One year after Helene: Western North Carolina leaders highlight ongoing need for resources
The American Flood Coalition (AFC) recently brought four elected leaders from Western North Carolina to Washington, D.C., to convene with leaders from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Capitol Hill to address the ongoing needs of its constituents one year after the devastation of Hurricane Helene. The leaders prioritized two efforts that matter most […]
How to fix our broken disaster recovery system
“We can seize a once-in-a-generation window to overhaul our broken, business-as-usual approach to disasters. As more Americans are impacted by these tragedies, we know it’s possible to make the system leaner, more efficient and accountable.,” write Melissa Roberts, executive director of the American Flood Coalition, and Chris Sprowls, former speaker of the Florida House of […]
Western North Carolina leaders launch partnership on flood recovery and resilience
ASHEVILLE, NC — January 31, 2025 — In conjunction with the American Flood Coalition (AFC), local leaders today launched the WNC Recovery & Resilience Partnership. The partnership is a community-led effort to secure financial support, resources, and policy improvements that aid in recovery and rebuilding in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene and better prepare the […]
2024 in review
With historic flooding across the country, including severe storms in the Midwest and devastating hurricanes in the Southeast, 2024 showed the need for flood solutions in every community. Despite these challenges, this year we saw all levels of government build flood resilience: Communities planned flood projects, states invested in resilient infrastructure, and we worked with […]
Where to apply for post-disaster assistance
After a disaster, communities and individuals can be overwhelmed by the amount of information available for recovery. As people worry about immediate needs like food, water, and power, they must also navigate a complex web of federal, state, local, and private resources, most of which involve applications and paperwork. This page is for local leaders […]
Everything you need to know about flood insurance
In the wake of hurricanes and storms, many households face long and costly recoveries. That’s partially because few of those affected by storms are insured against flooding: For example, when Hurricane Helene hit Buncombe County, which comprises Asheville, less than 1% of homes and businesses had flood insurance. While flooding is widespread and destructive — in the […]
Hurricane Milton: Resources for Response & Recovery
As communities in Florida deal with the impacts of Hurricane Milton, our thoughts are with those responding and recovering from the storm. To support leaders during the aftermath of Milton, the American Flood Coalition compiled these resources. Florida assistance details Florida has received a federal disaster declaration for Milton. NOTE: The following information is current as of October 15, […]
Hurricane Helene: Resources for Response & Recovery
As communities across the Southeast deal with the impacts of Hurricane Helene, our thoughts are with those responding and recovering from the storm. To support leaders during the aftermath of Helene, the American Flood Coalition compiled these resources. FEMA Public Assistance FEMA’s Public Assistance program can help communities shoulder the burden of recovery from the impacts of […]
Statewide flood resilience starts with accountable, empowered leaders
States are critical for reducing large-scale flood risk: They receive and allocate federal funding, can more effectively manage water across watersheds, and can help under-resourced communities. Successful leadership at the state level often involves an empowered leader, as well as a regional coordination entity. Such coordination leads to more effective flood projects, programs, and policies. In this […]
Building flood resilience in Dillon
“Flooding is expensive. But I am committed to looking for innovative solutions to proactively address flooding and will continue to advocate for state and federal resources to relieve the pressure on Dillon’s taxpayers,” writes Mayor Tally McColl of Dillon, South Carolina, in a new op-ed. Read the full op-ed in The Dillon County News. — […]