Disasters strike around the globe, with varying magnitudes and impacts. Natural phenomena such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, tsunamis, wildfires, floods, extreme storms, tropical cyclones, tornadoes, and dust storms challenge us regularly. While rapid-onset disasters like earthquakes and storms occur suddenly, others such as droughts and climate change take longer to develop.
In a world where natural disasters are inevitable, understanding their impact is crucial in recognizing our vulnerability and the need for preparedness. From the random and unpredictable strike of an earthquake to the slow, creeping reality of climate change, these events reshape landscapes and communities with lasting effects. The hidden danger, often overlooked, is the contamination of land—a silent threat long after the immediate chaos subsides.
How do Natural Disasters Impact Land?
Beyond the billions of dollars in property damage and the profound personal losses people suffer, there are often hidden environmental impacts on land caused by natural disasters that must be addressed.
Natural Disasters & Land Contamination
Natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, and earthquakes can heighten the risk of chemical releases from contaminated sites. These hazardous material releases can worsen the impact of these sites by unleashing toxic substances, hindering cleanup efforts, and affecting the long-term sustainable revitalization of nearby communities.
Throughout a century of industrialization, numerous chemicals have already accumulated in water resources, estuaries, and coastal sediments. Examples include lead from leaded gasoline and the production of various persistent chemicals from the industrial era, such as PBT's and dioxins, all of which are found in the deeper sediments. Natural disasters can cause further dispersion of these chemicals.
In some cases, natural disasters can introduce pollutants into the soil through chemical spills or releases from damaged infrastructure. For example, underground tanks can shift beneath the surface, leading to cracks in the tanks or piping, which may result in leaks. Nationwide, there are around 590,000 underground storage tanks (USTs) holding petroleum or hazardous substances. Many of these tanks are already leaking, and natural disasters can exacerbate this issue, heightening the risk of human exposure to these contaminants.
Hurricane Katrina serves as a prime example of land contamination caused by a natural disaster. In 2005, the hurricane inflicted significant damage on land through powerful winds, storm surges, and the failure of levees, leaving New Orleans in a toxic quagmire. Sewage systems collapsed, spreading contaminants throughout the city. Additionally, although few soil measurements were taken before the storm, elevated lead levels were detected in downtown New Orleans compared to surrounding areas.
Superfund Sites & Natural Disasters
Tropical storms and hurricanes cause significant harm to affected communities, leading to dangerous wind and flood damage, widespread power outages, and contamination of drinking water. These disasters can obliterate homes and destroy crucial community resources. Properties near Superfund sites are particularly vulnerable to contamination from such natural events.
In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) manages the Superfund program, which is dedicated to investigating and cleaning up hazardous contaminated sites. Nationwide, numerous sites suffer from contamination due to hazardous waste being improperly managed, left exposed, or dumped. These Superfund sites include processing plants, manufacturing facilities, mining locations, and landfills.
Hurricane Floyd (1999), Hurricane Katrina (2005), Hurricane Irene (2011), Hurricane Sandy (2012), and Hurricane Harvey (2017) have all caused flooding at Superfund sites. Over 700 of the 945 sites susceptible to climate change are located in 100-year floodplains, indicating a 1% or higher chance of flooding annually. More than 80 of these sites routinely flood during high tide or are already permanently submerged. According to EPA and GAO data, 49 sites confront triple threats: they lie in 100-year floodplains, experience regular flooding, and are vulnerable to hurricanes.
To tackle this issue, Congress passed the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). This legislation authorizes the EPA to clean up contaminated sites and ensures that those responsible are held accountable, either by conducting the cleanup themselves or reimbursing the EPA. However, many of these sites remain unremediated.
As of June 6, 2024, the National Priorities List in the United States includes 1,340 Superfund sites. You can find the location of Superfund sites across the nation and assess any property's contamination risk for just $10 per month using LandGate's LandApp tool:
How do Natural Disasters Impact Property?
Natural disasters can impact the value of residential and commercial properties. Properties situated in disaster-prone areas may experience a decline in value as the perceived risk of potential property damage increases. Insurance rates and mortgage availability may also be affected by a property's location and vulnerability to natural disasters.
In some cases, properties can become uninhabitable due to extreme damages caused by natural disasters, leading to financial losses for homeowners and landlords. Furthermore, businesses located in disaster-prone areas may suffer from disruptions to their operations, leading to financial losses and potentially permanent closures. This not only impacts the business owners but also the employees who lose their jobs.
The exact impact of natural disasters on property values depends on the location of the property and the type of natural disaster. For instance, flooding spares only those houses far enough from the water source or situated on elevated ground. Other disasters, like tornadoes, seem to follow no pattern, devastating one block while leaving the opposite side of the street untouched. Some disasters affect homes based on their structural integrity; earthquakes might level older homes while modern buildings remain unscathed. When an entire area is affected, property values across the region tend to decline. Such widespread devastation can disrupt local agriculture and supply chains, rendering the area less desirable in the short term.
In urban settings, natural disasters can affect historic structures and commercial properties, necessitating restoration and preservation efforts. Infrastructure, including bridges, roads, transmission lines, and oil and gas pipelines, may require new permits, assessments, and repairs. Before repairing homes and commercial buildings, it's crucial to identify hazards such as asbestos, mold, or lead.
Land Development & Vulnerability to Natural Disasters
Awareness is increasing about the role of effective land use and planning in minimizing the impact of natural disasters. Communities that recognize their risks and actively mitigate them build resilience and can achieve sustainable outcomes when faced with natural hazards.
1) Development on Floodplains: Because land is a finite resource, properties available for development are scarce. As a result, flood zones are another area where development is growing. Floodplains can offer attractive locations for residential and commercial properties, but they are at high risk of flooding. Measures must be taken to avoid new construction in hazardous areas or to mitigate risk through structural improvements.
2) Development on Earthquake-Prone Land: Building codes vary by region because earthquakes have different frequencies, energy levels, and damage potentials. Developing safe structures in earthquake-prone areas requires comprehensive planning that accounts for seismic hazard mapping and the use of technologies such as base isolators to reduce building vulnerability.
3) Development in Wildfire-Prone Regions: The number of homes in more rural areas— where natural vegetation meets expanding urban areas— is on the rise. In these regions, effective fire prevention and suppression can be challenging to accomplish. The frequency of wildfires has been relatively steady over the past 20 years; however, the average size of wildfires has grown considerably.
4) Development in Coastal Regions: Coastal regions are particularly vulnerable to natural disasters. Due to their location, coastal communities face a greater risk of hurricanes, storm surges, and sea-level rise. Many thriving settlements have been established in these areas and along rivers due to the availability of fertile land, transportation, water, and trade. Major cities around the Pacific Ocean's rim, for instance, are situated near active fault lines, posing a substantial earthquake risk. Soft soils, commonly found along riverbanks and deltas—prime spots for development—can intensify ground motion during earthquakes and lead to significant liquefaction damage.
Assess Your Property's Risk of Contamination and Natural Disasters
The interplay between natural disasters and land development requires a balanced and informed approach to sustainable growth. As communities strive to build resilient infrastructure, consideration of environmental risks becomes paramount. By implementing stringent building codes, prioritizing strategic land use planning, and investing in advanced technologies, societies can mitigate the adverse impacts of unavoidable natural events. Collaborative efforts between governments, developers, and local communities are essential in fostering awareness and ensuring long-term safety and prosperity.
Curious if your property is at risk for natural disasters or contamination? Get a free property report by finding your property on LandGate's map and check out the risk index scores to assess your risk for various natural disasters and contamination:
With LandApp, you can generate unlimited property reports for properties nationwide. To assess any property's natural disaster and contamination risk with LandApp, subscribe for $10/ month:
