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West Virginia Forms Partnerships to Increase Rural Engagement
West Virginia partners with the Pioneer Network to help spread flood risk information and build community capacity.
Maryland Department of the Environment: Promoting Higher Standards with the Climate Ready Action Boundary Map Viewer
Challenge: The Base Flood Elevation (BFE) is how high floodwater is likely to rise during a 1%-annual-chance flood event. It is one way to measure and indicate flood risk. However, the study that established the BFE is only a snapshot in time. There are many factors that can cause floodwaters to rise above the BFE. These factors include debris-blocked bridge and culvert openings; blocked city storm sewer drains; higher-intensity rain events; storm tracks causing coinciding peak flows of flooding sources; high backwater conditions; and heavy rains on frozen ground with considerable snow depths. There is also always the potential for an event more severe than the 1%-annual-chance event. To communicate and reduce flood risk in areas beyond FEMA’s regulatory flood zones, communities need more information (especially spatial information) about flooding that exceeds the 1%-annual-chance event.
West Virginia Flood Tool
Challenge: To provide public access to flood data to enable users to make informed decisions about the degree of risk for their area or property.
Pennsylvania Cooperating Technical Partners Program Best Practice
Challenge: After several flood events ravaged the area, including Tropical Storm Lee in 2011, residents of the Borough of Muncy were sensitive to the damages that floodwaters can bring.
Maryland Flood Mapping Website
Challenge: A Maryland state law issued in 1933 required permits for activities that cause physical changes in the course, current, or cross-section of any (riverine) waters of the state.
State Program Consultations - Strengthening FEMA-State Relationships Through Annual Meetings
WASHINGTON D.C. AND IOWA - State Program Consultations - Every year, FEMA and a state or territory work together to find ways to advance mitigation programs during an annual mitigation program consultation meeting. When successful, these touchpoints strengthen communication, relationships and mitigation outcomes. Below are how Washington, D.C. and the state of Iowa approached these meetings to better engage partners and attendees.
Strong Relationships Build Mitigation in Franklin County, Pennsylvania
FRANKLIN, PA - Hazard mitigation plans are guides for reducing risk. However, communities often lack the resources to put their plans into action because of low staff capacity, financial resources, or a lack of existing relationships. Franklin County, Pennsylvania faces these challenges and more as they grapple with urban and rural communities, and both a mountainous and agricultural landscape.
2017 - The District of Columbia (DC): Closing Capability Gaps
Following the September 2013 Navy Yard shooting, the District of Columbia (DC) recognized the need to enhance their response to mass fatality incidents. As part of this effort, the District invested Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) funding to implement five mass fatality services projects.
Bader Recovery Project
MADISON COUNTY, VA - During June of 1995, four major, record rainfalls caused flooding and landslides with such velocities that structures in the valley were knocked off their foundations.
Boone County Couple Heads Uphill
MADISON, WV - Jack and Elvonna Bowyer had flood insurance, but when severe flooding of the Spruce and Pond Fork Rivers dumped seven inches of water in their first floor and 12 inches of water in their garage, they were at their wits end.