Ingrys Farias Named 2022 Larry R. Johnston Local Floodplain Manager of the Year
This award is designed to honor an individual responsible for the development of a distinguished local program or activity, or one who struggles to implement flood hazard reduction at the local level in the absence of sophisticated programs and support.
2022 Winner: Ingrys Farias, CFM, floodplain manager for the City of Doral, Florida
Being a local floodplain manager often requires a thick skin, a ramrod for a backbone, a strong moral compass, and a disarming smile. As the floodplain manager for the City of Doral, Florida, Ingrys Farias has been the target of unwarranted complaints from developers, owners, and builders. Yet, in spite of such overwhelming external pressure, she has upheld and advocated the flood provisions of the local ordinance and the Florida Building Code for the City of Doral, a city with approximately 80,000 residents and located about 12 miles from downtown Miami.
Farias understands the importance of floodplain management and her commitment to high standards shines through in her work every day. She provides excellent customer service to everyone she interacts with and always takes the time to explain the importance of floodplain management and local ordinances. Recently, when her mentor and supervisor left for another job, and she has held the line all by herself for over year without any assistance or support.
In addition, as the CRS Coordinator, her tenacious advocacy and enforcement resulted in the City elevating their CRS class from a seven (7) to a six (6) and on track to elevate to a class five (5).
