Scope
The program's objective is to foster public understanding of the options for dealing with flood hazards and promote prudent use and management of the nation's flood plains.
Land-use adjustments based on proper planning and employment of techniques for controlling and reducing flood damage provide a rational way to balance the advantages and disadvantages of human settlement on flood plains. These adjustments are the key to sound flood-plain management.
Authority
The program's authority stems from Section 206 of the 1960 Flood Control Act (PL 86-645), as amended.
Types of assistance
The FPMS program provides the full range of technical services and planning guidance needed to support effective flood-plain management within the district's civil works boundaries.
• General technical services The program develops or interprets site-specific data on obstructions to flood flows, formation and timing, along with the extent, duration and frequency of flooding. It also provides information on natural and cultural flood-plain resources and flood-loss potential before and after the use of flood-plain management measures.
• General planning guidance On a larger scale, the program provides assistance and guidance in the form of "Special Studies" on all aspects of flood-plain management planning, including the possible impacts of off-flood plain land-use changes on the physical, socioeconomic and environmental conditions of the flood plain.
This can range from helping a community identify present or future flood-plain areas and related problems to a broad assessment of which of the various remedial measures may be effectively used.
Some common types of "Special Studies" include:
• Flood-plain delineation/flood-hazard evaluation
• Dam-break analysis
• Hurricane evacuation
• Flood warning/preparedness
• Regulatory floodway
• Comprehensive flood-plain management
• Flood-damage reduction
• Urbanization impact
• Stormwater management
• Flood-proofing
• Inventory of flood-prone structures
The program also provides guidance and assistance for meeting standards of the National Flood Insurance Program and conducting workshops and seminars on nonstructural flood-plain management measures, such as flood-proofing.
• Guides, pamphlets and supporting studies Studies are conducted under the program to improve methods and procedures for mitigating flood damage. Guides and pamphlets are also prepared on flood-proofing techniques, flood-plain regulations and occupancy, natural flood-plain resources and other related flood-plain management aspects. Study findings, guides and pamphlets are provided free of charge to federal agencies, American Indian tribes, state, regional and local governments, and private citizens for their use in addressing flood hazards.
Charges for assistance
Upon request, program services are provided to state, regional and local governments, American Indian tribes and other nonfederal public agencies without charge. Program services also are offered to non-water resource federal agencies and the private sector on a 100% cost-recovery basis. For most requests, payment is required before services are provided. A schedule of charges is used to recover services costs taking up to a day to provide. Letter requests or signed agreements are used to charge for those that take longer.
All requestors are encouraged to furnish available field-survey data, maps, historical flood information and other relevant documentation to help reduce the cost of services.
How to request assistance
Agencies, governments, organizations and individuals interested in flood-related information or assistance should contact the appropriate Corps office. Information readily available will be provided in response to a telephone request. A letter request is required for assistance that involves developing new data, making a map or preparing a report.
Virginia Silver Jackets
Norfolk District's FPMS is a part of the Virginia Silver Jackets, a program that brings together multiple agencies and resources to reduce flood risk. Find out more here.