ASFPM Joins Coalition to Make the Case for Flood Hazard Mapping Funding

With just weeks remaining in 2022, it’s crunch time in Washington, DC as Congress works to finalize the appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2023. In a letter delivered December 5 to leaders of the Senate and House Appropriations Committees, ASFPM joined a diverse group of organizations urging Congress to provide at least $350 million for FEMA’s Flood Hazard Mapping and Risk Analysis Program.

In the letter, the coalition notes that only one-third of the nation’s floodplains and coastal miles have been mapped by FEMA to date and that appropriations at the $350 million level would not only be more consistent with the Administration’s request and reported House bill, but also help move the nation to better coverage with up-to-date flood maps more quickly.

In addition to ASFPM, other organizations to participate in the sign-on letter are: American Property Casualty Insurance Association, Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America, National Association of Flood and Stormwater Management Agencies, National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies, National Association of Professional Insurance Agents, National Association of REALTORS, National Flood Association, National Society of Professional Surveyors, National Wildlife Federation, The Pew Charitable Trusts, and US Geospatial Executives Organization. Download the letter.

Join the ASFPM Engage Campaign

There’s still time to add your voice to the call for sufficient flood map funding by participating in the outreach campaign on our ASFPM Engage platform, if you haven’t already done so. It only takes a few minutes.

Like previous outreach efforts, the letter and talking points are already written. You simply need to enter your contact information, review the letter, add some local perspective (optional), and then click send. The system automatically emails the letter to your two U.S. Senators.

The current draft of the Senate appropriations bill allocates $275.5 million for floodplain mapping. This is less than the $350 million in the House appropriations bill and far less than the $800 million ASFPM believes is needed to map all of the nation’s streams and coastlines and incorporate future condition scenarios, as required by law. 

Since the authorization cap will not support our desired level of funding, the best course of action at this time is to request that the Senate appropriation for FY2023 match the $350 million currently in the House of Representatives appropriations bill.

No one knows better than our members that, as a nation, our flood maps are incomplete, inaccurate, and/or out-of-date. As flood disasters continue to grow in intensity and frequency, we need to ensure the Senate is aware that up-to-date and accurate flood maps are essential to understanding, avoiding, and minimizing damage, loss of life, and taxpayer costs from disasters. 

Please visit ASFPM Engage today and join us in this fight.