ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — Western North Carolina homeowners are pushing back on climate risk labels they argue don’t match reality.

News 13 Investigates talked with several homeowners who have raised concerns and the company behind the data to explore the broader impacts on property owners and home sales.

FOR SALE – LITTLE INTEREST

John and Laura Haldane have done their share of wandering across the globe.

“At our core, people are the same everywhere — we all love music, family, hugs, and dancing,” explained John, standing in front of a map of the globe with pins marking the couple’s travels.

The currents have always carried them back to the mountains.

“This has been such a special place in our hearts,” said John.

Recently, those winds shifted.

“I’m dragging my heels,” said John.

“We want the house to sell, but it was hard,” explained Laura. “Nibbles before it actually went on the market, and then almost nothing since,” said Laura.

A call to their realtor unraveled why they haven’t seen much traffic.

“The buyers’ agent said the buyers were concerned about the high flood risk, and we were shocked,” said Laura.

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Confused, they checked their listing on popular real estate websites.

CLIMATE RISK RATINGS

“It’s in very large print. We are a 10 out of 10 extreme risk for flooding,” said John about what they found.

It’s a hard rating to swallow since during Hurricane Helene, rainfall maps showed that between 13 and 15 inches fell at their home over three days, and the property never flooded.

“I thought this was so obviously incorrect. It should be easy just to point out why it’s incorrect and get the information changed,” said Laura.

It has been anything but easy, and Brian Cagle, Allen Tate/Beverly-Hanks’ regional vice president, said the Haldanes aren’t alone.

“We pulled some numbers in Waynesville, and we have 20 properties that are not in a flood zone, did not flood, and have very high ratings, so I don’t know why,” said Cagle.

IMPACT ON WNC MOUNTAINS

The rating comes from First Street Technology. Its climate risk ratings started in September on websites including Zillow, Realtor.com and Redfin, among others.

“We’re appreciative of their work and their efforts and their concern for climate change, that’s all great, but it has to be right. The data has to be accurate,” said Cagle, who has since reached out to the NC Realtors Board, which was looking into the matter.

In addition to the Haldanes, the LeGwins in Asheville, the Schrecks in Hendersonville, and the DeMerrits in Pisgah Forest reached out to News 13 when their 10 of 10 flood rating also ran buyers off.

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We reached out to First Street Technology with their concerns. The company pointed us to their YouTube page, which explains their flood modeling. It uses physics versus statistics to predict heavier rainfalls now and 30 years from now.

“It’s actually simulating rainfall on this earth, how that rainfall moves across the surface, collects into streams and rivers, and moves downhill, basically,” said Dr. Ed Kearns, chief science officer for First Street Technology, in the YouTube video on flood modeling.

Coupled with data from FEMA, NASA, USGS and the Army Corps of Engineers, the model generates a score, not just for a region, but for specific homes, according to First Street’s video.

The above graphic and image from the News 13 drone show why the Haldanes’ question whether the data is accurate.

When checking neighboring properties above and below the Haldanes’ lot, five were rated one out of 10, and two received nines for flood factors.

“Water flows downhill, so there’s no way that we can have polar opposite flood risks,” said Laura.

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All four of the homeowners who reached out to News 13 had minimal flood risk in North Carolina’s Flood Risk Information System. First Street’s YouTube video also explained why the models differ.

“Unfortunately, that doesn’t tell the whole story because flood zones don’t capture heavy rainfall, and those FEMA flood zones are not capturing climate change,” said Dr. Kearns.

CAN YOU DISPUTE IT?

First Street’s dispute webpage says: “As a rule, we do not update factor scores based on individual requests or disputes.”

However, in an email, a spokesperson told News 13 they would review the addresses I shared, plus any FEMA letters of map amendments, elevation certificates, base flood elevation documents, and proof of new construction or updates not in public record that homeowners submitted.

The LeGwins sent both Zillow and First Street some of that data, but Zillow confirmed First Street’s assessment in a letter and said the climate risk feature will remain. The Haldanes got a similar response.

“Their policy is not to make changes,” said Laura of the email they received back from their complaint to First Street.

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News 13 reached out to a local environmental scientist and geologist familiar with area flooding. After consulting debris flow maps, he didn’t understand the varying scores around the Haldanes’ property.

The LeGwins’ property is mapped at risk for a debris flow, but the Schrecks’ Hendersonville property is out of the floodway. That is why the Land of the Sky Association of Realtors is encouraging home buyers not to just look at these scores.

“I would remind folks it’s a projection and that there are other modeling programs out there, so as with anything else, check multiple sources, visit the property and develop your own conclusions,” said realtor Rachel Brown.

Even First Street admits a property ranked 10 of 10 for extreme flooding may never flood, which home sellers say is frustrating.

News 13 is aware that several homeowners have filed complaints about First Street’s data with the North Carolina Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division. They have reached out to First Street on the homeowners’ behalf.

News 13 also found nationwide complaints with the Better Business Bureau about First Street’s Data, with the responses that they don’t address individual concerns.

First Street has yet to get back to News 13 about the addresses we provided.

DISPUTE PROCESS:

According to First Street Technology, “anyone can submit a dispute” at this link.

First Street told News 13 the following:

“We want to assure you that every submission is reviewed to ensure data accuracy. In the rare instance that data is found to be incorrect or if appropriate supporting documentation is provided, we take prompt action to issue a response. If not, our system directs users to the following resources to help them better understand their score.”

A link to First Street’s help center can be found here.

According to First Street, “We have spent nearly a decade advancing research in climate and flood risk modeling. Our science team is composed of highly respected experts in the field. We are committed to transparency, and our methodologies undergo rigorous peer review. These methodologies are publicly accessible for evaluation on both our methodologies page and our dedicated flood page.“