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<br />
<br />Mud! inJormatirJ'fl on floodplain managemmt and flood
<br />hazard mitigatimz has been published in iUustratd, clear{;.'
<br />wntfe1J manuals directd toward both private properl)'
<br />owners and Pu.blic rffiLio.ls.
<br />
<br />STATE INITIATIVES TO
<br />EDUCATE THE PUBLIC
<br />
<br />. 'H:xrn hulr1\ n;orkshops on thp Nalionai Flood
<br />1r._wTtlr{a PrfJgram tailored to the host {(jun~/j jllJ(Jd
<br />\ilua/ioll., and inuites lenden, i!uuranu a.'ien!.l, rflll
<br />(,tait agent.,) alld others
<br />
<br />. In 'Tennessee, a communilJ' plamrrr u;ili visit a
<br />{ioodprone site upo." requnt, rr(Ommend adions. and
<br />diud till: i'IL'ner u) more i,!,fonnotiml or os.,i.,ton({'
<br />
<br />. rVif((JIIsin ,iuite lalv requires rcal estatr agents- to
<br />udei.v pm.lj!uliu jmrchos('TJ if a propert)' is shown
<br />as,fluodjmml' OIl ,VFIP maps.
<br />
<br />. FlU' A/ar)'land Drpartment oj Natural Rt'SOUW'1
<br />aealpd "Far/I)' F1IJodhound," a cartGrm ci10radcr
<br />who afJJi;mrr in II {Oloring boof: and helps '.:flood
<br />pulis" iraTI! flood safety tiP:'
<br />
<br />. .4rizOI1O i.1 preparing a .llt,.,rl (our,11" to ,1)1' jirnenlpd
<br />at lowl rea! ntale schools,
<br />
<br />. The Oklahoma Itf;iJlaturl' pa.\\ni '1 taw in IV8f1
<br />that read,) "ff du: premi\l's fo bf' rmied hiiUf hMr!
<br />)looded 1.iJithin 1m' paj-t jive ._vear.\- and such jila is
<br />krlOu_'n to Ihf landlord, !hl.;" landlord x/wit include
<br />such l'i.1ormation promir1f'flt{}' and in writing as pari
<br />qf m~}' 1.iJrittm rmfat agrftn!l'nts J)
<br />
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<br />40
<br />
<br />Modifying the Impacts of Flooding
<br />
<br />Despite efforts to control flooding and to reduce susceptibility to it, floods
<br />do occur, with adverse consequences on individuals and communities. A third
<br />strategy for mitigating floodplain losses is to help individuals and communi-
<br />ties prepare for and recover from floods. This can be done through informa-
<br />tion dissemination and education, spreading the costs of the loss over time,
<br />and transferring some of the individual losses to the community.
<br />It is not clear whether the present combination of flood insurance, disM
<br />aster assistance, tax adjustments, and postflood recovery practices designed to
<br />implement this strategy is producing an equitable sharing of the capital and
<br />operating costs of floodplain occupancy among its beneficiaries, or shifting the
<br />costs from the individual to the public and government agencies. Neither has
<br />there been a clear statement of how much, if any, of the cost of floodplain
<br />development should properly be borne by the general public. Some argue that
<br />all costs should be borne by those occupying the floodplain; others that develM
<br />opment of the floodplain provides economic benefits and, therefore, the
<br />general public should shoulder them.
<br />
<br />Information and Education
<br />
<br />Information and education activities for floodplain management have
<br />expanded dramatically since the 1960s, as illustrated by the number of publi-
<br />cations, technical manuals, brochures, conferences, workshops, organizations,
<br />and media presentations now in existence. The effectiveness of this activity is
<br />difficult to assess, It is clear that many local officials and property owners still
<br />do not thoroughly understand concepts of probability, cumulative impacts,
<br />off-site impacts, and functional values-all of which are important for success-
<br />ful floodplain management. It is also clear that little of the material that has
<br />been generated and released adequately integrates the flood loss reduction
<br />and natural resources protection aspects of floodplain management.
<br />!vluch of the basic information about floodplain management was develM
<br />oped or sponsored by federal agencies, and includes technical design and appli-
<br />cation manuals, research reports, computerized databases, and public awareness
<br />materials. Federal and state agencies train their own personnel in floodplain
<br />management programs and activities. Both levels of government have actively
<br />provided financial and technical support to hundreds of conferences, seminars,
<br />and workshops on every aspect of floodplain management for professionals at
<br />all levels of government and the private sector, and for floodplain residents.
<br />In addition, states respond to individual inquiries from local officials,
<br />insurance agents, lenders, property owners, and the general public, and pub-
<br />lish information tailored to the particular legal, administrative, and geo-
<br />graphic situations of each state. Numerous nonprofit and professional organi-
<br />zations with concern for floodplain management have been formed in the last
<br />two decades. These organizations conduct research, produce publications,
<br />hold conferences and workshops, and provide a network through which
<br />professionals can exchange information.
<br />
<br />Flood Insurance
<br />
<br />Insurance is a mechanism for spreading the cost of losses both over
<br />time and over a relatively large number of similarly exposed risks. Until 1969,
<br />insurance against flood losses '....as generally unavailable. Under the National
<br />Flood Insurance Program, initiated in 1968 and significantly expanded in
<br />1973, the federal government made flood insurance available for existing
<br />property in flood hazard areas in return for enactment and enforcement of
<br />floodplain management regulations designed to reduce future flood losses.
<br />Although participation in the program is voluntary, of 21,926 communi.
<br />ties in the nation identified as floodprone, 18,023 (82%) had joined the pro-
<br />gram as of November 30, 1990. At the end of calendar year 1990, there were
<br />2.39 million policies in force with $201 billion of coverage. From 1978 through
<br />1989, over 384,000 claims were paid totalling over $3.1 billion. Net receipts
<br />from policy premiums versus claims payments varies substantially from year
<br />to year. From 1978 to 1989 the net operating deficit or surplus ranged from a
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