PIA recently sent letters, along with a coalition of stakeholder groups, to U.S. House and Senate appropriators to advocate for a significant increase in funding for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) flood risk mapping program in fiscal year 2022 (FY 2022).

The flood risk mapping program funds federal flood mapping, which shows how likely it is for an area to flood. The program is currently funded at just over $260 million annually, which is far short of the needed investment.

As noted in both letters, the Association of State Floodplain Managers recommends that a minimum of $800 million annually is needed to meet the level required to complete the statutory mandated nationwide mapping. The current funding level only allows maintenance of current mapping and some updates, but does not support a needed expansion of mapping. The current level also fails to allow for important initiatives such as identifying future conditions or areas of residual risks behind flood control structures, including levees and dams.  

Given the last few decades of increased flooding, it is imperative that FEMA receives adequate appropriations to accurately map as much of the nation as possible. PIA will continue to advocate for increased investment in the flood mapping program as the appropriations process continues.