Flood Adaptation Data

Learn more about First Street Foundation's National Flood Adaptation database.

The First Street Foundation has a flood adaptation database that is made up of over 23,000 features that protect 14.6 million properties. The database has information like project name, structure types, return period applied, and other variables.

Please note, that First Street's Adaptation data is only available through Risk Factor. For more information on what's included in each of the Risk Factor plans please review this article.

The following adaptation feature types are included in the database:

Grey = grey infrastructure; green = green infrastructure; yellow = green/grey infrastructure

Unfortunately, we did not collect the cost associated with flood adaptation projects. We did collect the year built but only when it was easy to find through our research. Every project has a source ID reference and that source ID shows where we obtained our information for each project. From there, you will be likely to find things like costs and year much more quickly. 

The attributes of the database are: 

• Project name
• Adaptation project type
• Flooding scenario (pluvial, fluvial, tidal)
• Type of flood reduction
  • Return period exclusion
  • Increased infiltration
  • Enhanced conveyance
  • Step change
• Original data source
• Notes

Incorporating adaptation features into our model is based on two elements:

1. a digitized service area (area protected by an adaptation feature)
2. a modeling mechanism

Service area digitization: Resources that we used to research and draw adaptation protection zones include (but are not limited to) FEMA FIS reports, public datasets, communications with GIS specialists and planners, and USACE datasets. 

7 modeling mechanisms: 

1. Return period exclusion
2. Soil change
3. Conveyance
4. Model informed
5. Step change
6. Digitize no reduction
7. Coastal methods

For more information, you can find a basic summary of our adaptation methodology here. Another way to learn more is to read or watch our webinar on our adaptation research, which appears in the second half of the linked video.

• Adaptation Webinar Presentation
• Adaptation Webinar Video
• Adaptation Webinar Notes 

Lastly, you can dive into the adaptation section of our flood methodology document, which gives an overview of our research methods in particular. You can also find an overview of the methodology here.