FEMA Clarifies Policy on Mapping Areas Protected By Levees

October 2, 2006 By News Report

The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency announced new guidance which provides communities additional time to gather data needed to assess the protective capabilities of levees while still allowing new Flood Insurance Rate Maps to be released on time.

"When levees fail, they fail catastrophically. The flooding may be much more intense and damaging than if the levee was not there," said David Maurstad, FEMA's Mitigation Director and Federal Insurance Administrator. "No levee system will provide full protection from floods. Levees are designed to provide a specific level of protection, and they can be overtopped in larger flood events. People need to be aware of the risks they face living behind levees -- including levees credited as providing protection from the one percent annual chance flood."

More Information.

You may use or reference this story with attribution and a link to
http://www.govtech.com/policy-management/FEMA-Clarifies-Policy-on-Mapping-Areas.html

| More

Virtual Alabama Wins Another Award

Add Your Comment

Name *

Comment *

You are solely responsible for the content of your comments. We reserve the right to remove comments that are considered profane, vulgar, obscene, factually inaccurate, off-topic, or considered a personal attack.