Institute for Water Resources

The memo, “USACE National Flood Risk Management Program Initial Guidance” (10/09/2009) (pdf, 527 KB) signed by the Deputy Commanding General for Civil and Emergency Operations established the purpose and goals of the Corps Flood Risk Management Program.

The Program Management Plan (pdf, 1.75 MB) provides further guidance and information on the implementation of the program to supplement the initial guidance first issued to the MSCs and Districts in October of 2009.

The FRM program works across the agency to support the alignment of other key programs and policies to focus on integrated, comprehensive flood risk management.

Civil Works Flood Risk Management Project Planning

• The Civil Works Planning Community Toolbox includes a collection of guidance related to the development of Flood Risk Management projects.
• The Corps National Nonstructural Flood Proofing Committee promotes the development and use of nonstructural flood risk reduction measures and provides risk expertise on nonstructural flood risk reduction and associated opportunities.

Understanding and Managing Flood Risk

• The USACE Levee Safety Program provides a suite of technical and policy documents that outline both technical responsibilities and role of the 14,000 miles of levees addressed under USACE programs. Currently the USACE Levee Safety Program is working on developing a comprehensive Engineering Circular that will cover all aspects of the Levee Safety Program.
  • The Vegetation Variance Request Policy is currently under revision. Review the response to public comments.
  • The System-Wide Improvement Framework (SWIF (pdf, 929 KB) ) policy provides guidelines that allow non-Federal sponsors of levees to maintain eligibility and access to post-flood repair funding (under P.L. 84-99) so long as they develop and implement a plan to address deficiencies in their existing levees.
  • The "Interim Policy for Determining Eligibility Status of Flood Risk Management Projects for the Rehabilitation Program Pursuant to PL 84-99" (pdf, 1.7 MB) provides interim criteria for determining eligibility for rehabilitation assistance consistent with the anticipated direction of the Rehabilitation Program.
• The Dam Safety Program uses a risk-informed approach to manage its portfolio of 694 dams, with public safety the number one priority with reliance on these key policies and guidance documents.

Emergency Management and Response

• Engineering Regulation 500-1-1 provides guidance and eligibility for requirements to access preparedness, response, and post-flood rehabilitation resources and funding from the Corps under the authorities of Public Law 84-99 and the Stafford Act. ER 500-1-1 is currently undergoing revision to include concepts that promote more systemic thinking about post-flood repairs and promote flood resiliency of structures.

• Flood Control and Coastal Emergencies Act (P.L. 84-99): Fact Sheet (pdf, 28 KB) | 33 US Code Section 701n
• Robert T. Stafford Act Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act
• Water Resources Development Acts
• National Dam Safety Act
• National Levee Safety Act

• The Economic and Environmental Principles and Guidelines for Water and Related Land Resources (P&G)  govern how Federal agencies evaluate proposed water resource development projects. The Council on Environmental Quality is currently updating the P&G. More information, including the 2013 released Principles and Requirements, and draft interagency Guidelines, are available on the CEQ website.
• The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Guidance promotes the use of non-structural alternatives or combinations in restoring post-flood levees.
• Executive Order 11988 - Floodplain Management, signed by President Carter in 1977 and amended by President Obama’s Executive Order 13690 in 2015, directs federal agencies to provide leadership and take action to reduce the risk of flood loss, to minimize the impact of floods on human safety, health and welfare, and to restore and preserve the natural and beneficial values served by floodplains.
• Executive Order 13690 – Establishing a Federal Flood Risk Management Standard and a Process for Further Soliciting and Considering Stakeholder Input, signed by President Obama on January 30, 2015, amends Executive Order 11988 to include a Federal Flood Risk Management Standard.  Read more….
  NOTE: Agencies will not implement EO 13690 until final interagency Implementing Guidelines are issued, and USACE agency specific guidance is developed.
• Presidential Policy Directive 8: National Preparedness, signed by President Obama in 2011, calls on federal departments and agencies to work with the whole community to develop a national preparedness goal and a series of frameworks and plans related to reaching the goal. Five National Planning Frameworks have been published (for Prevention, Protection, Mitigation, Response, and Disaster Recovery).