Findings

Congress finds the following: (1) Floods are a coast-to-coast threat to the United States and its territories in all months of the year. Floods can cause significant loss of life, injury, destruction of property, and economic and social disruption. (2) The United States currently sustains several billion dollars in economic damages each year due to these flood impacts. Over the next few decades, the cost of flood related damage is anticipated to increase due to greater precipitation and sea level rise. (3) Improved flood impact reduction and resilience measures have the potential to reduce these losses through— (A) innovative design and construction methods and practices; (B) effective implementation and natural and nature-based features, floodplain management, and relocation from flood zones at the local, State, and national level; (C) improved data collection and analysis and impact prediction methodologies; and (D) public education and outreach. (4) There is an appropriate role for the Federal Government in supporting flood impact reduction and resilience. An effective Federal program in flood impact reduction and resilience will require interagency coordination, and input from individuals, academia, the private sector, and other interested non-Federal entities.