The Question: What do floodplain managers and emergency
managers have in common?
The Answer: Water…
too much of it, and the responsibility to keep the community safe from its
impacts.
The Message: It
is beneficial for floodplain managers and emergency managers to know,
understand, and support each other.
Flood prone areas have been identified in 267
of 270 cities and towns and in all of the 64 counties in Colorado. Between 20
and 30 large magnitude floods (in terms of peak discharge) occur somewhere in
Colorado every year. In fact, 40 percent of Colorado’s presidentially declared
disasters and emergencies stem from flood-related events. Too often, floods negatively
impact people, property, infrastructure and critical facilities, economic and
cultural assets, and the natural environment.
Enhancing
coordination between floodplain managers and emergency managers will strengthen
the community’s preparation, response, and resilience to flooding, as many of
their responsibilities run parallel with one another. Regular communication and
a better understanding of each other’s roles may improve the sharing of
information and insight, create of efficiencies, and reduce the amount of
unnecessary overlap in activities. Collaboration between these professions will result in
partnerships and increase the whole community’s ability to manage a flood event.
For more information go to the ColoradoWater Conservation Board’s March 2012 Floodstage Newsletter on page 6 and 7
to answer the following questions:
- Who are Floodplain Managers?
- Who are Emergency Managers?
- How can Floodplain Managers and Emergency Managers help each other?
- What actions should you take?
Contact the following personnel for
questions, comments, or additional information:
Floodplain Management and National Flood
Insurance Program Contacts:
- Jamie Prochno, Community Assistance Program Manager, Colorado Water Conservation Board, (303) 866-4474 x3215, jamie.prochno@state.co.us
- Michael Gease, Natural Hazards Specialist, FEMA, (303) 235-4814, michael.gease@fema.dhs.gov
- For local floodplain manager contact information, please contact Jamie Prochno.
Emergency Management Contacts:
To find contact information for your local
emergency manager click on the Local Info
Sources tab at coemergency.com.
- Ken Brink, Mitigation Team Supervisor (Denver Metro), Colorado Division of Emergency Management, 720-852-6695, kenneth.brink@state.co.us
- Iain Hyde, Mitigation Specialist (Southern Colorado), Colorado Division of Emergency Management, (720) 852-6698, iain.hyde@state.co.us
- Deanna Butterbaugh, Mitigation Specialist (Northern Colorado), Colorado Division of Emergency Management, (720) 852-6697, deanna.butterbaugh@state.co.us
