Intergovernmental Roles & Responsibilities

Intergovernmental Roles & Responsibilities

Effective floodplain management requires coordinated action across all levels of government. Because water does not respect political boundaries, federal, state, regional, and local entities must collaborate to reduce flood risks and manage natural resources. Each level of government plays a distinct, complementary role in the implementation of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and broader hazard mitigation efforts.

The Federal Role

The federal government provides the overarching framework, technical data, and financial resources for floodplain management. Several key agencies are involved:

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

FEMA is the lead federal agency for floodplain management and emergency response. Under the Department of Homeland Security, FEMA administers the NFIP. Its primary responsibilities include:

• Hazard Identification and Mapping: FEMA produces Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) that delineate Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs).
• Establishing Minimum Standards: FEMA sets the minimum regulatory standards that communities must adopt to participate in the NFIP.
• Providing Mitigation Grants: FEMA manages grant programs, such as the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA), and BRIC, to fund local mitigation projects.
• Disaster Response and Recovery: FEMA coordinates federal assistance when a presidential disaster declaration is made.

United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)

The USACE has a long history in flood control. Today, its roles include:

• Structural Projects: Designing, constructing, and maintaining major flood risk management infrastructure, such as dams, levees, and floodwalls.
• Regulatory Authority: Under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, the USACE regulates the discharge of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States, including many wetlands.
• Technical Assistance: Providing floodplain management services and technical engineering support to states and communities.

United States Geological Survey (USGS)

The USGS is the nation's premier earth science agency. For floodplain managers, the USGS is invaluable because it operates and maintains the national network of stream gauges. These gauges provide real-time data on river stages and streamflows, which are critical for flood forecasting, mapping, and long-term hydrological modeling.

National Weather Service (NWS)

A division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the NWS is responsible for issuing weather forecasts, flood watches, and flood warnings. The NWS relies heavily on USGS stream gauge data to model river crests and provide communities with the advance notice needed to evacuate or prepare for impending floods.

The State Role

States serve as the critical link between federal agencies and local communities. Under the NFIP, every state has a designated State NFIP Coordinating Agency. This agency's role is to ensure that local communities comply with NFIP requirements and to provide them with technical assistance.

CAP-SSSE Program

FEMA supports state coordinators through the Community Assistance Program - State Support Services Element (CAP-SSSE). This program provides funding to states, enabling them to:

• Conduct Community Assistance Visits (CAVs) and Community Assistance Contacts (CACs) to audit local compliance.
• Help communities adopt and update floodplain management ordinances.
• Provide training and workshops for local floodplain administrators.

States also have the authority to establish floodplain management regulations that exceed FEMA's minimum standards. For example, a state might mandate higher freeboard requirements or prohibit certain types of development in the floodway statewide.

The Local Role

While federal and state governments provide maps, rules, and funding, the local community is the most critical level of government in floodplain management. The NFIP is ultimately a voluntary agreement between FEMA and the local community (city, town, county, or parish). To participate in the NFIP, the local government must:

• Adopt an Ordinance: Pass a legally binding floodplain management ordinance that meets or exceeds federal and state minimum standards.
• Designate an Administrator: Appoint a local floodplain administrator (often a planner, engineer, or building official, ideally a CFM) to implement the program.
• Permitting and Enforcement: Review all development proposals in the floodplain, issue or deny permits, and conduct site inspections to ensure compliance (e.g., verifying that the lowest floor is properly elevated).
• Substantial Damage/Improvement Determinations: Enforce the rule requiring structures that are substantially damaged (damage exceeding 50% of market value) to be brought into compliance with current elevation standards.

Without strong local enforcement, the entire framework of floodplain management breaks down. The local floodplain administrator is the "boots on the ground," ensuring that new homes are safe and that natural flood storage areas are not filled in.

The Regional Role

Because watersheds and river basins cross municipal and state boundaries, regional organizations often play a vital role in coordinating policy. Entities such as river basin commissions, levee boards, and watershed districts manage water resources comprehensively. They ensure that development or flood control projects in an upstream community do not cause increased flooding in a downstream community. Regional agencies are uniquely positioned to manage stormwater and flooding on a watershed scale, facilitating multi-jurisdictional mitigation planning and data sharing.