Natural Hazards: Causes and Effects - Disaster Management Center ...

Funding
Funding for floodplain management programs and facilities typically has low priority. Floodplain
management must compete for funds from the same limited resources that fund a myriad of
other services. It behooves the professionals in this field to convince the funding sources that
floodplain management is an integral and important part of community services. Floodplain
management facilities need to be planned, designed, constructed and maintained. Inadequate
funding of floodplain management compromises its effectiveness, often creating greater longterm
costs.
Floodplain management programs provide the linkage between the planning documents and the
actual implementation of the plans. These management programs need funds to develop
information on floodplains, to document drainage problems, to monitor development activities, to
review development proposals, to meet with involved parties, and to provide all other services
that significantly reduce the potential of past mistakes being repeated. Economies of scale can
be achieved if technical review assistance and criteria guidance are provided on a regional
basis.
Much of the responsibility for implementing these activities lies with the public sector. However,
nongovernment organizations can also play important roles. They can take the lead in
organizing the communities affected by floodplain management, assisting individuals in either
relocation or in flood protection of their property, or facilitating the master planning to
accommodate the particular needs of the affected community.
Summary
The most important point to remember is this: floodplain management must consist of several
actions that, when taken in concert, effectively reduce flood damage potential. A vast array of
individual actions can be taken. These can be categorized as preventive or remedial. The
common denominator of any floodplain management program, however, is floodplain regulation.
It is important to combine both remedial and preventive actions in developing a floodplain
management program. The specific actions that are implemented and the approach to their
implementation will vary from community to community. Each community must identify its
needs, resources, and objectives and develop accordingly a floodplain management program.
(See Fig. 6.3)
The basic guide that enables local government to implement a comprehensive floodplain
program is a drainageway master plan. A master plan provides documentation for identifying
the problems, defining the limits of the floodplain, and outlining proposed preventive and
remedial actions to be taken to reduce the flood damage potential. Without a master plan it is
difficult to achieve consistency of action and to solve the problems. 13
The following are lessons learned from past flood disasters:
• Floods do not cause outbreaks of cholera. Cholera must be endemic to the community
before the flood strikes.
• Massive long-term food aid is rarely required after a flood, although food distribution systems
may need to be set up immediately after a flood in the affected area.
• Used clothing is almost never needed; it is usually culturally inappropriate. Though accepted
by disaster victims, it is almost never worn.