After a series of natural disasters, Kentucky lawmakers are receiving recommendations for flood mitigation and preparedness. Officials with the American Flood Coalition said the state faces two types of flooding, overbank flooding and flash flooding. Overbank flooding occurs when creeks and rivers exceed their normal water level, and flash flooding is common in urban areas and watersheds.
Jack Krolikowski is Flood Planning Director for the American Flood Coalition. He said collaboration can help flood mitigation.
“I think it is important to recognize that floodwaters do not follow municipal boundaries. That drop of water doesn’t hit the county line and say, ‘I stop here, this is a different county.’ That’s simply not the way this particular risk for us works. To put it simply, you live downstream from somebody and something,” said Krolikowski.
Officials said states that prove they are committed to local response and mitigation have a better competitive chance of receiving federal aid. Anne Brody, State Government Relations Officer with the American Flood Coalition said federal expectations on natural disasters are shifting.
“The president is also now calling on states to lead. His recent executive order ‘Achieving Efficiency Through State and Local Preparedness” significantly increases the expectations that state and local governments, not the federal government as we’ve really come to expect, will lead preparedness and response,” said Brody.
Officials said there are three strategies states can employ to help with flooding - removing the hazard, limiting exposure, and communicating risks. Communities can remove hazards with flood infrastructure, limit exposure by considering where and how properties are built and communicate risk to citizens ahead of weather events.