Laserfiche WebLink
<br />Despi:e the successes of the NFIP, many people continue to ignore flood risk and choose to build <br />in the floodplain, perpetuating the continuous cycle of build- flood-rebuild. To break this <br />disast"ous cycle, Director Witt has worked tirelessly the past several years through the Project <br />Impact initiative to encourage communities to identify hazards and take proactive steps to build <br />sustahable and livable communities. Through Project Impact, community leaders from the <br />public, private, and nonprofit sectors have coordinated their efforts to plan and implement <br />activi1 ies designed to protect their communities against future disasters. Project Impact has <br />taught us that through collaborative partnerships and planning, we can create disaster-resistant <br />communities while protecting and enhancing environmental resources. <br /> <br />Recert flood events such as Hurricane Floyd, increased urbanization of watersheds, coastal <br />erosion, and climatic changes have brought to the forefront our Nation's vulnerability to floods <br />and the issues regarding the adequacy ofNFIP requirements. Although the NFIP has made <br />signifcant strides over the past 30 years, more must be done to reduce the threat that floods pose <br />to the Nation's economy and the safety of its citizens. We must evaluate the past successes and <br />failun:s of the NFIP and, more importantly, develop new strategies to better identify the flood <br />hazarll risk, provide a higher level of protection against flood risks, cultivate a greater sense of <br />responsibility and accountability, and encourage States and communities to foster sustainable <br />development. <br /> <br />Floodplain Management Forum <br /> <br />The pLlrpose of the Floodplain Management Forum is to bring together a select group of <br />individuals with expertise and experience in floodplain management. The Forum will focus on <br />the la'ge issues facing the NFIP and floodplain management and began to explore methods to <br />incre!se the level of protection against flood risks. This Forum will help the Federal Emergency <br />Management Agency (FEMA) evaluate the NFIP to improve programs and policies and develop <br />a future strategy for the NFIP. Certainly FEMA alone cannot foster sustainable development and <br />sounc floodplain management throughout the United States. It will take collaborative <br />partnl:rships among all levels of government, the private sector, nonprofit organizations, and <br />individual citizens. <br /> <br />The Forum is designed to be a highly interactive discussion focusing on the future of the NFIP <br />and floodplain management. It is important that the Forum identify aspects of the NFIP that are <br />ripe hr change, and issues that will require a more extensive national dialog to raise public <br />awarmess and support such changes. A concerted effort has been made to invite people who <br />repre:;ent the diverse stakeholders of the NFIP, including representatives of academia, <br />environmental groups, government agencies, the insurance industry, the building industry, <br />lending institutions, local floodplain administrations, and elected officials so that a variety of <br />viewpoints regarding the NFIP and floodplain management could be heard. <br /> <br />Each participant is requested to provide a copy of his or her prepared statement prior to the <br />Forum. A report will be developed and distributed to all the participants following the Forum. <br />The report will capture the discussion generated at the Forum, the statements submitted by each <br />partkipant, and the participant's recommendations for implementing change. The report will be <br />used ~y FEMA to consider changes or new initiatives regarding FEMA's responsibilities in <br /> <br />Floodplain Management Forum <br /> <br />2 <br />