ASFPM Makes Recommendations for NFIP Reform, Stronger Floodplain Management Standards
ASFPM submitted comments to FEMA yesterday urging the agency to update the National Flood Insurance Program’s floodplain management standards and other program elements to better protect communities and critical infrastructure from increasing flood risk associated with climate change.
The comments come in response to FEMA’s Request for Information issued Oct. 12, 2021 as the result of a petition ASFPM filed with NRDC earlier in the year.
In its opening letter, ASFPM stated that strengthening the NFIP with better mapping, regulation, mitigation, and insurance provisions will provide communities the opportunity to anticipate and reduce flood risk — saving lives and protecting property.
ASFPM outlined nine suggested principles for NFIP reform, including:
- NFIP Standards and Regulations must be strengthened to help communities avoid development in high-flood risk areas, increase flood resilience, support social equity, and enhance the natural benefits of floodplains.
- Mapping program must be robust in supporting avoidance in high-risk areas and we must complete mapping throughout the nation. Future conditions for multiple frequencies and time frames must always be included for planning, regulation, and mitigation.
- Mitigation programs must quickly and effectively help property owners and communities relocate existing buildings away from high-risk areas.
- Flood insurance must reflect full risk rates and support better mapping, mitigation, and regulations, and Risk Rating 2.0 must be adjusted to better support and encourage true mitigation, such as building freeboard elevations, utility elevations, and other mitigation measures.
- Disclosure of flood risk must be improved significantly to assist current and prospective residents, local communities, and states to effectively manage existing and future flood risk.
As part of the submitted response to the RFI, ASFPM included 22 pages of member comments collected during the past couple months. These comments aim to provide FEMA with special insights and perspectives from the floodplain management practitioners on the frontlines.
Follow these links to access the documents ASFPM submitted:
