Aerial views of the damage caused by Hurricane Sandy to the New Jersey coast taken during a search and rescue mission by New Jersey Army National Guard, Oct. 30, 2012. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Mark C. Olsen)

In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, the first priorities for federal, state, and local governments are to prevent additional loss of life, assist those in need with all resources possible, and begin the difficult recovery process.  But once the recovery process begins my family and friends, along with countless others up and down the eastern seaboard, will begin to consider how to repair, rebuild and strengthen their homes and business properties.

As we move towards the repair and recovery phase, NWF has identified a 10 ways to better prepare for extreme hurricanes: five national policy changes that can be made right now to make all us safer, and five activities that must be stopped to avoid and minimize future storm-related catastrophes.  These recommendations all have one thing in common – they promote protection and restoration of natural defenses that are critical for safe, affordable, and sustainable protection from storms and floods.

Five Actions to Protect People, Property and Wildlife from Storm and Flood Damages

High water in the wetlands of Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge. Flickr photo courtesy U.S. FWS.

1. Promote Climate Readiness. Many federal, state, and municipal agencies have taken steps to develop climate-adaptation plans, which chart a path toward preparing for and coping with extreme weather events and other climate impacts. Most of these plans have yet to be implemented, though, and will require political will and adequate funding to truly create more climate-resilient communities. And Readiness is the key word here—the best time to protect against and plan for natural catastrophe is long before it happens. We can start by implementing the recommendations of the Interagency Climate Change Adaptation Task Force.
2. Make Flood Insurance Reform Real. Hurricane Sandy destroyed countless properties across the Northeast, including many that belonged to people who had no idea their property was located within a floodplain and therefore did not have flood insurance. Thankfully, the just passed Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act made great strides towards updating how we map flood zones by taking into account increased storm frequency and intensity. By updating our maps and requiring more people to purchase flood insurance we’ll protect more properties, and also send a market signal that there are smarter, safer and better places to develop than in the middle of a floodplain. We can do this if we fully fund and implement the Flood Insurance Reform Act. 
3. Protect Our Natural Defenses. Natural features like wetlands reduce storm intensity and protect nearby properties from flooding. In fact, a single acre of wetland can store 1–1.5 million gallons of flood water. We must capitalize on these benefits and ensure that government helps protect these beneficial and cost-effective flood control features. The Obama Administration took several new steps to meet this goal. It has created new guidance and intends to pursue rulemaking to reinstate crucial Clean Water Act protections for wetlands and streams, and is also poised to release new water resources planning guidelines.
   
4. Encourage Better Stormwater Management. During major rain events, like Hurricane Sandy, stormwater and sewer systems are often inundated.  New storm water rules and guidance allow us to address these serious storm water concerns for communities across the country—especially those with aging infrastructure. We must update stormwater regulations to require that major sewer system upgrades in urban areas account for projected increases in rainfall and provide adequate holding basins to protect towns and communities from flooding, while protecting water quality at the same time.
5. Reduce Carbon Pollution. To avoid increased damage from super storms and other severe weather events, Americans must begin taking steps to reduce carbon pollution. The administration must follow through on its efforts to use the Clean Air Act to limit carbon pollution from power plants and other sources. And it must accelerate development and deployment of innovative clean energy solutions. Until we solve the problem at this level, we’ll be playing catch up after every storm. See my colleague Joe’s Mendelson’s recent piece for more details.

Five Actions that put People, Property and Wildlife at Risk from Storm and Flood Damages

The aftermath of Hurricane Sandy in Rodanthe, North Carolina. Flickr photo by North Carolina Dept. of Transportation

1. Government Subsidization of Development in High Risk Areas. Earlier this year, the Congress passed and the President signed the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 which made significant steps towards ensuring that property owners pay actuarial- or market-based rates for flood insurance. This is important as it helps people understand their risk and lessens floodplain development via the free market. But the bill didn’t go far enough. There are still countless properties that receive federal subsidies for flood insurance, including home owners living behind decertified and failing levees. Until we ensure everybody pays according to risk, we should continue to expect dangerous coastal development.
2. Failure to Prioritize & Harmonize Civil Works Projects. While some improvements have been made to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers planning process, the Corps continues to plan and operate projects that increase flood risks and destroy natural features that protect communities from flooding. Moving forward, Congress must consider the flooding impacts of all projects regardless of their primary purpose. For instance, we must consider the flooding impacts of navigation projects and have the political courage to veto them if these projects put people and property at risk.
3. Destruction of wetlands and streams.  Actions by the Supreme Court, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the Environmental Protection Agency over the last decade undermine the Clean Water Act’s ability to prevent destruction of many wetlands and small streams by developers and others. Similarly, lax enforcement of the Farm Bill’s Swampbuster restrictions has exacerbated wetlands loss.  Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Iowa, and Missouri have each lost 85-90 percent of their wetlands and countless headwater streams. Between 1998 and 2004, coastal watersheds in the eastern United States lost almost 1 percent of their freshwater wetlands. Just a 1–percent loss of a watershed’s wetlands can increase total flood volume by almost 7 percent.
4. Backstop State and Federal Insurance Programs: Subsidized government insurance—like the National Flood Insurance Program of Florida’s Citizens Property Insurance Corp—mask risk and encourage unsafe development. And still legislators across the country continue to call for an expansion of these subsidies by creating federal backstops or bailouts for these poorly run programs. We must not move towards this type of dangerous policy.
5. Build with Concrete instead of Mud and Grass: The WRDA 2007 national water policy proposed to “protect the environment” by “protecting and restoring the functions of natural systems and mitigating any unavoidable damage to natural systems,” and by “seeking to avoid the unwise use of floodplains.” The Corps is ignoring these requirements by continuing to promote environmentally destructive and costly structural projects even where less costly and environmentally protective nonstructural and restoration measures would provide better solutions. We need a major change of course to stop building structures that protect those directly behind them and exacerbate downstream flooding and instead use natural, open floodplains to allow rivers room to expand and cover their banks without impacting property.

How You Can Help

By going to the polls this Tuesday, we can show Big Polluters their money is no match for millions of Americans who have the power to elect leaders that will stand up to protect wildlife and fight climate change. Get ready to vote by locating your polling place today, deciding now what time you will vote and making sure that your friends and family have rides to the polls. Let’s Pack the Polls for Wildlife.

Transportation Package Delivers Progress for Wildlife, Taxpayers

June 28 – Congressional negotiators have reached a deal on a wide-reaching transportation bill that includes the RESTORE Act, landmark legislation to direct BP fines and penalties to Gulf Coast restoration.

“More than two years into the worst oil disaster in America’s history, Washington is finally delivering on its promise to make the Gulf whole again. Once BP’s fines and penalties have been established, the RESTORE Act will represent one of the most important investments in natural resources in America’s history, a critically-needed commitment to Gulf Coast ecosystems and the people who depend on them,” said Larry Schweiger, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation. “All of us now have the responsibility to make sure every dollar is invested in restoring the Gulf’s impacted communities and wildlife habitat.”

Read NWF’s joint statement with our Gulf Coast restoration partners here.

House Interior Appropriations Bill Slashes Conservation Funding

June 28 – The House Appropriations Committee today voted for an Interior Appropriations bill that slashes funding for conservation and continues a month-long assault on Clean Water Act protections for healthy wetlands, clean streams, and drinking water for 117 million Americans.

The deep funding cuts approved in the bill will undermine conservation, public land management, and the outdoor recreation economy. The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), which conserves public land essential for fish and wildlife as well as hunting, angling, and outdoor recreation, will be cut from $345 million in the current fiscal year to approximately $66 million in FY 2013. Funding to operate and maintain National Wildlife Refuges, which not only conserve wildlife but generate $1.7 billion in economic activity and support 27,000 private sector jobs, is cut from $486 million to $437 million.

National Wildlife Federation, Earth Networks Partner on Weather and Nature Education

June 27 -The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) has announced that it will incorporate weather and climate data into its Eco-Schools USA program as part of a partnership with Earth Networks, owner of the popular WeatherBug national weather monitoring programs. The WeatherBug web, mobile web and mobile applications will soon include additional content on the outdoors and wildlife.

The partnership brings together two institutions with a strong pedigree of observing and advocating for the health of the planet and its atmosphere and provides a broad network to amplify NWF’s message about conservation and the benefits of connecting more kids with nature. WeatherBug Schools Programs are already used in thousands of K-12 classrooms nationwide, and a reported 22 million online users get weather information from WeatherBug’s website and applications.

And here are highlights from NWF in the News:

• The New York Times: Court Backs E.P.A. Over Emissions Limits Intended to Reduce Global Warming
• Metro Times: Crude awakening
• Ville Platte Gazette: Conservations hail RESTORE’s passage as vital for Louisiana coast
• Outdoor Life: Big Win for Outdoorsmen: Senate Moves to Pass RESTORE Act
• Petoskey News: Fracking rules need more teeth in Michigan and Ohio, wildlife federation says
• Chicago Tribune: Hog wild: Feral pig population explodes in U.S

For more, visit www.nwf.org/News

A functioning floodplain without development Photo by: Bryn Fluharty

It is 2am and my mother wakes me up. I can hear the sound of rain falling heavily outside which meant one thing, flooding at our rental. Every time it rained this hard my mother got the call from her tenants that the basement was flooding, again. This would prompt a late night drive the 15 minutes away where my mother would spend the late part of the evening and early morning digging trenches around the rental until to try and stem the flow of water into the house. As a single mother with two young children she relied on the rental for a significant part of our income and had to take care of issues such as flooding on her own as my brother and I were too young to help.

The problem that we and so many others faced was an issue of poor planning. When my family first bought the property the information was not disclosed to us that it had issues with flooding.  The house is in the Thornton Creek Floodplain and so is particularly vulnerable to flooding. The Thornton Creek watershed runs from Shoreline south into North Seattle and finally empties into Lake Washington at Matthews Beach Park. Like many urban streams and rivers development has encroached upon the creek and does not allow for the natural processes to occur. This does not mean that there is no flooding; it means that flooding will occur and will cause damage to the development that gets in its way.

Living in a floodplain carries with it significant risks to its human inhabitants. Many families like mine incurred thousands of dollars worth of damage as well as emotional stress because of flooding. According to the City of Seattle Thornton Creek has had major incidents in 1996/7, 2003 and 2006 with other s in 1990, 1986, and 1978. In 2007 the area experienced a 100-year storm event which caused flooding despite having the Meadowbrook retaining pond which failed to protect the residents. This initiated a lawsuit against the city by local residents due to damage caused by flooding. As the impacts of climate change continue we will see more events like this.

Development in floodplains is bad for people as well as wildlife. Chinook salmon, Coho salmon, cutthroat trout, steelhead, and rainbow trout have all been found in the creek. The full potential for fish habitat in the creek is in part due to the loss of connectivity to the floodplain and the lack of habitat such as deep pools, large woody debris and riparian cover (click here to find out more about Thornton creek). The removal of these elements are all associated with encroaching development.

Flooding in the house has been greatly reduced in part due to the Meadowbrook Retaining pond as well as significant modifications that my mother made at her expense. As a part time teacher and single mother the flooding acted as a huge financial and emotional drain for my mother and our family. If initial planning had been done in a smart way my family and others in the area would not have had to deal with these issues.

Programs such as the National Floodplain Insurance Program (NFIP) run thorough the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) subsidize development in floodplains. This program encourages development in floodplains and further indebts our government as more claims come through due to damage from flooding. The National Wildlife Federation is working hard to encourage smart development and stop encouraging further development of our floodplains. This will help our wildlife as well as our communities so that I and so many others can enjoy the sound of rain instead of worrying that it is simply the drum beat of impending flooding.

Do you have stories about flooding? We want to hear them!

Congress Moves Flood Insurance Reform Forward as Americans Face Effects of Hurricane Season

September 8 – The Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, & Urban Affairs took a step towards protecting people, property and the environment by reporting the Flood Insurance Reform and Modernization Act of 2011. The bill reauthorizes the National Flood Insurance Program and removes subsidies that encourage over-development of environmentally sensitive floodplains. Additionally, the legislation creates a new mapping council to ensure flood maps accurately reflect changing flood risk from increased weather events intensified by climate change, sea level rise, fill and other impacts.

Roadkill: Lawmakers Throw Wildlife Under the Bus

September 8 – The Senate Appropriations committee approved a 2012 funding bill that slashes over $725 million in conservation funding from programs that help farmers, ranchers, and foresters across the country to protect soil, conserve water and enhance wildlife habitat. The conservation programs that were cut directly benefit sportsmen and rural economies through the creation of hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreational opportunities.

Kids Sleep Better with Outdoor Time

September 7 – National Wildlife Federation’s new report and parent guide “Green Time for Sleep Time“ highlights the connection between the time kids spend playing outdoors and sleep deprivation. According to the National Wildlife Federation guide, young children and teens are losing anywhere from 10-14 hours of sleep a week. To foster awareness and healthier amounts of pillow time, the NWF guide offers parents helpful advice about improving sleeping habits by exposing children to more outdoor play time every day.

Groups Ask Judge to Halt Mine Blasting

September 1 – A coalition of groups has asked a judge to halt imminent mining activity that would desecrate a sacred Native American site and jeopardize water quality for the Great Lakes and one of the region’s last spawning grounds for the coaster brook trout. The Huron Mountain Club, Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, National Wildlife Federation and Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve filed the motion to stay Rio Tinto’s permits  with the Ingham County Circuit Court. If granted, the stay would prohibit Rio Tinto from blasting Eagle Rock—a sacred site that sits over a proposed nickel mine.

Attorneys General Enlist National Support to Combat Invasive Species by Separating Great Lakes from Mississippi River Basin

August 31 – NWF today supported the efforts of six Great Lakes attorneys general who are urging their counterparts in 27 other states to help combat the spread of invasive species like the Asian carp throughout U.S. waters by supporting the separation of the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River.

And here are highlights from NWF in the News:

• Miami Herald: Senate panel passes flood insurance bill
• Bangor Daily News: Time outdoors will help America’s sleep-deprived kids

For more, visit www.nwf.org/News

Photo credit: William Drumm

Entering Mount Rainier National Park I am automatically drawn to the White River; its braided, meandering channels flowing down from Emmons Glacier, sweeping through old growth forest, and Mount Rainier towering above, is a sight of true beauty. As I sat and admired the river, I couldn’t help but ponder its pristine state and the natural habitat it must provide for spawning salmon. This is what a healthy river looks like, I thought to myself, there must be salmon here. In truth, the answer is not as straightforward as I thought.

First the good news: In a recent report, National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) concluded that over a 10-year period the White River showed a trend of increasing abundance among Puget Sound Chinook salmon populations. Furthermore, White River salmon populations have some of the highest escapement trends observed; meaning a high portion of salmon escape the commercial and recreational fisheries and reach the White River freshwater spawning grounds. Great, right?

Now the bad news: though abundance trends are increasing, the average historical abundance of Upper White River Chinook was 6,700, today they are estimated at only 500. The White River is a tributary of the Puyallup River, which is heavily diked, leveed, and dammed. White River salmon need to swim up (or as in most cases, be caught and then trucked up) the Puyallup before they start their journey to spawn upstream in the White River. So, how are Puyallup River salmon doing? The answer: Not so good. Moreover, Puget Sound salmon are not doing well either. The overall trend shows that Puget Sound Chinook populations are no better than they were 10 years ago when they were first listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

The driving force behind this lack of improvement: habitat loss. In Puget Sound natural habitat is being developed and altered more often than it is restored. Not only can fish not access upper river reaches because of dams and other barriers, but if they get there they find a river no longer in its natural state due to levees and dikes.

Recently, Federal Judge James Redden rejected (for the third time) the federal government’s recovery plan for the Columbia-Snake River salmon, stating it as “arbitrary and capricious” because it failed to identify adequate habitat improvement.  A similar plan in Puget Sound is being implemented to limit floodplain development and reform the National Flood Insurance Program’s (NFIP’s) minimum criteria for eligibility in 122 communities by September 2011. But is all this going to be enough?

Probably not. Though these plans all take into account future development, they do very little to fix past mistakes. In “Is Salmon Extinction the Option” Tom Bancroft comments, “we need the federal government to recognize that their plans for salmon recovery in the Pacific Northwest are lacking.” As Billy Frank puts it, “If we are going to recover salmon, we must have stronger and better-coordinated federal leadership to align the policies and actions of all federal agencies and departments that impact salmon.”

What can you do? We all need to work to protect the future of our iconic salmon species. Limiting the impact of development is critical in any highly-urbanized watershed.  Incorporate green development ideas into your next home improvement project and if possible leave previously undeveloped areas undisturbed.

Take action: speak up for endangered salmon by telling your local representative or urging the Obama administration that healthy native habitats and endangered salmon recovery is important to you.

Learn more about NWF campaigns for Puget Sound NFIP reform and salmon restoration and Columbia-Snake River salmon.

Inspiration for post comes from ”Is Salmon Extinction the Option” by Tom Bancroft of People for Puget Sound.

1. Highlight of the Week: NWF Reminds House, Pipelines Dangerous
2. Quote: Bill McKibben
3. Economic Story of the Week: Plug it In
4. Editorial of the Week: The Risks of the Keystone XL Pipeline
5. Shelter from the Storms
6. Coalition Drops More Than 600,000 Comments Like They’re Hot
7. Butte Goes Off the Grid
8. Happening this Week

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Highlight of the Week

NWF Reminds House, Pipelines Dangerous

Dr. Inkley and Rep. Brown, via NWF

In the wake of yet another tragic oil spill, NWF Senior Scientist Doug Inkley did his best to impress upon a House pipelines subcommittee that oil spills are far too frequent and better pipeline safety legislation is urgently needed.

“Montana’s people, fish, and wildlife didn’t deserve this oil spill in the Yellowstone River, but they do deserve a better response from ExxonMobil and the federal government,” Dr. Inkley testified in a hearing that included testimony from Exxon and the government’s chief pipeline safety official.

Rep. Corrine Brown, ranking Democrat on the House Transportation Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials, later invited Dr. Inkley to work with the committee in shaping good reform legislation.

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Quote:

Bill McKibben (via Energy Action Coalition)

“If you dig up huge amounts of carbon, huge amounts of ancient biology, hundreds of millions of years worth of ancient biology, and flush it into the atmosphere in a matter of decades, then it stands to reason that we’re going to have enormous effects, and now we can see those effects all around us.”

- Bill McKibben, founder 350.org.

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Economic Story of the Week

Plug it In

Converted Prius Plug-In Hybrids, via felixkramer/flickr

Our transportation sector is 95 percent dependent on oil, putting us at the mercy of unpredictable gas price spikes and the whims of foreign dictators who control the vast reserves of oil that are the source of our addiction. As more and more consumers from developing countries such as China and India enter the global marketplace and demand the same luxuries we are privileged to, reserves will only be strained further. How will we cope with increasing demand but dwindling reserves? More drilling is NOT the answer.

The people of Montana are learning all too well the consequences of our rush to drill without giving safety considerations a second thought. Hauntingly similar to the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, on June 30th, an Exxon Mobil pipeline ruptured and spewed thousands of gallons of oil into the Yellowstone River. The extent of the damage is still unknown.

Cheap oil is tapped out and what is left is in ever more dangerous sites and requires more destructive methods to extract. It is time we take control of our energy future and demand from our leaders real solutions to the energy crisis. The tools to cut our dependence on oil are already available. Increased fuel efficiency, electric vehicles and investment in mass transit, not only sever our reliance on oil, but save Americans money and create jobs at home.

Learn more with NWF’s new factsheet resource, “Taking Control: Real Solutions to Rising Gas Prices.”

More on this story:

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Editorial of the Week

The Risks of the Keystone XL Pipeline

(LA Times)

TransCanada has a poor record when it comes to spills. Its first pipeline, Keystone I, has already sprung more than a dozen leaks in its first year of operation. The State Department is promising to make a decision on Keystone XL before the end of the year, and the House Energy and Commerce Committee is pushing for approval by Nov. 1, but there is no rush. The environmental risks should be thoroughly studied and mitigation measures must be put in place.

The objections to Keystone XL stem at least in part from widespread concern over the production of oil from tar sands, which ravages the landscape, pollutes rivers and emits high concentrations of greenhouse gases. The best way to solve the tar sands problem is for the world to agree on a practical scheme for putting a price on carbon emissions. (More…)

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Shelter from the Storms

flooding, via Wimmera/Flickr

With hurricane season well underway and the remnants of severe floods still troubling many river communities in the country’s midsection, it is difficult to ignore the risks out-of-control waters pose to all Americans. Recently, the House of Representatives voted to reform the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), advancing measures that will better protect people, property and the environment. H.R. 1309, the Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2011, removes incentives for risky developments in flood prone and environmentally sensitive areas, applies market-based rates to flood insurance to further mitigate risk and provides technical and financial assistance to help lessen damage and protect natural features.

“Reforming the NFIP is certainly a step in the right direction. It will help put the program on firmer financial footing, and it will better protect people by using the best science to map flood zones,” said Joshua Saks, senior legislative representative for water resources campaigns at the National Wildlife Federation.

With climate change causing more intense storms, sea level rise and flooding all across the country, this reform measure could not be timelier. We look forward to working with the House, Senate and Administration to see a comprehensive reform bill signed into law this year.

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Coalition Drops More Than 600,000 Comments Like They’re Hot

via dharma comm/flickr

A coalition of more than 50 health, environmental and associated organizations held a major public event to hand over more than 600,000 public comments to the Environmental Protection Agency. These comments, collected all over the country, express concern over the impacts of mercury pollution generated by coal fired power plants and support for the EPA’s proposed safeguards.

The event was held at Norman B. Leventhal Park across the street from the regional EPA office and included a broad spectrum of speakers, including EPA Region 1 Administrator Curt Spalding. It’s not too late to submit your own comments, click here to tell the EPA how you feel about mercury poisoning our water and our wildlife.

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Butte Goes Off the Grid

Solar Panels in Butte, Great Valley Center

Butte College recently became the first college in the U.S. to go completely “grid positive,” meaning it generates more electricity (from its on-campus solar array) than it uses.

Located on a 928-acre wildlife refuge, the Oroville, CA, school boasts a long track record of leadership on sustainability and efficiency. Butte won NWF’s 2008 ‘Chill Out’ grand prize for its carbon neutrality and energy usage goals, Sustainability Studies certificate program and recycling initiatives and was later featured in the Campus Report Card, a project by NWF and Princeton Survey Research Associates International to review trends and new developments in environmental performance and sustainability on college campuses. Butte was recognized for high marks in energy efficiency, recycling and ground management.

To learn more about Butte’s sustainability work, visit http://www.butte.edu/sustainability/
Statement from Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom

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Happening this Week

Wednesday, July 20

Examination of USDA Energy and Forestry Programs, Agriculture, 10 AM, 1300 Longworth
Hearing on Yellowstone spill, Environment and Public Works, 10 AM, 406 Dirksen
Hearing on Gulf spill, Commerce, Science and Transportation, 2:30 PM, 253 Russell

Thursday, July 21

Markup of drilling bills, Energy and Natural Resource, 10 AM, 366 Dirksen
Cool Roofs for Cooler Summers, EESI, 2 – 3:30PM, SVC 212/210 Capitol Visitor Center

Coming Soon: Wednesday, July 27

More Fight, Less Fuel: The Defense Department’s Deployment of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, 2:00 – 3:30 PM, SVC 212/210 Capitol Visitor Cent

Back to topFor more global warming news on Wildlife Promise click here.

As we begin to assess the damage from some of the most severe flooding since 1927, it is critical that Congress not miss this opportunity to substantially reform the NFIP [National Flood Insurance Program ]to better protect people, property and the environment. -prepared testimony of Adam Kolton, executive director of the National Wildlife’s Federation’s National Advocacy Center.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Representing Smarter Safer.org , the National Wildlife Federation’s Adam Kolton is testifying before the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs about the need to reform the National Flood Insurance Program. The NFIP  is a federal program that is $17 billion in debt and encourages construction in environmentally sensitive areas. SmarterSafer.org is a coalition of national conservation organizations, insurance and reinsurance companies and associations, housing advocacy groups, taxpayer and free market think tanks and other groups that want safe, fiscally sound and environmentally responsible approaches to natural catastrophe policy.

In the video, Kolton outlines the connection between wildlife, the environment and the National Flood Insurance Program, as well as the need for comprehensive reform.

Extreme flooding near Nashville, Tennessee in May 2010.

H.R. 1309, the Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2011, is a first step in reforming the NFIP. “This bill makes great strides towards removing subsidies that have incentivized high risk development of environmentally sensitive areas”, says Josh Saks, senior legislative representative for NWF’s water resources campaign. Currently, the NFIP charges below market rates for flood insurance, which encourages development in flood prone areas. These areas, if left undeveloped, would serve as natural protective buffers against flooding. The new reform bill would require people to pay market-based rates for flood insurance, which makes it less attractive to build in a risky area. H.R. 1309 also seeks to have every property included in floodplain maps.  As a result, taxpayers will be more informed about which properties carry flood risk and how they can protect themselves.

“But, there is more that can be done,” Saks says about the Flood Insurance Reform Act. While the bill makes many necessary and welcome changes to the NFIP, it does not encourage mitigation of flood risk and does not pay down the program’s massive debt. H.R. 1309 recently passed in the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Insurance, Housing and Community Opportunity. Committee members will continue working on provisions in the bill before it moves to the full committee. NWF will continue urging Congress to protect the environment and public safety through flood insurance reform.