A Strategic Approach to Flood Risk Management

Between 2015 and 2019, 3,475 deaths occurred, and nearly $400 billion dollars of damage was incurred due to flooding and tropical cyclones in the United States. Despite several initiatives at the federal level, a unified national strategy for flood risk management does not exist in the United States. The approach also varies widely from state to state. Since all communities in a watershed are tied together through river systems, water resource management must take place on a regional basis. This paper outlines the current structure of flood risk management in the U.S., examines present needs, and suggests an organizational restructuring to provide for a more strategic approach to infrastructure security. Chief among the recommendations is to consolidate overlapping federal agencies, create a clear hierarchy of flood risk management at all levels of government, mandate participation in national programs, and require that states take an active role in flood risk planning and infrastructure management.