09-17-07 Meeting of Drainage and Flooding Committee

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EFFECTS OF NON - PARTICIPATION IN THE NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM If a community chooses not to participate, or if it loses its eligibility, • No resident can purchase or renew flood insurance. • No federal mortgage insurance (like VA and FHA) will be provided for properties in flood hazard areas. • No federal grants or loans may be made for buildings in flood hazard areas. • No federal flood disaster assistance will be provided in flood hazard areas. • In some states, state disaster assistance, grants, and loans are denied. • Homes and other construction in flood hazard areas may become unmarketable. • Your local government may be legally liable for denying its citizens the opportunity to purchase flood insurance and for failing to take other measures to reduce the risk to life and property. • Few citizens place a high priority on flood preparedness. But these same people expect you, as their elected leader, to limit damage to life and property from flood disasters when they do occur. • Prevailing attitudes toward personal property rights and government regulation may work against the adoption of many flood damage reduction measures. • Interest groups opposing floodplain management measures are well organized and vocal, while coalitions supporting local flood prevention programs are rare. The decisions that you have to make in the face of these challenges involve basic and sometimes emotional issues: balancing individual and community property rights, and the need to protect the public health, safety and welfare, along with balancing short-term gains against long-term benefits. OVERCOMING BARRIERS Perhaps the most effective way to combat these attitudes and misperceptions is by building understanding and consensus about your community's flood problems and floodplain management goals, and other goals. Getting other community leaders (business, industry, organizations, groups) involved also builds a sense of ownership of the problem and its solution. Here are some things to keep in mind. • Recent court decisions have upheld laws that restrict use of private prop- erty subject to flood hazards. • Emphasize the public safety aspects of flood reduction measures. Careful planning and management of floodplains reduces jeopardy not only to the residents of these areas but to workers and volunteers who must undertake response efforts after a flood disaster. • Have a vision of your community's future that includes floodplain resources. • Make the case for wise use of flood -prone lands to the public as well as to your own department heads. This can be done through the media, and presentations before clubs and organizations, "special interest" groups, and in staff and depart- ment meetings. • Gain the public's confidence by being knowledgeable, setting a good example, and page 16