The Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM) was founded in 1976. This page serves to preserve and celebrate the legacy of our early years and the people, activities, and accomplishments that made significant, substantial, and enduring contributions to flood risk management and the floodplain management profession as a whole.

While ASFPM’s story begins in 1976, the genesis for modern floodplain management was shaped by decades of earlier policies, disasters, and evolving ideas about how communities should reduce flood risk. Explore these pre-ASFPM historical milestones to learn more about the events and ideas that influenced the association’s founding and the profession itself.

Association Milestones

2000 – ASFPM Publishes “ The Nation’s Responses to Flood Disasters: A Historical Account”

ASFPM publishes “The Nation’s Responses to Flood Disasters: A Historical Account,” which summarizes the forces and events that have affected floodplain management in the United States since the 1850s.

2001 – The NAI philosophy was first formally articulated

The landmark whitepaper, No Adverse Impact: A New Direction in Floodplain Management Policy by Larry Larson and Doug Plasencia serves as the “launch” of the NAI movement.

2001 – New State Chapters

The Missouri Floodplain and Stormwater Managers Association (MFSMA) becomes the 13th chapter and the Association of Floodplain Managers of Mississippi (AFMM) becomes the 14th chapter of the ASFPM.

2002 – Membership Milestone

ASFPM reaches 1,000 members, a major milestone that reflects the important work the association is doing.

2002 – Mapping Coalition Budget Success

Following long-term advocacy by ASFPM and the Mapping Coalition, the President’s FY 2003 budget proposal included a significant $300 million increase for flood map modernization. This request marked a major milestone in efforts to update and digitize the nation’s flood maps.

2002 – Strategic Plan for NAI Adopted

The Board of Directors approves an NAI Strategic Plan. In addition, News & Views launches a dedicated Q&A column to explore the nationwide application of the “No Adverse Impact” (NAI) approach to management.

2002 – Mitigation Success Stories Published

ASFPM and FEMA release the fourth edition of Mitigation Success Stories, documenting 39 hazard mitigation projects across 24 states.

2002 – State Association History Report

ASFPM issues a new report titled The History and Future of State and Regional Floodplain Management Associations. The document chronicles the development and accomplishments of 25 state- and region-based associations across the nation.

2002 – Certification Program Reaches Major Milestone

The number of Certified Floodplain Managers (CFMs) reaches 801. This represents the number of individuals certified by ASFPM and the six accredited state programs at the time.

2002 – CFM Designation Legally Protected

ASFPM successfully trademarks the “CFM” title, ensuring that only those certified through formal ASFPM programs can use the designation.

2002 – New State Chapters

The Ohio Floodplain Management Association (OFMA) becomes the 15th chapter of ASFPM, followed by the New York State Floodplain & Stormwater Managers Association (NYSFSMA) becoming the 16th chapter of the ASFPM.

2003 – State Program Data Update

ASFPM launches a multi-year project to update the State and Local Programs report, last published in 1995, to identify national trends in state capability.

2003 – NAI Toolkit Released Online

ASFPM releases the NAI Toolkit, providing local communities with a comprehensive guide for implementing No Adverse Impact practices. The toolkit includes detailed approaches for daily community activities to reduce flood risks and dumping runoff on neighbors.

2003 – Web-Based Training Partnership Launches

ASFPM executes an agreement with RedVector to provide the first online training courses and continuing education credit (CEC) opportunities for CFMs. 

2003 – New State Chapter

The Minnesota Association of Floodplain Managers (MnAFPM) becomes the 17th chapter of the ASFPM.

2004 – Comprehensive State Program Reports Published

The association releases two complementary reports that provide a complete picture of state floodplain management concepts and practice. In Effective State Floodplain Management Programs, we outline 10 principles that characterize effective state floodplain management programs and lay out a blueprint for states on the policies, regulations, and activities that protect floodplains and minimize losses. In Floodplain Management 2003: State and Local Programs, we provide the most complete national summary of the practice of floodplain management at the state and local..Read More

2004 – Tulsa Achieves CRS Milestone

Tulsa, Oklahoma, becomes the first community in the nation to achieve a Class 2 rating in the Community Rating System, earning a 40% premium discount for policyholders.

2004 – Gilbert F. White Flood Policy Forum Established

The ASFPM Foundation announces a new annual forum to bring together top experts to discuss and provide recommendations on pressing national flood policy issues.

2004 – Flood Insurance Reform Act Becomes Law

The President signs the Bunning-Bereuter-Blumenauer Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004, a major victory for ASFPM-supported efforts to mitigate repetitive loss properties and make ICC more usable and flexible.

2004 – Legal Support for NAI Released

ASFPM publishes No Adverse Impact Floodplain Management and the Courts, a report by attorney Jon Kusler. The report confirms that courts are likely to uphold NAI standards against legal challenges.

2004 – APWA Partnership for Local Roads

ASFPM teams with the American Public Works Association on a project for the American Lifelines Alliance to identify ways to reduce flooding on local roadway systems.

2004 – New State Chapters

ASFPM adds three state chapters with the Florida Floodplain Managers Association (FFMA), Wisconsin Association for Floodplain, Stormwater, & Coastal Management (WAFSCM) and the Virginia Floodplain Management Association (VFMA) becoming the 18th, 19th, and 20th state chapters, respectively.

2005 – Katrina and Rita Policy Response

In the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, ASFPM became a leading voice in advocating for a shift from a “levee-only” protection mentality to a comprehensive watershed approach. It releases the white paper, Hurricanes Katrina & Rita Using Mitigation to Rebuild a Safer Gulf Coast. The report called for immediate national reforms, including a mandatory flood insurance requirement behind all levees, a renewed focus on levee safety standards, and sustainable restoration of natural coastal functions.

2005 – New State Chapter

The Floodplain Management Association (FMA) becomes the 21st chapter and the New Jersey Association for Floodplain Management (NJAFM) becomes the 22nd chapter of ASFPM.

2005 – Membership Milestone

ASFPM reaches 2,000 members.

2005 – Conference Milestone

The association reaches 1000 registrants at the 2005 Annual Conference in Madison, WI.

2006 – New State Chapters

The number of ASFPM state chapters hits the halfway point as the Kentucky Association of Mitigation Managers (KAMM), Maryland Association of Floodplain and Stormwater Managers (MAFSM), and Georgia Association of Floodplain Management (GAFM) become the 23rd, 24th, and the 25th chapters of ASFPM, respectively.

2006 – Committee Leadership Structure Established

To strengthen continuity, collaboration and information sharing, ASFPM establishes a new leadership structure for its 13 policy committees. Each committee is led by two co-chairs, supported by liaison officers who help coordinate communication and collaboration across committees. The goal of the new structure is to increase participation, strengthen leadership continuity and improve coordination throughout the association.

2007 – ASFPM releases the Coastal NAI Handbook

Published in partnership with NOAA’s Office for Coastal Management, the handbook articulates an approach to floodplain stewardship that addresses flood risk in coastal areas by: 1) providing technical guidance for communities to implement higher floodplain management standards for their citizens and to plan for and mitigate against increasing flood risk now and in the future; and 2) promoting the good neighbor policy of managing land use to avoid harm to watershed neighbors upstream and downstream.

2007 – New State Chapter

The Rhode Island Flood Mitigation Association (RIFMA) becomes the 26th chapter of the ASFPM.

2007 – Membership Milestone

ASFPM reaches 3,000 members.

2007 – Digital Coast Partnership

ASFPM becomes a founding member of the NOAA Digital Coast Partnership.

2008 – New State Chapter

Alabama Association of Floodplain Managers (AAFM) becomes the 27th chapter of the ASFPM.

2008 – Conference Milestone

Attendance at the annual conference spikes to 1300 registrants post-Katrina, before lowering back to an average of 1,000 registrants through the 2010s.

2009 – New State Chapter

The Montana Floodplain Management Association (MFMA) becomes the 28th chapter of the ASFPM.

2009 – Membership Milestone

ASFPM reaches 4,000 members.

2010 – New State Chapter

The Nebraska Floodplain & Stormwater Managers Association (NeFSMA) becomes the 29th chapter of the ASFPM.

2010 – CFM Milestone

ASFPM surpasses 7,000 CFMs.

2011 – New State Chapters

Three new state chapters join the association as the West Virginia Floodplain Management Association (WVFMA) becomes the 30th chapter, the Iowa Floodplain and Stormwater Management Association (IFSMA) becomes the 31st chapter, and the Kansas Association for Floodplain Management (KAFM) becomes the 32nd chapter of ASFPM.

2011 – CFM Exam Changes

All individual state accredited certification programs transition to the ASFPM CFM exam.

2012 – New Executive Director

ASFPM transitions from its founding Executive Director, Larry Larson, to a new Executive Director, Chad Berginnis.

2012 – The National Flood Barrier Testing & Certification Program Launches

The program is developed in partnership with FM Approvals and the USACE based on the FM Approvals 2510 Standard, which was the only standard for floodproofing and flood fighting products. In 2014, the 2510 standard was recognized as an ANSI consensus standard. 

2012 – Biggert-Waters NFIP Reform Bill

Among the many reforms championed by ASFPM in the Biggert-Waters NFIP reform bill, none were more consequential than the authorization of the National Flood Mapping Program to exist to build out the nation’s flood hazard identification and risk assessments.

2012 – New State Chapters

The Tennessee Association of Floodplain Management (TNAFPM) becomes the 33rd chapter and the Utah Floodplain and Stormwater Management Association (UFSMA) becomes the 34th chapter of ASFPM.

2013 – ASFPM Hires Its First Part-Time Librarian

The new position is partially in response to library service cuts at the Natural Hazards Center.  As of 2026, the ASFPM library has cataloged over 6,000 physical and digital items.

2013 – ASFPM Conducts Its First Hosted Webinar

The inaugural webinar focused on changes as a result of the 2012 NFIP Reform Act. Today, webinars are an essential component of ASFPM’s training program.