addressing climate change adaptation in regional transportation plans

Some of the questions that should be considered when evaluating the currentstate of preparedness are as follows:• Have the levees protecting the community and associated resources beenassessed for integrity?• Is there a funding mechanism for ongoing maintenance and repair? Is itadequate for current needs?• Are levee improvements planned in the near future?• Is there a monitoring system in place to assess levee integrity?• Is this monitoring used to adjust management practices?• Is there a local hazard mitigation plan? What are the measures identified forflood mitigation preparation and response?• Does the urban water management plan include contingency measures in theevent of levee breach?For structures located in or near floodplains or levee-protected areas, questionsto consider include the following:• Are critical business or community resources located in areas that may besubject to flooding?• Are there neighborhoods that may face increased flood risk due to climatechange?• Are there some members of particularly vulnerable populations (e.g. elderly)that may be less able to evacuate from vulnerable areas?• Does local land use policy (e.g. general plan, zoning, or specific plans) allowfor expansion of designated flood zones?• Is development planned in areas likely to have increasing flood risk (e.g. nearlevee toe)For agricultural productivity, questions to consider include the following:• Are agricultural facilities and equipment located in areas currently orprojected to be at risk for flooding?• Do local growers have plans for product protection and post-flood recovery?For public safety, questions to consider include the following:• Are employees and residents aware of the local flood risk?• Are employees and residents aware of standard procedures in the event of aflood due to a levee over-topping or failing?• Are local resources for emergency response and medical care adequatelyprepared in the event of increased flood risk?APG: UNDERSTANDING REGIONAL CHARACTERISTICS PAGE 56