Gilbert F. White National Flood Policy Forum (2015)

Climate-informed Sciences and Flood Risk Management: Opportunities and Challenges

The report resulting from the 5th Gilbert F. White National Flood Policy Forum, Meeting the Challenge of Change, addresses implementation of the President’s new federal standard for flood risk management (Executive Order 13690), including its requirement to consider future flood risk when planning taxpayer-funded projects in areas prone to flooding. Throughout this report, the challenges are paired with implementable actions. It concludes that, in many cases, use of an approach based on climate-informed science will provide better risk estimation and planning outcomes than other "one size fits all” options such as building to the current 500-year flood standard or applying extra freeboard for construction. The report also explores ways floodplain management is meeting the challenge of managing future flood risk, summarizes key provisions of EO 13690, and makes a number of specific recommendations aimed at resolving policy issues, building cooperation and collaboration, and identifying, communicating and mitigating future risk. 

 Meeting the Challenge of Change (June 2016)

      Abstract of Meeting the Challenge of Change

ASFPM Foundation to hold a Gilbert F. White National Flood Policy forum this fall in D.C.

Collection of Think Papers from some of the Forum Participants
Climate Science: Dr. Antonio J. Busalacchi, Jr., University of Maryland
Insurance: Michael Cohen, RenaissanceRE Holdings, Ltd.
Practitioners: David Ford, David Ford Consulting Engineers, Inc.
Community: David Canaan, Director, Mecklenburg County, NC, Water and Land Resources