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Federal researchers are working on a system to measure and predict the destructiveness
of wildfires... similar to ones already in place for hurricanes and tornadoes.
The National Institute for Standards and Technology hopes the Wildland Urban Interface Hazard
Scale will tell residents the intensity of a likely wildfire burning in their neighborhood.
The scale will help predict the potential destructive power of a wildfire given the
combination of fuel and location.
The proposed scale of E1 to E4 creates regions based on location anywhere from grasslands
to remote mountain canyons. The scale is aimed at beefing up building codes and buffer zones
in high-risk areas.
Insurance companies are also paying attention to the research as payouts after western wildfires
have grown exponentially. In the 1970s, wildfires destroyed about 400 homes nationwide. Since
2000, that number has topped 3,000 structures annually. In Colorado alone, wildfires accounted
for more than $858 million in insurance claims in 2012 and 2013, according to the Rocky Mountain
Insurance Information Association.
Researchers are looking at building materials, landscaping, weather patterns plus the behavior
of wind-driven embers.
Nelson Bryner, Research Engineer, Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety: "So
if you understand the exposure, you can then design to that exposure."
Historically, big insurance claims involve flooding, but fires are gaining ground.
The government also is remapping flood zones and trying to restore solvency to the National
Flood Insurance program. The change will likely raise rates for nearly everyone.
Colin Elston, Treasure Island, FL Homeowner: "We paid fourteen hundred and eighty-two dollars
for our flood premium this year. The best estimate we have right now, is twelve to sixteen
thousand."
Congress passed the Biggert-Waters Act last year to mandate rates more closely match true
risk.
Lee Gorodetsky, insurance agent: "Everyone's going to pay more for flood insurance. It's
just a question of how much. And we've seen so many floods now: Colorado, last year, hurricane
Sandy, before that, other parts of the country. And it's obvious the FEMA program is bankrupt."
FEMA will be paying to helps thousands displaced by the latest round of flooding in Colorado.
This week, Vice President Joe Biden toured a portion of the $1 billion in damage in the
Centennial State.
Flood damage to Colorado's oil industry has state regulators monitoring spills and damage
to equipment in oilfields north of Denver. At least 37,000 gallons has spilled in a dozen
incidents, according to the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission.
And construction crews are trying to get emergency repairs done to flood-damaged highways and
bridges where the price tag is already close to $430 million. Crews are attempting to complete
their work before the fast-approaching winter weather season hits.