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OJ , IJl III " 0( Il. m m " OJ 151 m It M 151 M . Q ~ III ~ " Z III ~ III ... 0( :> z ~ ..l X " :> 0( ..l U X X o ~ Il. m .. . IJl ~ m OJ I OJ 151 I Z 0( .., An Action Plan for Reducing Flood Risk in the,.. Page 4 of8 Floodplain management experience indic,ales that the best damage-reduction plans are occurring in those states that have provided leadership sltong enough 10 stay the course between high profile flood events. The WGA Floods Task Force concludes that pre-disaster , flood planl)i.ng and floodplainmanagement are "essential"' elements in reducing flood risk, Governors and all levels of government should place grealei' emphasis on these two policy areas. Detailed state and local planning will play an essential role in river-basin management in the future. Leadership must focus on a balance of st.rilctural and non structural floodplaimnanagement tools. With urbanization rapidly expanding in the West, decision makers must recognize that storm-water management planning is an integral component of an overall strategy to reduce flood losses. Conditions for flooding in the West are much different than those in Eastern stat~. The mountainous regions provide the environment for flash flooding, high velocity flows, excessive erosion and torrent storm patterns. The gradual flood build-up of major rivers that devour small towns and remain high for weeks is a condition that exists primarily in the East, Alluvial fans, a common topographic feature in the West, will continue to present a tremendous challenge to local planners until an eff'ecuve model for mapping alluvial fan flooding is developed and accepted by those in the engineering, urban planning and floodplainmanagement professions, The great number of homes and businesses on alluvial fans pose high risk to Western communities, a risk that must be better understood and mitigation stralegies developed, Accurate maps are vital to the local floodplainadministrator (FPA) to make sound management decisions. These maps are used by Ihe FPA to determine if and how a structure can be built in a floodplainplain, In some Western states, the Flood Insurance Rate Maps were last updated in the late 70's and 80's, FEMA is currently working to improve and modernize the flood mapping process, Currently, all mapping is funded by NFIP policyholders which limits the available funds to address this critical issue. Current maps are needed 10 reflect new growth and changes in floodplains to correct inaccuracies in the original maps, and to show the annexation of new land that is not mapped. Recommellda'io.s 1, The Governors should facilitate the organization of public/private summits to identitY areas at risk and ways to reduce it and to develop critical partnerships needed lo successfully implement proactive flood mitigation plans, 2. Each Governor should assign to a cabinet-level official responsibility fur the development and impJementation or state plans and policies to reduce future flood risk. The cabinet official would be charged with developing and implementing policies that would improve the coordination oft1oodplainmanagement activities both within their states and, when necessary, with adjacent states and Mexico and Canada when dealing with shared water-basin issues. High priority must be given to all actions that will reduce flood losses by giving a lead state agency specific responsibility for moniloring and implementing flood. loss strategies and fur reporting back annually on progress toward that goal. The lead state agency should: - Initiate and support additional professional training opportunities for state and local floodplainplain administrators, geological survey organizations, drainage engineers, dam safety professionals, land management agencies, emergency managers and all stakeholders relative http://www.westgov.orglwgalpublicat/fldrpt.htm 1/9/98