| Adoption of building codes that consider impacts from extreme weather events and natural disasters | Building codes can encourage implementation of mitigation and adaptation techniques for extreme weather events and natural disasters. Codes may require that infrastructure be planned and built to avoid or minimize future damage or costly repairs from increased frequency and intensity of flooding, drought, wildfires, and other projected extreme weather/disaster events. Codes may also lead to energy savings for commercial and residential buildings by specifying minimum requirements for building components such as insulation, water use, heating and cooling systems, lighting, windows, and ventilation systems. Effective building code requirements may vary regionally due to differences in natural hazards. |
| Phase I and Phase II ESAs that consider impacts from extreme weather events and natural disasters | Phase I ESAs may consider current and on-going impacts from extreme weather events and natural disasters and consider future impacts to the site or area. For example, an investigation of the site history can include an investigation of site vulnerabilities based on historical and recent extreme weather patterns and events (e.g., floods and drought). Phase II ESAs may include use of renewable energy, incorporating remote sensing capabilities, maximize reuse of existing wells (as appropriate) and/or design wells for future reuse, use of field test kits when possible, use of local laboratories when possible, and use of appropriate sized equipment for the project. |
| Updates to floodplain, coastal and wetland, and/or hazard mitigation plans | Updated plans should consider the impact of both current and projected extreme weather and natural disaster-related conditions (e.g., coastal flooding, proximity to a flood plain, and the frequency and severity of major storm events and droughts) on the long-term safety, stability and suitability of the proposed land reuses. |
| Evaluate Reuse options that consider impacts from extreme weather events and natural disasters | Discussion of observed and forecasted natural hazard conditions and the associated site-specific risk are part of any reuse considerations. Both current and forecasted extreme weather events and natural disasters may impact the effectiveness of a remedial alternative. |
| Identify potential risk factors and infrastructure or utility vulnerabilities | Identify potential risk factors and infrastructure or utility vulnerabilities resulting directly from the impacts of increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events and natural disasters. Possible risk factors and vulnerabilities may include proximity to the ocean, infrastructure vulnerabilities, property affected by a revised FEMA flood plain, drought monitor, or wildfire risk map, vulnerability related to changes in frequency and intensity of precipitation events, vulnerability of soil type due to moisture and hydraulic changes, and ground and surface drinking water vulnerabilities. |