FMA EP Lunch&Learn - Flood Equity and the Impacts of Redlining Walking Tour

According to a 2021 Redfin analysis of First Street Foundation flood risk data and historic redlining maps, formerly redlined areas nationally have $107 billion worth of homes facing high flood risk – 25% more than areas that were not redlined. In Sacramento, 21.6% of homes in formerly red and yellow lined areas currently face a high risk of flooding compared to 11.8% of homes in formerly green and blue lined areas. This 9.8 percentage point difference represents the largest gap of any metro area in Redfin’s nationwide analysis. During this interactive walking tour, participants will have the opportunity to learn about Sacramento’s storied flood history, as well as the continuing and pervasive impacts of historic redlining on flood protection infrastructure and community vulnerability in California.

About the Presenter:

Cait Plantaric holds a master's degree in English and has taught writing at California State University, Sacramento, and community colleges. She has worked in flood management for the California Department of Water Resources for almost 18 years. During this time, she has developed a keen interest in California’s flood history and the impacts of flooding on underrepresented communities. Currently, her work is focused on improving equity related to community resilience. Cait is a skilled researcher and has a “nose” for finding interesting and forgotten flood information. More than simply finding information, however, she brings disparate historic perspectives together to create comprehensive stories. She has presented to a wide variety of audiences – from engineers to elementary school students, including a recent “Flood Equity & Redlining” walking tour in Old Sacramento as part of a training workshop for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ public involvement specialists.

Host or Publisher FMA Emerging Professionals