to improve FIRM quality and
accuracy for communities. A program cornerstone
is the cooperating technical partner (CTP) program that
lets communities throughout the Commonwealth (and the
nation) take advantage of cost sharing opportunities
with FEMA for developing new maps.
MITIGATION
As mentioned earlier, one of the
best ways to avoid flood damage is to move vulnerable
property out of the flood plain. This can be done
by acquiring a house and removing it, by relocating it,
or raising it above anticipated flood levels.
Other popular mitigation methods include
restoring natural meanders and flows to
“engineered” waterways, and encouraging or
requiring more greenways and open space in vulnerable
communities.
EDUCATION
Use every method available to get
the word out to those who need to know. A website
or e-mail, certainly, are new ways of spreading
information quickly. Conduct special conferences
with workshops and training sessions for government
officials, developers and real estate agents, bankers
and underwriters, mortgage lenders and so on. The
media also can be helpful in providing broad coverage
of your message. Individually, join professional
flood plain management organizations to learn the
latest developments and gain from the experience of
others, and seek more formal education by working for
certification in the field.
BE PROACTIVE
In view of the still
growing annual losses from flooding, officials must be
proactive rather than reactive. More progress
toward reducing loss will be made by taking actions
today that minimize future problems, rather than
continuing the process of figuring out how to build in
a floodplain.
