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<br />. The National Flood Insurance Program has never been thoroughly evaluated, A comprehensive <br />assessment of its effects on resource use, economics, and occupance of the floodplain should be <br />undertaken soon, A pilot test in two counties of a method to assess changes in floodplain <br />occupance and contributing factors was completed in late 1999, and its results should be <br />examined carefully with an eye toward a larger effort, <br /> <br />. The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program should be evaluated, to determine the kinds of mitigation <br />measures that are being funded and implemented, and whether they really are reducing losses and <br />protecting floodplain resources, <br /> <br />. Likewise, a compilation of Flood Mitigation Assistance Program projects needs to be done, <br />followed by an analysis of their impacts, to establish future program priorities, <br /> <br />. Periodic reviews also should be done of state and local floodplain management policies and <br />programs, to identify what successes have been achieved in certain states and locales, what <br />contributed to that success, and how they could be duplicated elsewhere, <br /> <br />Executive Order 11988 Enforcement <br /> <br />Executive Order 11988 directs federal agencies to comply with wise floodplain management <br />practices, Although on its face it is a powerful mandate, Executive Order 11988 seems to be receiving <br />only marginal compliance as federal agencies fail to adhere to its spirit and letter, and continue to <br />locate or fund non- floodplain-dependent activities in floodplains and thereby putting these <br />investments at considerable risk. <br /> <br />. Compliance with Executive Order 11988 should be overseen and enforced by a specific entity <br />within the Administration, <br /> <br />. Alternatively, a new Executive Order should be issued, with an expanded scope and mechanisms <br />for enforcement and accountability. This would reaffIrm the federal government's commitment <br />to floodplain management. <br /> <br />Funding Mechanisms <br /> <br />Reliable and ongoing funding must be made available for programs, entities, and activities that foster <br />partnerships, state and local capability, and sustainable approaches to floodplain management. For <br />example, funds for implementing mitigation must extend beyond the post-disaster period, and beyond <br />the federal planning process (which can last 20 years), <br /> <br />. Adequate funding should be provided for initiatives that support all aspects of floodplain <br />management, including data collection, forecasting, geographic information systems, mapping <br />(including the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Mapping Modernization Plan), scientific <br />research, and analysis, <br /> <br />. Generous and reliable funding is needed for programs that have the most promise for long-term <br />impact. These include technical assistance programs like the Corps of Engineers' Flood Plain <br />Management Services and its Planning Assistance to States Program; mitigation initiatives like <br />the Flood Mitigation Assistance Program, which is not restricted to the post-disaster setting; and <br /> <br />Association of State Floodplain Managers <br /> <br />-35- <br /> <br />National Flood Programs in Review 2000 <br />