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Since 1968 FEMA has offered flood insurance via the NFIP (National Flood Insurance Program), which currently covers just over 5 million properties in the U.S.  NFIP collects ~$3.6 billion in annual premiums on coverage totaling over $1.3 TRILLION.  FEMA offers Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) Grants with the goal of reducing claims under NFIP.  Tired of all the government acronyms?  Here's one more.  In the world of flooding and floodplains, FEMA offers Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grants specifically for the prevention of flood damages to structures under its Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) program.  The current administration has authorized some $3.5B for this program.

Two excellent non-profits have published informative white papers on the process and benefits of floodplain reconnection projects in addition to providing some informative history and data.  American Rivers Reconnecting Rivers to Floodplains can be found here.  The Nature Conservancy, expert in its ability to attract participation and funding for larger projects, details very specific tactics employed to execute a large levee setback project known as L-536 in Missouri.  Their 2021 white paper is entitled: Large-Scale Levee Setback Playbook.

The NRCS deals with both ends of flooding, disaster recovery and prevention, by providing financial assistance to landowners through its Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWPP).   The component of greatest strategic interest to our organization is the Floodplain Easement Option which seeks to restore land to its "natural condition," allowing floodplains to store water and promote biodiversity.  NRCS also promotes floodplain/wetland restoration and preservation through its Wetland Reserve Enhancement Partnership (WREP).    

The Army Corps runs the Mississippi River Commission (MRC), which since its creation in 1879 is directly responsible for virtually all aspects of the River, including flood control, navigation, and commerce.  Historically the Corps' flood control strategy has focused more on flood containment infrastructure (e.g. levees) and maintenance of navigable waterways than on expansion of permanent floodplain.  More recently, however, the Corps has adopted a more holistic approach to waterway management in the form of their Engineering with Nature (EWN) initiative.  We welcome this policy shift away from containment and towards solutions better integrated with nature.  ARCE's informative National Levee Database is an important resource for prioritizing reconnection projects.  

The Corps participates in a number of partnerships related to water resources, such as the  

Integrated Water Resources Science and Services (IWRSS), which is a partnership between the Corps, the USGS, FEMA and NOAA and is headquartered at the National Water Center at the University of Alabama.  The Corps also participates in the Natural Floodplain Functions Alliance, a working group founded by the Association of State Wetland Managers to promote the benefits of natural floodplains.   

Harris County Texas (Houston) Flood Control District:   In the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, see how Harris County has taken a proactive approach to assessing and mitigating future flooding risks in and around Houston.  This could serve as a model for other counties who are not waiting around for FEMA to assess the problem or acquire properties.  The County published a Final Flood Report that offers a detailed account of the rainfall and flooding impacts of Harvey on the County.  A second more in-depth report, entitled Impact and Response and Harris County, is a fantastic white paper on how jurisdictions in flood-prone areas can learn from these disasters and plan for the future.  The County continues to execute its plan to purchase thousands of homes in the floodway to prevent future loses and add water storage capacity.