2.1: Flood-Induced Losses
Prevent or minimize flood-induced loss of life and property, and protect floodplain ecology. Other Information:
Identifying areas and structures within a community that are at risk from flooding is the single most important step in mitigating
future flood damage and loss. Community planning to reduce flood damage is critical, and guidance is available from federal
and state agencies to help communities in this effort. In addition, flood forecasting and warning, maintenance of flood control
structures, and stormwater management are all essential elements of controlling future flood damage. Assessing flood hazards.
Flood hazard information must be made available to communities so they can identify structures at risk and develop mitigation
plans. This should include methods that can help communities plan to prevent structural loss. Developing pre- and post-development
mitigation strategies. The Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 requires municipalities and states to develop hazard mitigation
plans in order to remain eligible for post-disaster mitigation grants. Pre-development strategies might include floodplain
management, stormwater management, and property acquisition along stream corridors. Post-development strategies might range
from maintenance of existing flood control structures to elevation or removal of buildings from the flood hazard area by property
relocation or buy-out and demolition. In addition, streambank restoration could follow building relocation or demolition.
Linking flood control and stormwater management. Coordinating flood mitigation and stormwater management involves a vast array
of agencies, departments, offices and programs at all levels of government. A more detailed assessment of this challenge is
in “Key Result Area 4: Institutional Coordination and Cooperation.” Taking steps to minimize the ecological impacts of floods.
Landscape alterations that occur with human settlement include intrusions into the floodplain — including structures, roads,
bulk heading, and the filling of wetlands — that can interfere with both watershed hydrology and the floodplain’s ability
to convey water. Damaging erosion and deterioration of stream channels, and the associated ecological consequences, can be
minimized through a combination of regulations and responsible development decisions for stormwater and floodplain management
and wetlands preservation. Stormwater control and flooding. The practice of removing stormwater from a site as quickly as
possible, or controlling its peak flow rate but not its volume, combined with the extensive clearing of forested land that
historically precedes human settlement, has altered the hydrology of many watersheds in the Basin, severely in some instances.
The importance of stormwater management to reduce both ecosystem and property damage, along with steps to improve our current
system of management, is explained in greater detail in “Key Result Area 3: Linking Land and Water Resource Management.” Enhancing
flood forecasting. No matter what assessments and mitigation strategies are implemented, adequate warning with regard to impending
or potential flood events remains the key to minimizing loss of life in flood events. The accuracy and reliability of hydrologic
forecasting depends on adequate monitoring of precipitation and stream flow. In support of enhanced flood forecasting and
warning capabilities, funding should be secured for the implementation of “Recommendations to Address Flood Warning Deficiencies
in the Delaware River Basin,” prepared in May 2002 by the Delaware River Basin Commission, with technical guidance from the
DRBC Flood Advisory Committee. Increasing awareness. Community leaders, residents and developers need to be informed about
the natural functions of waterway corridors in flood mitigation, the risks that accompany inappropriate development in the
floodplain, and the need for hazard mitigation and stormwater management plans to mitigate hazardous conditions or prevent
them from occurring.
Objective(s):
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