When Hurricane Ida made landfall in Louisiana in August 2021, it was classified as a Category 4 storm with 150 mph winds, a storm surge that measured at more than 5 feet in New Orleans and 10 feet in Grand Isle, and rainfall of more than 15 inches. Inland flooding from the rain, combined with overflowing waterways and storm-surge flooding, resulted in a compound-flood event.
In 2021, extreme flooding from rain affected residents across the United States, causing property damage and loss of life. These extreme weather events are becoming all too common. In fact, a recent United Nations report—Climate Change 2021—found that heavy rain events are likely to become more intense and frequent, resulting in an increase in severe flooding events around the globe.