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B. Reducing Susceptibility to Floods There are several methods a local government may use to keep new buildings or land development from being damaged or from making flood problems worse in existing developments. An obvious method is participation in the National Flood Insurance Program. A community's participation in the NFIP, however, should be incor- porated into a floodplain management program that is closely linked with the community's overall land-use planning or growth management program. When floodplain management is consistent with a community- wide planning effort, goals for flood protection can be reiated to goals for economic development, housing, utilities, recreation, services, and the like. The techniques used to achieve these goals should encourage a coordinated approach to development that is sensitive to the com- munity's economic, social, and environmental needs. Some useful techniques and examples of their application are listed below. - Zoning is the most common means of managing future develop- ment. Communities may consider restricting floodplain areas to agricultural, recreational, open space, or other low density uses. Or setbacks from stream corridors and floodplains can be written into a zoning ordinance. This may suffice to restrict development in the f100dway and immediately adjacent to a stream. - Public Development. Policies governing the location, construction, design, and use of public buildings or facilities (roads, sewers, utilities and the like) can effectively reduce susceptibility to flood- ing. Because private development depends on the availability of publicly provided facilities, policies governing these facilities can have considerabie influence in guiding private development away from hazardous flOOdplain areas. - Public Awareness. Programs to develop public awareness can be very effective in reducing susceptibility to flood damages. Local governments could establish programs that include notifying buyers of flood-prone property. Disclosure of flood hazards is already required of realtors before transactions take place. Advice on self- protection in the event of a flood, or encouragement to purChase flood insurance could also be given. Well-informed people are less likely to be caught unaware and unprepared for a flood disaster. - Acquisition of Flood-Prone Properties. This course of action may be easier for some communities than regulating development of flood- prone areas. If this is the case, communities may need to realign their capital budgets. Communities may also acquire easements or development rights which would allow private ownership of flood- piain areas and its continued use for low hazard uses (like agricul- ture). For highly flood-prone development areas, permanent evacuation may be necessary. In such cases, communities need to budget for actual acquisition and relocation. - Tax Incentives. Tax Incentives for floodproofing structures (modify- ing or elevating) is an option local governments may use to encourage individuals to reduce their susceptibility to flooding. A community may also consider establishing a fund to make low interest loans available to residents for flood proofing purposes. c c C. Warning Systems and Emergency Response Planning A local government can take severai steps to prepare for, deal with, and recover from a flood disaster. These will effectively minimize the impact of flood threat. Timely and accurate warning is a major factor in the protection of life and property from fiood disasters. While the federal government (through the National Weather Service) is generally responsible for dis- aster prediction, it is the local government that must be sure the general public is warned in sufficient time to take protective action. Well organized systems to effectively disseminate flood warning information need to be established by local governments in cooperation with the locai media. When a flood is imminent, local governments should have an emergency operations plan that outlines an efficient response. The plan should include flood watch and dike patrol systems, methods to organize volunteers, emergency flood fighting and sandbagging pro- cedures, inventory of material and equipment needed for the flood fight, establishment of emergency shelters and medical facilities, and descrip- I 40