Everything ASFPM does impacts the flood-risk profession

How does ASFPM benefit communities, states and members?

ASFPM hears this question a lot (especially in regards to our work on The Hill). We work for our members’ interests to secure federal funding for programs that are critical for floodplain managers to do their jobs (flood mapping, pre-disaster mitigation, floodplain management, stream gauges, LIDAR, Silver Jackets, Planning Assistance to states). We work with agencies to make sure the programs are being implemented to best serve state and local needs. And we offer tons of free tools for the local floodplain manager. Below is just a small sampling of how
we’ve helped. For a full report on how ASFPM benefits communities and the local floodplain manager.

Summary

· Secured funding for flood mapping from general revenue as well as flood policy fees.

· Making mutual aid work to fund help to communities in determining substantial damage
and issuing floodplain permits following major disasters.

· Helped create a formula-driven post-disaster mitigation fund (HMGP).

· Increased HMGP funding formula and showed that buyouts were a viable mitigation option.

· Support pre-disaster mitigation funding for communities that want to mitigate, but do
not experience a major disaster to qualify for HMGP.

· Urged Congress to create Increased Cost of Compliance as part of flood policy so the
average home owner can afford to mitigate, and communities can build safer after
flooding.

· Created a professional certification and training program for the local floodplain
manager and others who work to manage flood risk (the CFM program).

· Work with FEMA to provide cost-share funding so states can provide assistance to the
22,000 communities in the nation that belong to and must administer their part
of the NFIP.

· Developed tools for communities to use that gets away from allowing one property owner to
adversely impact other property owners, known as the No
Adverse Impact initiative.

· Urged FEMA to develop a program to reward communities that go beyond NFIP minimum
standards (the Community Rating System).

· Promoted the value of natural systems and use of their benefits in mitigation using the Benefit
Cost Analysis.

· Continually improving the NFIP to better manage flood risk at the community level.

· Support the provision that buyout land must remain in open space use so the taxpayer
will never again have to pay disaster costs on that property.

· Support adequate funding of USGS streamgauges, which are critical for community use in
mapping and managing flood risk.

· Created a charitable foundation that funds assistance to chapters and states in improving
flood-risk management, as well as developing the CFM program and scholarships.

· Worked with the Corps of Engineers to provide more technical assistance to communities
and states.

· Worked with HUD to implement an effective low-interest mitigation loan (Section 203 (k)) for property owners who live in a high flood-risk area.

· Testing and certifying flood barrier products, with USACE and FM Approvals, to make sure products work as advertised.

· Support the Technical Mapping Advisory Council to give NFIP community and state input
on mapping need and processes.

· Helped federal agency post-disaster mitigation coordination to work better with
communities and states following the 2004-2005 major hurricanes.

· Work with USACE to refine the process for determining adequate freeboard for levees.

· Worked with NFIP to recognize value of using local, regional and state partners to
develop flood maps.

· Worked with NFIP to develop single map system, now called the MIP.