Hurricane Georges

Citation

(1999), "Hurricane Georges", Disaster Prevention and Management, Vol. 8 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/dpm.1999.07308aag.030

Hurricane Georges

Hurricane Georges

http://www.whitehouse.gov/WH/New/html/flood.pdf

http://www.fema.gov/library/ombflood.pdf

The inundation wrought by Hurricane Georges is but another example of the severe flooding that has affected many parts of the country in recent years. In response to this problem, the federal government has been working to improve its approach to floodplain management ­ both to reduce the loss of life and property caused by floods and to restore the natural resources and functions of floodplains. These changes have involved, in part, a shift in focus from structural controls of the natural environment (dams, levees, altered channels, etc.) toward non-structural alternatives that modify susceptibility to flooding (restricted use of floodplains, for example). To support this effort, the Executive Office of the President has issued a federal interagency document, Federal Programs Offering Non-Structural Flood Recovery and Floodplain Management Alternatives. The booklet lists programmes in three categories:

1. 1.

   acquisition, relocation, elevation, and flood-proofing;

2. 2.

   rural land easements and acquisition; and

3. 3.

   restoration of wetlands.

It discusses these three strategies and then provides comprehensive summaries of the relevant programmes along with useful indices. The publication is available from both the White House and FEMA at the URLs above.