This year has been full of unprecedented challenges, ranging from the COVID-19 pandemic to the most active hurricane season on record. As 2020 comes to a close, American Flood Coalition is grateful for the local leaders around the country who worked tirelessly to address these challenges. Their collective actions and voices drive progress forward. Even during this difficult time, we had a strong year at the American Flood Coalition, advancing adaptation in the face of more frequent flooding, stronger storms, and higher seas.

Celebrating Coalition growth

Over the last three years, American Flood Coalition grew from 34 members in two states to more than 250 members across 19 states. We added almost 60 new members in 2020, including our first municipal members from California, Illinois, New York, and North Carolina.

Building resources for communities 

Informed by critical insights from local leaders, this year we partnered with other leading experts and organizations to build resources for communities addressing flooding. Our Flood Funding Finder breaks down federal funding opportunities in a user-friendly digital tool. Our Turning the Tide whitepaper lays out a vision for building social equity into federal flood policy. And our Dual Disaster Handbook, created with the American Public Health Association, helps communities prepare for floods during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Connecting flood infrastructure and job creation

American Flood Coalition partnered with Johns Hopkins University on the “Local Economic Impact of Flood Resilient Infrastructure Projects,” a report that quantifies, for the first time, how flood-resilience infrastructure projects can boost local economies and create jobs and businesses, among other benefits. In partnership with United for Infrastructure, the report was launched via webinar, featuring Congressman Garret Graves (LA-06) and Governor Henry McMaster of South Carolina. The report’s findings, alongside stories from our Coalition members, supports our advocacy around a federal infrastructure stimulus package that funds resilient, shovel-worthy projects. 

Policy at the federal and state levels

This year, FEMA launched the long-anticipated Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program, a critical step toward meeting communities’ needs for pre-disaster funding sources. American Flood Coalition shared tips for preparing for BRIC’s application cycle and we look forward to supporting the growth of this new funding program.

At the state level, there was an upswell of support for flood resilience efforts, including in Virginia, Florida, South Carolina, and North Carolina. From the creation of Chief Resilience Officer positions to the emergence of new funding sources, we are excited by efforts from state leaders to make their communities more resilient in 2021 and beyond. We are grateful for the hard work of the 51 state legislators and 2 Governors in our Coalition who continually advance flood resilience and support communities to make these achievements possible. 

We are thankful for our coalition members, partners, and friends who support our work and elevate the importance of addressing flooding, and look forward to continuing to work together in 2021 and beyond. 

Learn more about joining the Coalition. To set up a call with a member of our staff, just send us an email.