FLOOD10353

• County: Larimer
• Community: Fort Collins
• Stream Name: Big Thompson River
• Basin: South Platte
• Title: Twenty Years Later, What We Have Learned Since the Big Thompson Flood - Proceedings of a Meeting Held in Fort Collins - July 13-15, 1996
• Date: 7/13/1996
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Educational/Technical/Reference Information

19

giving them

on the need for the
the need for wise use

floodplain ordinances

Krimm

communities do not have to enforce
freedom over land-use decisions.
In 1973, when Gilbert White testified before Congress
Flood Disaster Protection Act, he summed up very well
of the floodplain when he said:

I

,

.

Continued land-use management that takes account of what so far seems to
have been reasonable levels from experience on inland floods, is not to bring
economic disaster to the communities affected. It is rather to avert disaster of
a far greater sort to the nation as a whole.
To the extent that communities have not engaged in land use, one must
recognize that there has been a trade-off, and continues to be a trade-off,
between the short-term benefits that are gained by a private developer and
landowner and the long-term costs of the federal government in bailing out
those people who subsequently occupy the property and then come to the
federal government for relief, or for costly protection work.

r

r

When I think that Gilbert White made that statement over 23 years ago
I find it discouraging that we are still fighting many of the same battles over
land-use that we fought over two decades ago.
It all may sound a bit depressing, but all hope is not lost, nor is mitigation
destined to fade into the backdrop. Despite all the difficulties we now face in
implementing mitigation, the fight is not over, and progress is still being
made. States like Florida are making great strides in mitigation. Both the
National Emergency Management Association and the Association of State
Floodplain Managers are actively exploring how to further incorporate
mitigation into their day-to-day activities and their professions. Mitigation
success stories are increasing in number. And the actions we have been
taking to protect critical facilities, buyout properties in the floodplain, elevate
people's homes, and guide development decisions are beginning to payoff.
But most importantly, I also see a political window of opportunity opening
for mitigation. For the first time, we have a FEMA director with credibility
in the emergency management community, who touts mitigation at every
opportunity. We have a president who is fully supportive of our efforts to
further the cause of mitigation and has said publicly, "the time has come to
mount a nationwide effort focused on reducing the impact of disasters as well
as reducing their economic consequences. As we continue to reach a balanced
budget, reduce the deficit, and protect the vital interests of our citizens. the
value of mitigation programs is clear."
We also have the disasters

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r

they fac....
look

of the last
of the hazards
actions and

many people's awareness
officials to rethink their