Flood Plain Solutions Are Focus For Interagency Levee Work Group
Release Date: September 3, 2008
Release Number: 1773-061
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JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Damage to properties prompted many federal disaster declarations in Missouri in 2008. Most of the levee owners or sponsors involved in these disasters have contacted appropriate agencies for help, but those who haven't now have a multi-agency team to help them find solutions to flood plain issues.
The Interagency Levee Work Group (ILWG) is operating out of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Joint Field Office, managed in coordination with the state to guide disaster recovery efforts in Missouri. The ILWG is a sub-group of the Regional Interagency Levee Task Force (ILTF), which is reviewing flood plain issues in five states- Missouri, Iowa, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Illinois.
The task force has a national mandate to analyze both short- and long-term recovery solutions, including non-structural alternatives, such as the creation of expanded floodways and ecosystem restoration projects. In Missouri, the ILWG provides a "one-stop shop" offering the expertise of multiple federal and state agencies in levee repair and maintenance as well as floodplain recovery efforts.
The ILWG will inventory and evaluate damaged levees to see which federal programs for rehabilitating floodplain management systems might provide help. Major sources of federal assistance include the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Public Law 84-99 program, the Natural Resources Conservation Service Emergency Watershed Protection Program, and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster loan assistance program. FEMA provides funding for eligible debris removal and emergency protective measures.
Those who have already applied for help will have their requests automatically reviewed by the work group and need not call. Others should contact their sponsoring agency.
Members of the Missouri Interagency Levee Work Group include FEMA, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Economic Development Administration, and representatives from the state of Missouri, including the Governor's subcommittee reviewing the non-federal cost share for levees. The Missouri Department of Agriculture, the Missouri Department of Economic Development and the State Emergency Management Agency are also represented and other agencies will be called in as appropriate for each review.
More information on the Regional Interagency Levee Task Force can be found at www.iwr.usace.army.mil/ILTF/
FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.
Last Modified: Wednesday, 03-Sep-2008 13:20:09