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Examples in Communicating Flood Risk:National Flood Risk Management

Initiative

Presentation to

National Flood Risk Management Policy Summit

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Pete Rabbon, P.E.Director, National Flood Risk Management Program

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

14 July 2009

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Flood Risk = f(chance of flood, consequences)Flood Risk = f(chance of flood, consequences)

Flood management = Floodwater management + Floodplain management

A Shared Responsibility

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Flood Risk Management ProgramFlood Risk Management Program

Vision: To lead collaborative, comprehensive and sustainable national flood risk management to improve public safety and reduce flood damages to our country.

Mission: To integrate and synchronize the ongoing, diverse flood risk management projects, programs and authorities of the US Army Corps of Engineers with counterpart projects, programs and authorities of FEMA, other Federal agencies, state organizations and regional and local agencies.

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Risk Communication

• Convey fact that risk remains, no matter what protective measures are in place

• Educate public as to actual flood risk they face every day so they can take responsibility for own safety

• Work with local governments so risk can be included in urban planning decisions

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California RoundtableCalifornia Roundtable

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Interagency Levee Task ForceInteragency Levee Task Force

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Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission Serving the Treaty Tribes of Western Washington

Seattle, Washington

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Silver JacketsSilver Jackets

• Intergovernmental partnerships at the state level

• Implements coordinated solutions to

State FRM priorities

• Coordinate and leverage available

resources & information between

agencies

• Facilitate state level life-cycle planning

to reduce flood risks

National Flood Risk Management Program

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Policy StudiesPolicy Studies

• Wise Use of Floodplains – An ongoing, IWR policy study to understand the effects of USACE programs and policies in different policy and watershed contexts on floodplain management choices affecting flood risk, and to describe options for policy, legislative or program reforms.

• WRDA 2007, Section 2032 - The President is to submit a report to Congress describing the vulnerability of the U.S. to damage from flooding, comparative risks faced by different regions of the country, programs in the U.S. which may be encouraging development and economic activity in flood prone areas, and recommendations for improving those programs and proposals for implementing the recommendations.

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Way Ahead

FEDERAL FLOOD RISK FEDERAL FLOOD RISK MANAGEMENT TASK MANAGEMENT TASK

FORCEFORCE

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National Flood Risk Management ProgramNational Flood Risk Management Program

http://www.iwr.usace.army.mil/nfrmp/