Building Owners Should Prepare For Climate Change-Related Disasters, District Says

DC officials have begun preparing for climate change-related disasters that could could cause severe property damage.

After studying the potential effects climate change-related events could have on the District's communities, transportation, infrastructure and buildings, the DC Department of Energy and the Environment yesterday released recommendations to prepare for these risks. 

The Climate Ready DC Plan, created in collaboration with architecture firm Perkins+Will, recommends developers retrofit existing buildings and new construction to make buildings more resilient to flooding, especially in flood-prone areas. 

Perkins+Will project manager Amy Thompson, above, says the researchers did not estimate the cost of this type of work, but she says the District is focusing on ways to incentivize owners to take such actions.  

While many think of climate change-related risks as being far off, Amy points to recent natural disasters that can be attributed to climate change. Hurricane Matthew, for instance, caused billions of dollars in damage in cities like Charleston, S.C., that weren't used to major flooding events. 

"People should be looking at this now," Amy tells Bisnow, "because you really don’t know when something big like that is going to happen."

The report notes in 2006, several days of heavy rain caused major flooding in the Federal Triangle area, resulting in millions of dollars of damage. 

It's not just rain that people should worry about, though. Amy says heavy snowstorms can also cause severe flooding.

"When the snow melts, it goes into the Potomac, the Anacostia," Amy says. "The rivers have a rise in levels as you have a quick snowmelt. It's important not just to think about rain." 

To mitigate the potential damage of flooding, the report says owners should not put valuable building equipment in the basement. The report also recommends ways to improve stormwater management and reuse water on construction sites.

In the event of an environmental disaster, Amy says having pharmacies or convenience stories near office and residential buildings will enable people to get necessities and medicines in the event they must shelter in place.

The Climate Adaptation Plan provides a framework for the next 65 years for how the city moves forward with building development, and creates community cohesion in the face of changing climate patterns, Amy says.