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Environment

After the Flood

The Challenge of Rebuilding as the Climate Changes

More than 8 million Americans live in high-risk flood areas, and the number is expected to climb sharply as the climate changes. In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, ProPublica is investigating the government’s response to disasters, and how coastal communities build and rebuild despite the threat.

14 stories published since 2013

Sharpening the Government’s Blurry Maps

by Al Shaw and Theodoric Meyer,

How Well Did FEMA's Maps Predict Sandy's Flooding?

by Al Shaw,

Federal Flood Maps Left New York Unprepared for Sandy — and FEMA Knew It

by Al Shaw, Christie Thompson and Theodoric Meyer,

What Happened After Congress Passed a Climate Change Law? Very Little

by Theodoric Meyer,

Using Outdated Data, FEMA Is Wrongly Placing Homeowners in Flood Zones

by Theodoric Meyer,

Why So Many Flood Maps Are Still Out of Date

by Theodoric Meyer,

Four Ways the Government Subsidizes Risky Coastal Rebuilding

by Theodoric Meyer,

New Maps and a New Plan for New York

by Al Shaw and Jeff Larson,

Without a Final Map, New York Rebuilds on Uncertain Ground

by Al Shaw,

As Need for New Flood Maps Rises, Congress and Obama Cut Funding

by Theodoric Meyer,

Interactive Map: See Where the Government is Lending after Sandy

by Al Shaw,

After Sandy, Government Lends to Rebuild in Flood Zones

by Robert Lewis and Al Shaw,

How Disaster Aid Recipients Voted on Sandy Relief

by Al Shaw and Jeff Larson,

Why 58 Representatives Who Voted for Hurricane Katrina Aid Voted Against Aid for Sandy

by Theodoric Meyer,

What We’re Watching

During Donald Trump’s second presidency, ProPublica will focus on the areas most in need of scrutiny. Here are some of the issues our reporters will be watching — and how to get in touch with them securely.

Learn more about our reporting team. We will continue to share our areas of interest as the news develops.

Photo of Sharon Lerner
Sharon Lerner

I cover health and the environment and the agencies that govern them, including the Environmental Protection Agency.

Photo of Andy Kroll
Andy Kroll

I cover justice and the rule of law, including the Justice Department, U.S. attorneys and the courts.

Photo of Melissa Sanchez
Melissa Sanchez

I report on immigration and labor, and I am based in Chicago.

Photo of Jesse Coburn
Jesse Coburn

I cover housing and transportation, including the companies working in those fields and the regulators overseeing them.

If you don’t have a specific tip or story in mind, we could still use your help. Sign up to be a member of our federal worker source network to stay in touch.

Most Read

    Trump’s FEMA Proposals and Feud With Gavin Newsom Could Devastate California’s Disaster Response

    California frequently suffers some of the costliest disasters in the country. Now state officials fear they’ll be left to face them without federal funding.

    by Jeremy Lindenfeld, Capital & Main,

    Local Reporting Network

    The Texas Flash Flood Is a Preview of the Chaos to Come

    Climate change is making disasters more common, more deadly and far more costly, even as the federal government is running away from the policies that might begin to protect the nation.

    by Abrahm Lustgarten,

    Utah Sen. Mike Lee Says Selling Off Public Lands Will Solve the West’s Housing Crisis. Past Sales Show Otherwise.

    Last month, Lee introduced a now-removed amendment to Trump’s policy megabill that mandated the sale of up to 3 million acres. It did little to address the challenges of building affordable housing on public land.

    by Abe Streep,

    Rx Roulette

    FDA Layoffs Could Compromise Safety of Medications Made at Foreign Factories, Inspectors Say

    Beyond staff cuts, the departures of some longtime investigators in recent months have left less experienced people tasked with rooting out dangerous manufacturing practices.

    by Victoria Malis, Katherine Dailey and Sadie Leite, Medill Investigative Lab, and Debbie Cenziper and Megan Rose, ProPublica,

    A Doctor Challenged the Opinion of a Powerful Child Abuse Specialist. Then He Lost His Job.

    A Minneapolis pediatrician said he felt pressured to “fall in line” with child abuse specialist Dr. Nancy Harper and her team. Then he was given a choice: resign or be fired.

    by Jessica Lussenhop, and photography by Sarahbeth Maney,