Regional Administrator's Message

NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) recently issued its Spring Flood Outlook which forecast an above-normal flood risk for all of New England. With the spring thaw melting the deep winter snowpack, the current conditions pose a very real threat of flooding again for the region.

Last spring, all six states in our region received a federal disaster declaration following a mid-April nor'easter and each of the last three years have brought declarations to New England as a result of severe storms and flooding. This season is no exception.

Whether your business or home is located in a floodplain or is not, we are all at some degree of risk to flooding.  With this in mind, how can New England best prepare for a possible flood event?

Some considerations:

In our interdependent economy, if government and business cannot function, it affects the entire community. If the people that keep organizations operational cannot work because the individual or family has been adversely affected by a disaster, then that organization will not function optimally or possibly cease to function at all. When this occurs, we all suffer the consequences.

Therefore, together let us strive to ensure New England continues to set a high standard of emergency preparedness for the nation. If we start first as individuals, by taking a few simple, practical steps, we will make great strides towards achieving this goal.

For more information:
www.floodsmart.gov
www.ready.gov
www.noaa.gov

Last Modified: Thursday, 10-Apr-2008 13:21:16 EDT