WHAT IS ASFPM?

Human history becomes more and more a race between education and catastrophe. -- H. G. Wells

THE ASFPM STORY

The Association of State Floodplain Managers began in 1977 as the supporting organization of professionals involved in floodplain management, flood hazard mitigation, flood preparedness, and flood warning and recovery. It is the mission of the Association to mitigate the losses, costs and human suffering caused by flooding and to promote wise use of the natural and beneficial functions of floodplains. Today the ASFPM is the premier voice in floodplain management practice and policy throughout the nation. Our 6,500 national and chapter members represent local, state and federal government agencies, citizen groups, private consulting firms, academia, the insurance industry, and lenders. ASFPM's influence is expressed through policy and practice changes that impact floodplain management in the U.S. and internationally. Our goals are simple � help the public and private sectors:

Reduce the loss of human life and property damage resulting from flooding.
Preserve the natural and cultural values of floodplains.
Promote flood mitigation for the prevention of loss and the wise use of floodplains.
Avoid actions that exacerbate flooding.

ASFPM points with pride to many projects and activities . . .

We promote flood mitigation policies, such as No Adverse Impact Floodplain Management, to reverse the trend of ever increasing flood damages.
We operate a nationwide program to certify floodplain managers, with an aggressive continuing education element.
We conduct technical conferences to bring together practitioners on a variety of "cutting edge' topical issues.
We publish proceedings from our conferences to shape and document the landscape of floodplain management programs and policies with state-of-the-art thinking.
We worked with USAID to develop a post-Hurricane Mitch alert and warning system in strategic areas of watersheds in Honduras, and have provided advice on flooding to other nations.
We helped establish the "Community Rating System" as a means to reward communities for sound floodplain management and continue to assist in its operation and refinement.
We develop papers and reports analyzing national policy, with recommendations for modifications and enhancements which foster more effective flood mitigation implementation at the local level.
We address topical issues pertinent to flood hazards - arid region issues such as sedimentation and alluvial fan flooding, coastal hazards, ice jams, closed lake basins, etc.
We confer annual national awards to recognize and encourage exemplary achievements in floodplain management.
We established the ASFPM Foundation to attract and direct funds to projects vital to broadening the base of informed agencies, organizations and people who impact decisions affecting floodplains.

The opportunity to provide protection for our citizens and businesses has never been greater. We must begin to make use of our floodplains in ways that are not only ecologically correct, but are acceptable to our society as a whole. Wise floodplain management will provide both the means to address our flooding problems as well as creating sustainable development for future generations.

ASFPM is committed to working with local and state governments, federal agencies, the insurance and development industries, Congress, research and academia colleagues, our numerous partners in the private and public sectors, and other professionals in floodplain management as well as related fields in the U.S. and abroad. We invite all who are dedicated to the future well being of this nation to join us in working toward reduced overall flood losses and the wise use of our lands.

Look for additional information and the membership application on our website at www.floods.org. That�s where you will also find the goals, activities and accomplishments of our 12 policy committees who orchestrate the bulk of our national flood policy work. You may contact our Executive Office at:

Association of State Floodplain Managers, Inc.
2809 Fish Hatchery Road
Madison, WI 53713
Phone 608-274-0123
Fax 608-274-0696
Email: memberhelp@floods.org