safeguarding communities from floods betsy otto, vice president, conservation and strategic...
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Safeguarding Communities from Floods
Betsy Otto, Vice President, Conservation and Strategic Partnerships ~ [email protected]
U.S. Conference of Mayors’ Water SummitDecember 8, 2010
Milwaukee July 22, 2010
O’Hare - 12.5” rainSept. 2008
Riverside High SchoolMilwaukee
Flooding and Damages Increasing
Past century, overall precipitation up 7%, heaviest downpours up 20%
Annual flood damages: increase from $6B to $15B
Increase in total Increase in total precipitation, precipitation, 1958—2007 1958—2007
Developing in Floodplains – Pay Now, or Later
…causes flood damages to grow
Externalizing the cost of floodplain development…
Working with nature inCharlotte-Mecklenburg County, NC
$3 million in floodplain remapping
Relocated 225 homes
Protected 3,000 ac of floodplain, 30 miles of trails in 14 greenway corridors
Result: 125 previously flooded homes spared in 2008 storm
Federal Opportunities
• Army Corps - increase technical assistance to communities
• FEMA - increase mitigation grants• Farm Bill – maintain robust funding
for conservation programs
Thank you!
Betsy Otto, Vice President, Conservation and Strategic Partnerships ~ [email protected]
U.S. Conference of Mayors’ Water SummitDecember 8, 2010
Opportunities for Cities…
Flood will continue to happen and damages will increase
Legacy of poor investments will live with us for next hundred years.
Corps can do more to help cities through Technical Assistance
Farm Bill
FEMA mitigation grants
St. Louis, MO