> $20 Billion 1993

> $100 Billion 2005

> $15 Billion 2008

> $25 Billion 2008

What’s Wrong with These Pictures?

Floods are an act of God; flood damages result from acts of men. House Document 465, 89th Congress, 2d Session: A Unified National Program for Managing Flood Losses, August 1966

Floodproofing in a 21 st Century Flood Risk Management Context November 2008 New Orleans, La Gerald E. Galloway, Jr., PE, PhD Past-President, American Water Resources Association Water Policy Collaborative, University of Maryland Visiting Scholar, US Army Corps of Engineers

THE SPEAKER DOES NOT REPRESENT ANYONE OR ANY AGENCY. THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED ARE HIS OWN AND DO NOT REFLECT, NECESSARILY, THE POSITIONS OF THE AWRA, THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS OR ANYONE ELSE. Caution

Floods Were Part of Early North American History

And People Tried to Deal with the Flood Challenge

STRUGGLE!

Then, A Major Flood Occurred in 1927… And Got Our Attention

Lowell Pittsburgh And Again in 1936

Flood Control Act of 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 Early Guidance on Floods People

Keep the Water Away!

And Flood Protection Was Extended Across the Nation

FLOOD CONTROL!

But Flood Damages Continued to Grow – 1993

And Some Had Other Ideas The Birth of Floodplain Management Gilbert White Jim Goddard

l TVA Floodplain Management l Corps Floodplain Management Services

Thinking in Broader Terms Senate Select Committee on Water Resources Water Resources Planning Act of 1965 – Water Resources Council – Principles and Standards

National Flood Insurance Program – Established in 1968 – Led to National Flood Hazard Mapping Program – Mandatory Purchase Provisions in 1973

White House Floodplain Management Review Committee Determine Causes of '93 Flood Evaluate Floodplain Management Programs Recommend Changes in Policies Programs and Procedures

THE FLOOD OF 1993 Flood Was Significant Hydrometeorologic Event

Major Floods Will Continue to Occur

People and Property Are at Risk in the Floodplain – Most Floodplain Residents Don’t Understand the Hazard – Many Structures Unnecessarily Located in Floodplain

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

The Flood Control Infrastructure Has Provided Protection to Millions

But It and Other Human Activity Caused Significant Environmental Degradation

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

Avoid Use of Floodplain: Don't Develop Where You Don't Need To – Zoning - Codes

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

Minimize Damages to Development that Does Occur and Has Occurred –Floodproof

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

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

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

FLOOD DAMAGE REDUCTION!

72 Years of Flood Control 40 Years of Flood Insurance Increasing Flood Damages Average annual losses - $6 Billion (BK) Inadequate Protection Inadequate Maintenance Houston, We Have a Flood Challenge US Water Challenges

Risk!

Risk Perceptions and Risk Comparisons If risk “a” is less than risk “b,” and risk “a” is acceptable, then risk “b” should also be acceptable A Threat to That Which We Value Covello Risk

RISK = Probability of Hazard Occurring Probability that Protection Will Work Consequences of Bad Event Occurring

Why Doesn’t Anyone Seem to Understand Risk?

We Lead People to Believe They Were Safe The Assumption Is “Protection” We Don’t Talk About or Prepare for Disaster

We Don’t Communicate Residual Risk There is no such thing as complete protection Things Do Go Wrong and Consequences Can Be Estimated No Incentive or Requirement to Cover This Risk Exposure is Federal Government’s

Risk Mgmt Tools (Cumulative) INITIAL RISK Insurance Zoning –Codes-Relocation Structural Evacuation Plans - Commo RESIDUAL RISK Risk The Nation Moves to Flood Risk Management Floodproofing (Natural) Storage Education

How Determined?

The 21st Century Population Explosion Pressures for Development Scarce Resources Climate Change Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, Ambiguous National and World Situations

Floodprone construction rarely occurs. New development has no adverse impact on flood levels Natural and beneficial functions of floodplains are protected Risk communication has become advanced enough that local decision-making is well informed. Policy decisions about the use of land and water resources are based on sound data, science, and models. Association of State Floodplain Managers Foundation, The Floodplain of 2050

What Must WE Do? Educate the Public Floods Will Continue to Occur Residual Risk Is Real Nonstrucutral Approaches Lead to a Better Future Fewer Damages Protection of Natural and Beneficial Functions Become Involved in the Decision Process Politically/Institutionally Start Working on the Future -Today

…the human race is a family that has inherited a place on the earth in common … its members have an obligation to work toward sharing it so that none is deprived of the elementary needs for life, and …all have a responsibility to leave it undegraded for those who follow. Gilbert F. White 1975