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Reducing Future Flood Losses The Role of Human Actions

Reducing Future Flood Losses The Role of Human Actions. Facing the 21 st Century Flood Challenge: Where Have We Been and Where Are We Going? A Disasters Roundtable The National Academies Washington, DC March 2, 2004 Gerald E. Galloway, Jr., PE, PhD Titan Corporation.

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Reducing Future Flood Losses The Role of Human Actions

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  1. Reducing Future Flood LossesThe Role of Human Actions Facing the 21st Century Flood Challenge: Where Have We Been and Where Are We Going? A Disasters Roundtable The National Academies Washington, DC March 2, 2004 Gerald E. Galloway, Jr., PE, PhD Titan Corporation

  2. Floods Have been Around for a Long Time

  3. Floods Were Part of Early North American History

  4. And More Recent US History Greenville Johnstown Lowell Pittsburgh

  5. And People Tried to Deal wit the Flood Challenge

  6. Congress Set the Policy • Flood Control Act of 1928- Lower Mississippi Valley • Flood Control Act of 1936 - The Nation • …destructive floods upon the rivers...constitute a menace to national welfare; it is the sense of Congress that flood control is a proper activity of the Federal Government • … the Federal Government should improve or participate in improvements,,,for flood control purposes if the benefits to whomsover they accrue are in excess of the estimated costs...

  7. Engineered Structures Have Provided Protection to Millions

  8. While Some Thought of Other Approaches John Kennedy Gilbert White Jim Goddard

  9. And Legislated Programs Disaster Relief Flood Insurance Unified National Program

  10. But Flood Damages Continue to Grow - And Many Blame the Engineering St. Louis, 1993 Grand Forks, ND, 1997 LaCrosse, WI, 2001

  11. Upland and Floodplain Development Has Substantially Altered the Natural Environment

  12. Miss and Red Fllods

  13. Telling It Like It Is • UNP Assessment • Sharing the Challenge • USACE Flood Assessment • California Governor’s Task Force • Western Water Policy • Higher Ground • Living with the Red • What Happened? • How Prevent Similar Floods?

  14. Big Floods • Major Floods Have Been Significant Hydrometeorologic Events

  15. Major Floods Will Continue to Occur

  16. People and Property Are at Risk in the Floodplain • Most Floodplain Residents Don’t Understand the Risk • 14% of Non-Federal Land in Contiguous 48 States is in 100 Yr. Floodplain • >17,000 Communities Have Floodprone Areas • Flash Floods Occur in All 50 States • Many Structures Unnecessarily Located in Floodplain

  17. ….and It Isn’t Going to Get Any Better • Increased Development/Growth • Climate Change/Climate Variability • Uncertainty

  18. There Are No Silver Bullets

  19. The Goals • Reduce Flood Damages • Protect and Enhance the Natural Environment • Continue Growth Sustainable Development

  20. WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE • Share Responsibility and Costs for Floodplain Management Among Federal, State, and Local Governments and Impacted Populace

  21. Avoid Use of Floodplain: Don't Develop When You Don't Need To

  22. Minimize Damages to Development that Does Occur and Has Occurred • Hold the Water Where It Falls

  23. Minimize Damages to Development that Does Occur and Has Occurred • Floodproof

  24. Minimize Damages to Development that Does Occur and Has Occurred • Relocate Endangered Structures • Acquire Marginal Lands

  25. Minimize Damages to Development that Does Occur and Has Occurred • Use Levees/Floodwalls, When Justified

  26. Mitigate Damages that Will Occur • Establish Early Warning Systems • Insure Those at Risk • Educate Present and Potential Floodplain Occupants

  27. Deal with the River Basin as an Ecosystem • Concurrently Restore, Maintain and Enhance the Natural Environment

  28. Since 1993 Greater National Awareness of Flood Threat

  29. Since 1993 State and Local Attention to Floodplain Management

  30. Since 1993 More Comprehensive Planning

  31. Since 1993 Relocations and Land Acquisitions

  32. Since 1993 Increased Attention to Natural Resources • National Focus on Watersheds • Farm Conservation Programs

  33. Since 1993 Growth in Use of Technology

  34. Challenges • Improving NFIP • Repetitive Damages • Coastal Properties • Timely Mapping • 100 Year Flood NFIP Review Underway

  35. Challenges • Developing a National Water Policy • Coordinating Federal Activities -Eliminating Turf and Bureaucracy • Supporting Comprehensive Planning • Building Public and Public Official Understanding and Interest • Eliminating Bias in Federal Procedures

  36. Challenges • Working Together (Governments – Business - NGO’s – Public) • Avoiding Name Calling • Collaborating vs. Coordinating

  37. Challenges • Capitalizing on Technology • Mapping and GIS • Decision Support Systems -Analysis • Information and Data Sharing • Education and Outreach • Linking to Other Systems

  38. Challenges Addressing Policies that: • Promote intensification in risk areas • Ignore changing conditions • Ignore adverse impacts to existing properties • Undervalue natural floodplain functions

  39. Water Resources Professionals Must Continue to be Involved • Educationally • Technically • Politically/Institutionally

  40. We Can Make the Difference!

  41. W

  42. Thank You

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