why are we building in flood plains?

All this talk of levees elsewhere can make us forget that we're doing absurd things in the desert, too. Just because it looks dry doesn't mean that water never comes down here. If anything, we need to remember that when there is water, it comes down fast and hard, giving little time to get out of the way.

New construction is going up on steep slopes and even in flood plains because flat land is fast becoming rare in the Inland Empire. How anyone can get insurance is beyond me. If you're considering buying a new home in a hilly area, be sure to check out natural hazard maps and zone disclosures. The builders ought to have plans for diverting the water, but I'd always ask how well those plans have been tested. After all, can anyone really know what will happen?

Here's an article from the Press Enterprise from Sept. 2005 about construction in flood plains.
http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_B_flood25.2fa7ead.html