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OJ , OJ III (l 0( ll. OJ OJ .. OJ 51 OJ ., '" 51 '" " c - '" lli (l :z III lli III ... 0( :. :z - ..l X (l :l 0( ..l U z: z: o lli II. ID '" .. - ID OJ I OJ 51 I :z 0( .., An Action Plan for Reducing Flood Risk in the.., Page 7 of8 Because citizens are becoming more knowledgeable about and respectful of the natura! processes associated with Iloodplllinplain areas and are subsequently less willing to SI.Ibsidize the costs of unwise occupancy of them, it is imperative that future floodplainactivities be coordiilated fu maximize the benefits offloodplainlands and waters and to minimize the loss of life and damage from flooding, Western states and the federal government are com!Uitted to reducing flood damages and costs in the future. These shared goals provide an excellent opportunity to entei-into collaborative relationships to accomplish the task, New and creative ideas need to be tested that will give states greater flexibility and authority to make decisions and mitigate costs following disasters. [n addition, FBMA is beginning to fund p~e-disaster mitigation projects, The design of these new projects should minimize state cost-sharing and include state benefits in the analysis. This would provide the needed incentive to reduce disaster costs for state- and local-designated disasters. States must be able to leverage new opportunities with existing programs in innovative ways to create powerful mitigation tools that can be evoked at the state and IocaJ level. Recoll1mendallons: 13, By Executive Order, the President oft)le United States should establish a focal point for all federal agencies that are responsible for coordinating and implementing damage-reduction strategies. The focal point would be responsible for ensuring consistency among federal programs and agencies involved in flood response and recovery programs. 14. Each state should maintain a permanent interagency hazard-mitigation team that meets regularly to address natural hazards in general. It would report to the governor coooerning the necessary planning, mitigation and coordination of hazards management activities, including those related to tloodplainplain areas. ' 1 S. The president, Congress and the governors should provide the necessary policy or statutory encouragement for the formation ofnew partnerships between federal, state, tribal and local governments and private entities to maintain and develop flood warning systems. * A higher priority should be placed on additional funding and cooperative efforts among agencies to maintain and operate more efficiently the nation's water forecasting programs and stream gauge network, which are used to assess flood risk and to warn communities of imminent flood risks, States could play an increased role by assisting with identifYing priorities, cost sharing where appropriate and par1icipating in improving the overall coordination of the system. * Stale and federal agencies should establish resource-sharing agreements to cooperatively develop and maintain comprehensive floodplainmanagement databases to SI.Ipport tlood response efforta and flood-loss reduction planning. 16. States should combine resources for disaster response by joining existing Emergency Compacts or by forming new ones. Many states have already joined the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) first proposed by the Southern Governors' Association and endorsed by WOA (WGA Policy Resolution 96-010, June 24, 1996). Other options are to join one of the Regional Compacts such as the Southwest Caucus or to fonn new compacts, , http://www.westgov.orglwgalpublica1Jfldrpt.htm 119198