FLOOD02680

• County: Statewide
• Community: State
• Basin: Statewide
• Title: Flood Mitigation Assistance Program - Local Community Guidebook Planning Component
• Date: 12/1/1997
• Prepared For: NFIP
• Prepared By: Missouri State Emergency Management Agency
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Educational/Technical/Reference Information

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December 1997

Flooding is Missouri's number one natural hazard, We need only reflect a few years back to our 1993 and
1995 floods to be reminded of the destruction a flood can cause. Nationally, flooding accounts for over 80
percent of federal disaster assistance. Homeowners and business owners can protect themselves from the
linancialloss of property damage through the National Flood Insurance Program, Alarmingly though. only I
out of 10 property owners Ijving or conducting business in a flood risk area in Missouri have flood insurance.
If your community does not participate in the National Flood Insurance Program I encourage you to enroll now,
Your citizens arc not eligible to apply for flood insurance unless you, as the community, participate. If your
community already participates, it is imperative to continue to enforce your floodplain ordinance and monitor
development in the floodplain. I also want to encourage you to campaign and encourage citizens to buy flood
insurance. The congressional mood, at present, may reduce our chances of receiving federal disaster assistance
should Missouri experience substantial flooding, State and local govemment~ must continue to take
responsibility to ensure our floodplains are not developed while property owners must take preventative action
and buy flood insurance.

For those local jurisdictions that participate in the National Flood Insurance Program and for property owners
that have flood insurance I am pleased to announce a new program - - the Flood Mitigation Assistance
Program (FMA). FMA is a grant program designed to reduce the risk of flood damage to structures covered
under the National Flood Insurance Program. The two basic goals of FMA are (I) encourage long-term,
comprehensive flood reduction planning and, (2) reduce the number of repetitively damaged structures and
associated claims against the National Flood Insurance Program.

Local jurisdictions participating in the National Flood Insurance Program may apply for two types of grants:
(I) Planning Grants and, (2) Project Grants. Planning grants are awarded to assist local jurisdictions in
developing a Flood Risk Mitigation Plan while project grants are awarded to complete specific flood
mitigation projects such as buyout, elevation, or relocation. Prior to being eligible to apply for a project grant,
the local jurisdiction must have an approved Flood Risk Mitigation Plan. This guidebook was designed to aid
local jurisdictions in developing the Flood Risk Mitigation Plan. We have also included instructions on how
to apply for a planning grant should you need financial assistance to develop a Flood Risk Mitigation Plan, A
cOI1"esponding guidebook is available for those local jurisdictions interested in applying for a project grant.
For more information and guidance about the Flood Mitigation Assistance Program contact our State Hazard
Mitigation OffiCCl, Desein Frost, at [phone], For more information about enrolling in the National
Flood Insurance Program contact our State Floodplain Coordinator, George Riedel, at [phone],

J am excited about this program and believe we can make a difference in reducing our flood risk. I encourage
you to call me anytime at [phone] with suggestions or comments on how we can better serve you,

Sincerely.

AiL.-"d'~
//7) ,

Jerry R Uhlmann
Director
Mi:;souri Slate Emergency Management Agency

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