WSP09207

• File Number: 8460
• Description: Platte River-Platte Basin Endangered Species Issue
• Basin: South Platte
• Water Division: 1
• Date: 7/7/1997
• Title: Programmatic Environment Impact Statement-Colorado Environmental Coalition-Wild and Scenic Protection Proposed for South Platte River
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

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Western Governors' Association

June 24, 1997

Resolution 97 - 005

SPONSORS: Governors Leavitt and Nelson

SUBJECT: Flood Mitigation and Recovery Issues

A_ BACKGROUND

I. Damages caused by floods continue to be a national problem. The average annual flood damage in
the United States exceeds $3 billion.

2, Extraordinary precipatation and development in flood plains over the years have increasingly
placed people and property at risk.

3. Disastrous floods in late 1996 and early 1997 have caused much human suffering and substantial
property loss and infrastructure damage in many of the western states.

4. Federal disaster recovery funds are available to state and local governments for losses to public
facilities on a cost-sharing basis. Additional federal programs provide funding to assist in the recovery
of individuallosscs.

5. Flood damages and recovery costs in the western states in the current year have been extremely
high. The associated recovery costs will have an impact on the federal, state and local budgets

6. Since the 1993 Midwest floods, the federal government has been very active in proposing solutions
to reduce the increasing burden of flood recovery costs. Many recommendations came in the Repan
of the Interagency Floodplain Management Review Committee entitled, Sharing the Challenge:
Floodplain Management into the 21st Century, a report of the Interagency Floodplain Managemem
Review Committee which was developed after the Great Midwest Flood, A stated strategic federal
goal in the report is to "Reduce the vulnerability of the nation to the dangers and damages that result
from floods."

7, While recovering from the recent floods, many states within the Western Governors' Association
area are experiencing conflicting information and lack of consistent interpretation of policy from a
number of the federal agencies assigned to assist with disaster recovery.

B. GOVERNORS' POLICY STA TEMENT

1, The Western Governors' Association strongly supports the goal of reducing flood vulnerability
through effective floodplain management and flood mitigation planning and urges the adoption of
consistent and cost-effective federal policies that promote mitigation and enhance the disaster
recovery process. State flood disaster recovery policy must also be examined to ensure compatibility
and cost-effectiveness. As federal policy is developed to reduce flood recovery costs, states must be
proactivel)' involved in the development of new federal policy to assure that costs are not simply
shifted to state and local government, but that the policies empower states and locals to more
effectively and efficiently respond to, and devise ways to reduce future flood damages.

7/7/97

12:21:40 PM