Flood Risk Management Program

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Policy and Guidance

Explore the policies, guidance and key laws that apply to the Corps flood risk management activities and the Flood Risk Management Program.
 WHAT ARE THE KEY CORPS FLOOD RISK MANAGEMENT POLICIES AND GUIDANCE?
 

The 13 April 2018 Director's Policy Memorandum - Updated Guidance for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE National Flood Risk Management Program - provides background information on the program and its mission, vision, principles, and goals. It replaces 2009 guidance that stood up the program.

The Program Management Plan (pdf, 1.75 MB) provides further guidance and information on the implementation of the program to supplement the initial guidance first issued to the MSCs and Districts in October of 2009.

The FRM program works across the agency to support the alignment of other key programs and policies to focus on integrated, comprehensive flood risk management.

Civil Works Flood Risk Management Project Planning

  • The Civil Works Planning Community Toolbox includes a collection of guidance related to the development of Flood Risk Management projects.
  • The Corps' National Nonstructural Committee promotes the development and use of nonstructural flood risk reduction measures and provides risk expertise on nonstructural flood risk reduction and associated opportunities.

Understanding and Managing Flood Risk

  • The USACE Levee Safety Program provides a suite of technical and policy documents that outline both technical responsibilities and role of the 14,000 miles of levees addressed under USACE programs. Currently the USACE Levee Safety Program is working on developing a comprehensive Engineering Circular that will cover all aspects of the Levee Safety Program.
  • The Dam Safety Program uses a risk-informed approach to manage its portfolio of 694 dams, with public safety the number one priority with reliance on these key policies and guidance documents.

Emergency Management and Response

  • Engineering Regulation 500-1-1 provides guidance and eligibility for requirements to access preparedness, response, and post-flood rehabilitation resources and funding from the Corps under the authorities of Public Law 84-99 and the Stafford Act. ER 500-1-1 is currently undergoing revision to include concepts that promote more systemic thinking about post-flood repairs and promote flood resiliency of structures.
 WHAT ARE THE KEY LAWS PERTAINING TO THE CORPS FLOOD RISK MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES?
 
 

WHAT PRESIDENTIAL OR ADMINISTRATIVE POLICIES INFLUENCE THE CORPS FLOOD RISK MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES?
 

  • The Economic and Environmental Principles and Guidelines for Water and Related Land Resources (P&G)  govern how Federal agencies evaluate proposed water resource development projects. The Council on Environmental Quality is currently updating the P&G. More information, including the 2013 released Principles and Requirements, and draft interagency Guidelines, are available on the CEQ website.
  • The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Guidance promotes the use of non-structural alternatives or combinations in restoring post-flood levees.
  • Executive Order 11988 - Floodplain Management, signed by President Carter in 1977, directs federal agencies to provide leadership and take action to reduce the risk of flood loss, to minimize the impact of floods on human safety, health and welfare, and to restore and preserve the natural and beneficial values served by floodplains.
  • Presidential Policy Directive 8: National Preparedness, signed by President Obama in 2011, calls on federal departments and agencies to work with the whole community to develop a national preparedness goal and a series of frameworks and plans related to reaching the goal. Five National Planning Frameworks have been published (for Prevention, Protection, Mitigation, Response, and Disaster Recovery).