Eastern North Carolina Recovery and Resiliency Alliance Joins the American Flood Coalition
The partnership between AFC and the Alliance will continue building on efforts to protect communities across Eastern North Carolina.
WASHINGTON, DC — June 21, 2022 — The American Flood Coalition (AFC) is proud to welcome as members the Eastern North Carolina Recovery and Resilience Alliance, as well as its co-chairs Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo and Pender County Commissioner Jackie Newton.
Formed after Hurricane Florence in 2018, the Eastern North Carolina Recovery and Resiliency Alliance is a bipartisan group of over 50 Mayors and County Commissioners with the aim of creating a more resilient and better-prepared eastern North Carolina in the face of disasters. Alliance leaders have led multiple delegations to Raleigh and Washington, D.C., to advocate to state and national leaders.
“Over the past several years, Mayor Saffo and Commissioner Newton have been two of the most important folks in North Carolina for advocating for flood resources and policy improvements for our state legislature, as well as Congress,” said AFC Carolinas Director Tony McEwen. “I look forward to the American Flood Coalition and the Eastern North Carolina Recovery and Resiliency Alliance working in partnership going forward for a better tomorrow for North Carolina.”
The announcement comes a week after AFC’s Mayors Summit on Flooding and Sea Level Rise. The Summit, which took place in Washington, D.C., brought together two dozen mayors and local leaders, as well as federal experts and members of Congress, to explore solutions, build relationships, and drive action to flooding and sea level rise.
“At the Summit, we advocated to our congressional and state delegation about the importance of investing back in our communities’ infrastructure to alleviate flooding,” said Mayor Saffo. “Thank you to AFC for the support to put the best policy forward in respect to reducing flooding and addressing sea level rise.”
Previously, AFC worked with the Alliance to elevate local voices and advance solutions across the region. Last year, those efforts culminated in a historic $800 million investment in flood resilience in North Carolina’s state budget, including funds for a Statewide Flood Resiliency Blueprint, new and existing grant programs, and technical resources.
“We look forward to the support and assistance for our local communities trying to ferret their way through the maze of assistance and programs both to mitigate flooding risk and to provide assistance to our communities and rebuild,” said Commissioner Newton. “I was very impressed with the emphasis on rebuilding not the same but better and smarter.”
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About the American Flood Coalition
The American Flood Coalition is a nonpartisan group of cities, elected officials, military leaders, businesses, and civic groups that have come together to drive adaptation to the reality of higher seas, stronger storms, and more frequent flooding through solutions that support flood-affected communities and protect our nation’s residents, economy, and military installations. The Coalition has over 290 members across 21 states, and has recognized 29 Federal Champions from 12 states.
Cities, towns, elected officials, businesses, and local leaders wishing to join the American Flood Coalition or read more about the organization’s work can visit the Coalition’s website (www.floodcoalition.org) to find out more.
