June 27, 2024 | Feature Article

Secondary perils have become primary challenges

Secondary perils can wreak havoc on communities and put businesses in financial ruin. These small to mid-size weather events include flooding and storm surges and often follow in the wake of larger primary perils like earthquakes and tropical cyclones.

Secondary perils are typically not monitored and evaluated with the same level of attention given to primary peril events. These secondary events routinely obscure their potential severity until it’s too late to lessen the catastrophic outcomes.

Strikingly, secondary perils have become more expensive than their primary peril counterparts. In 2023, secondary perils, in conjunction with major climate events, caused approximately US$123 billion in global insured losses.

Climate change is a contributing factor. Floods now affect more of the world’s population than any other peril. Of the total economic losses in the European Union between 1980 and 2022, approximately 43% were attributed to floods.

Floodwater also poses an existential threat to businesses: 25% of critical U.S. infrastructure and 21.8 million U.S. residences and businesses, are at risk of flooding devastation.

Secondary perils repeatedly threaten and can destroy areas that are unprepared to mitigate their impact. No longer isolated to coastal towns, these weather events can happen anywhere:

  • Rain and stormwater events
    Slow-moving, severe convective storms and torrential rains can cause the occurrence of flash floods and river floods. Unexpected river flooding from the 2013 Northern Colorado Flood, for example, prompted the evacuation of 11,000 people, destroyed over 1,800 homes and cost approximately $4 billion in damages.
  • With over 3.5 million miles of rivers and streams in the U.S. and more than 11,000 sensors to measure the rise of water, this type of devastating flooding event could occur almost anywhere without warning.
  • Tropical cyclone-induced inland flooding
    There are rain bands on both sides of tropical cyclones, and as these storms move inland and lose their hurricane classifications, they can cause substantial rainfall.
  • Over the past decade, 57% of tropical cyclone deaths in the U.S. were due to drowning from rainfall-induced flooding. In 2016, the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew alone caused a historic rainfall of up to 18 inches over the interior of North and South Carolina that caused deadly flooding across both states.
  • More recently, in 2023, Cyclone Michaung in southeastern India battered coastal areas with heavy rain and strong winds, and caused severe flooding down the streets of Chennai. The storm killed at least eight people, and approximately 8,000 people had to be evacuated.
  • Storm surges

    This storm-fueled, extreme rise of water can cause severe coastal-area flooding; hurricane-driven storm surge and large waves are the most dangerous threat along the coast, often more than the hurricane itself.

    Many of the infamous Hurricane Katrina’s 1500 fatalities were caused by deadly storm surge that reached up to 28 feet above normal tide levels.

    In December 2023, Tropical Cyclone Jasper in Queensland, Australia dumped more than 6.5 feet of rain in parts of the region and caused severe flooding and power outages.

  • Snow and ice storms

    When snow and ice melt faster than the soil or bodies of water underneath can absorb it, flooding can occur.

  • California’s snowpack registered at more than 100% of the average this March and sustained unusually high amounts of snow into late April, raising concerns of late spring heatwaves increasing the risk of flooding.
  • During the Great Texas Freeze of 2021, almost 15 million Texas residents were subjected to prolonged power outages and contaminated water supplies.
  • In Kyiv, Ukraine, blizzard conditions combined with hurricane-force winds and flooding, killed at least 10 people and injured over 20 people last November. Over 1,600 settlements in Ukraine were left without power.

Unfortunately, secondary perils are a reoccurring part of today’s landscape. It is possible for events like these to have less severe outcomes with the use of early notification and effective equipment to mitigate their impact. Facility owners and municipalities need early access to real-time data and the right equipment so they can make informed, quick reactions that change the course of damage and devastation.

Effective flood mitigation solutions

Flooding is the most expensive peril in the United States, generating $4 billion in average annual damages. There is a lot on the line, and investing in the right flood mitigation systems is critical.

Look for products that have met the American National Standard for Flood Mitigation Equipment (ANSI/FM 2510), which outlines extensive loss prevention requirements to evaluate the components and performance of flood mitigation equipment. As the national standard for third-party certification for flood protection systems, it remains the only standard in the world that evaluates product performance in real flood conditions as well as the product’s individual components and materials.

Here’s a quick look at seven common types of flood mitigation systems:

  • Flood glazing products control riverine- or rainfall-related flood conditions with a permanent, reinforced glass material sealed within a structural frame. Imagine a 60-story New York City apartment building, for example, built with a 20-foot by 30-foot piece of glass to serve as a flood barrier for the building.
  • When floodwaters rise, water will find every route to enter a building — including the often-overlooked drainage system. Flood mitigation valves prevent the flow of floodwater (and all the chemical and sewage contaminants that are in it) from coming up through the drain or sewer system and flooding the building from the inside out.
  • If floodwaters do enter a protected area, flood mitigation pumps remove floodwater in a timely manner to minimize damage from corrosion and mold that can occur over time.
  • Flood sensor systems, which are evaluated against the requirements of FM Approvals Standard 2505 for Early Warning Flood Sensor Systems, are crucial when a seemingly typical storm unexpectedly causes extreme flooding. These early warning systems notify communities of potential flooding events, giving them critical time to prepare before the floodwaters arrive.
  • Opening barriers prevent floodwater passage through any opening in the building, including doors, windows, air bricks/vent bricks and portals.
  • Perimeter barriers are temporary emergency structures that protect an area surrounding an occupancy from rising floodwater, whether that’s created by rainfall, storm or riverine flooding.
  • Wall penetration seals prevent floodwater from coming in through wall openings created for cables and pipes to enter a building.
Best practices for flood risk management

A thoughtful, proactive approach to flood mitigation can be the difference between devastation and protection. Take these steps now to give your properties and municipalities the greatest chances to withstand the damaging floodwater that could arrive at your doorstep:

  1. Identify your Risk. Be aware of the perils that could come across your path and how they would impact your product, warehouse and facilities. Use FEMA Flood Maps to understand the level of flooding risk for your property. If you are undergoing building renovations or building new facilities, consider integrating floodproofing measures into the plans.
  2. Facilities with well-organized Flood Emergency Response Plans (FERP) sustain nearly 70% less damage and resume operations sooner than those without one. Create a formal FERP that:

    3. • Accounts for the potential flood events in your area
    • Includes a reliable flood warning method
    • Identifies opportunities to permanently reduce the impact of flooding in your facility
    • Establishes effective emergency actions in the event of a potential flooding event

  3. Appoint one person or a team of people responsible for putting the FERP into motion in the face of a flooding emergency and clearly outline their roles and expectations
  4. Invest in certified permanent and emergency flood mitigation equipment across the seven systems discussed above to provide your facility with broad protection.
  5. Practice the plan so that any improvements can be identified and incorporated prior to an event.
Certified products bring peace of mind

Visit the Approval Guide to gain access to FM Approved flood mitigation solutions that have met the rigorous requirements of ANSI/FM 2510 and have demonstrated that they will perform as expected under the toughest flood conditions. FM Approved flood mitigation systems are now available in North America, Europe, Asia and, increasingly, worldwide.