Listening to Our Members: What the Latest Feedback Says About ASFPM Resources

From our model state legislation for floodplain management issued back in 1982 to more recent examples like our model ordinance and emergency action plans for campgrounds, camps, and RV parks, ASFPM has a long history of providing resources to its members that help them make informed floodplain management decisions. 

To ensure those resources continue to meet members’ needs, ASFPM recently conducted a Flash Feedback survey examining member experiences with the organization’s tools and guidance resources. The results provide a snapshot of how professionals are using ASFPM’s information resources today and where they would like to see the organization focus its efforts in the future. 

Practical Resources Continue to Lead the Way

Members ranked guidance documents as the most useful resource type, followed by GIS resources, decision-support tools, case studies, and handouts. Traditional research reports, while still valuable, ranked below practical implementation-focused materials. 

This preference confirms what we’ve long heard from members: they value practical resources that help them solve real-world challenges. Floodplain management professionals want resources they can immediately apply to permit reviews, ordinance updates, project planning, public communication, and other daily responsibilities. We will continue to develop more of these resources in the future. 

The survey also found that members overwhelmingly prefer digital resources. More than half selected PDFs as their preferred format, while another quarter favored web-based content. Printed publications now represent only a small portion of user preference and we are slowly digitizing our existing collection of print publications to make them more accessible. Overall, these findings suggest that digital-first, easily searchable resources remain among the best ways to serve our members.

Which Topics Matter Most?

When asked what future products ASFPM should develop, respondents identified several clear priorities. Hazard identification and floodplain mapping ranked at the top of the list, closely followed by regulation and enforcement. Mitigation, planning, risk communication, flood insurance, funding mechanisms, and post-disaster response also received strong support. Together, these topics span the full lifecycle of flood risk management—from identifying hazards and administering regulations to communicating risk, securing funding, and supporting recovery after disasters. 

Existing Resources Continue to Deliver Value

The survey also asked respondents to identify their favorite ASFPM research publications and guidance documents. Among the most highly rated were:

• 2D Modeling Guidance for Floodplain Managers
• Emergency Manager’s Quick Guide to Floodplain Management
• No Adverse Impact How-To Guide Series
• Community Resilience Guide for Repetitive Flood Loss
• Local and State Floodplain Management Program Assessments

The survey also showed that two-thirds of respondents primarily use ASFPM products as personal references, while many also share them with colleagues, community members, and elected officials. This demonstrates that ASFPM’s resources frequently extend beyond individual users to support broader community education and decision-making.

Looking Ahead

The survey confirmed that members rely on ASFPM for practical guidance documents, technical tools, and implementation-focused publications that support their daily work. It also revealed a continued demand for resources  related to mapping, mitigation, regulation, and communication.

Perhaps the biggest takeaway of the survey is that ASFPM’s resources continue to evolve because members help shape what we produce. Their formal and informal feedback helps ensure future resources reflect the real-world challenges facing floodplain managers.