that reverses the flow of the Tchefuncte river ( or slows it to a crawl ) and creates a whole new set of issues for every creek, basin, watershed or estuary that drains into. They cant.
So then the water piles up- and up and up until it overflows the creek, stream, basin and starts to spread out.

there are no plans to build new drainage in St Tammany to account for the increased development and future development, which puts my home at a higher risk ( hence the move from non-flood to flood zone )

and unless you pay attention to this kind of stuff, you are at the mercy of Mother Nature.