Recommendations for a National Levee Safety Program ...From the National Committee on Levee Safety Home Home
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Levee failure can be catastrophic — for individuals, communities, and the nation. In the United States there is significant uncertainty about the location, performance and condition of levees that millions rely upon to reduce their risks of flooding. An absence of consistent oversight or technical standards and a lack of understanding and communication of risk has left many communities more vulnerable than they realize.

We are at a critical juncture as a nation. We can choose a continuation of the status quo — leading to more frequent and more damaging flooding catastrophes — or, we make smart investments and take reasonable actions to effectively assess, communicate, and mitigate our flood risks.

"A National Levee Safety Program hinges on shared responsibility
at all levels of government and from the public."

A National Levee Safety Program hinges on shared responsibility at all levels of government and from the public. One agency or organization, or even one level of government, is not going to correct this problem. Only by working together and sharing the responsibility of levee safety will change occur and safety improve.

 

The National Committee on Levee Safety's vision of a National Levee Safety Program:

An involved public and reliable levee systems working as part of an integrated approach to protect people and property from floods.

National Leadership

State Levee Safety Programs

Aligned Federal Programs and Processess
Downtown Sacramento, California as viewed from West Sacramento in Yolo County looking southeast over the Sacramento River.
Photo of Palm County Levee
Palm Canyon, CA. Courtesy of Riverside County Flood Control and Water Conservation District.
Photo of Flood Map
Bay St. Louis, MS, December 11, 2007 -- Residents look at new preliminary flood maps at an open house in Hancock County. The event kicks off community adoption of the Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps to meet requirements of the National Flood Insurance Program. Jennifer Smits/FEMA .
     
Elsberry, MO, June 20, 2008 -- A levee in the Elsberry levee district breaks, flooding farmland and houses in the area. Photo: Jocelyn Augustino/FEMA .
Elsberry, MO, June 20, 2008 -- A levee in the Elsberry levee district breaks, flooding farmland and houses in the area. Photo: Jocelyn Augustino/FEMA .

What's New

December Levee Safety Connections (pdf, 341 KB)

NAFSMA resolution (pdf, 64.8 MB) supports a national levee safety program.

ASCE testifies in support of a national levee safety program. (pdf, 146 KB)

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Test Your Levee IQ

What percentage of the approximately 15,000 miles of levees in US Army Corps of Engineers Levee Safety Program are operated and maintained by local sponsors?

  1. 10%
  2. 25%
  3. 65%
  4. 85%

Answers to this, and past, questions.