Max Baucus: “I rise today to introduce the Rural Community Flood Protection Act of 2010. We have all seen, and many of us have…”

“I rise today to introduce the Rural Community Flood Protection Act of 2010. We have all seen, and many of us have experienced firsthand, the devastation that a flood can bring to any community. This devastation is experienced equally, whether your home is in an area that is high or low hazard, rural or urban, wealthy or poor. Flood control is a multi-pronged effort involving structural and non-structural flood control measures, hazard mitigation, emergency planning, and insurance. Our Nation has a myriad of programs designed to address flood hazards. FEMA produces flood maps to define the risk and operates hazard mitigation programs to reduce risk. The National Flood Insurance Program, NFIP, provides flood insurance to property owners in a mapped risk area. The Army Corps of Engineers designs and constructs flood control projects. This hodgepodge of responsibilities has always been a challenge for the U.S., and it continues to be one today. Nowhere is this challenge more evident than in the process of FEMA's map modernization program, the Corps' levee certification responsibilities, and NFIP program requirements.”