105. Beyond the FEMA Map with Albert Slap

Sustainability alone won't protect your home from Mother Nature. In this episode, Izumi Tanaka talks with Albert Slap — environmental attorney turned founder of RiskFootprint.com — about why resilience and sustainability are two sides of the same coin. Albert breaks down why FEMA flood maps miss huge amounts of real flood risk (120,000 homes flooded outside the FEMA zone during Hurricane Harvey), why he pays $5,000/year just for hurricane wind coverage on his own home, and how a $5,000 roof-to-wall tie-down saved him from a $30,000 re-roof — and actually lowered his risk. We also get into wildfire vegetation management, the 34+ natural hazards RiskFootprint evaluates property-by-property, and why "caveat emptor" due diligence should start well before you sign an agreement of sale. Whether you're buying, selling, or staying put, this episode is a reminder that a green home and a resilient home are the same goal. 🔗 Learn more: https://riskfootprint.comTIMESTAMPS00:00 Intro: sustainability + resilience, two sides of one coin01:20 Albert's pivot from environmental law to RiskFootprint02:59 What "caveat emptor" really means for buyers05:32 Why FEMA flood maps don't capture rainfall flooding07:19 Albert's own $5,000/year hurricane wind insurance bill12:10 The roof-to-wall tie-down that saved $25K16:54 How RiskFootprint evaluates 34+ natural hazards by address23:39 Who actually uses RiskFootprint: buyers, realtors, lenders28:16 Disclosure laws: Hawaii, Florida, Colorado and beyond29:04 Climate trends vs. day-to-day natural hazard risk34:25 Where to find RiskFootprint.com Home Green Homes is a podcast about the people building — and buying — greener, more resilient homes.#HomeGreenHomes #GreenBuilding #ClimateResilience #RealEstate #SustainableLiving