Foley, Ala. – (OBA) – Foley, Alabama is making strides in preparing its homes and community for natural disasters like hurricanes and floods. The city is in the process of creating a Resilient Housing Plan, set to be finalized by the end of this month. Jay Estes, a planner with Allen Engineering and Services, shared these details at a recent public meeting.

Foley ranks third in the U.S. for the number of homes built or renovated to resist hurricane winds, according to Miriam Boone, the city's community development director. This achievement is partly due to the Coastal Supplement Code, adopted in 2015, which sets building standards for new homes.

Rapid growth has led to about one-third of Foley's existing homes meeting these robust standards. The Resilient Housing Plan aims to identify areas where the city can improve its resilience and seek state or federal aid to mitigate risks.

Foley's zoning laws are also flexible, allowing residential development in almost all parts of the city. However, about 6.67% of the land is in flood-prone areas, as designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Around 3.3% of homes are built in these floodplains.

Foley has set its floodplain building standards higher than FEMA's minimum requirements. Some homes could be elevated, and FEMA funding may be available for this purpose. In certain cases, properties prone to flooding could be bought and residents relocated.

Recent events have shown that areas not designated as floodplains have also experienced flooding. A new study could be conducted to update these designations, providing better access to flood insurance and guiding future development.