April 7, 2010
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Media Contact:  Bob Anderson
Public Affairs Officer
 (601) 634-5760 (o)  (601) 629-7987 (c)

FIRST-EVER REGIONAL FLOOD RISK MANAGEMENT TEAM MEETS IN CEDAR RAPIDS

      The nation's first-ever Regional Flood Risk Management Team (RFRMT) 
will meet in Cedar Rapids, April 8, to discuss the unusually high spring 
river levels resulting from one of the wettest falls and winters in the 
Upper Mississippi River basin's history.  The meeting is scheduled to be 
held at the Clarion Hotel and Convention Center, 525 33rd Avenue S.W. in 
Cedar Rapids. A media opportunity is scheduled for 11:35 a.m.

            The RFRMT is historic both in purpose and composition.  It is 
now fully chartered with signatory members from five states, including 
senior flood risk management officials from Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, 
Missouri and Wisconsin.  Other members include senior leaders from the U.S. 
Army Corps of Engineers, Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. 
Geological Survey, National Resource Conservation Service, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and National Weather 
Service. The RFRMT is currently directed by a three-member leadership 
committee that includes Brig. Gen. Michael Walsh, Commander, Mississippi 
Valley Division (MVD), Mr. Gary Clark, Illinois Department of Natural 
Resources, and Bob Bissell, FEMA Region VII.

            The RFRMT's overall purpose is to assist federal, tribal, state 
and local governmental partners to coordinate, communicate and collaborate 
on flood risk management initiatives within the Upper Mississippi River 
basin. The RFRMT is working on ideas to integrate pre-flood mitigation with 
a long-term strategy to plan and implement pre- and post-flood emergency 
actions to reduce regional flood risks this coming spring and in the future. 
The RFRMT framework ensures that important disaster planning and dialog 
occurs before a flood event. For example, the quarterly meetings allow 
member states to discuss immediate and long range plans for flood risk 
reduction within their jurisdictions.

            The team's prime goal is to minimize risk to life, property and 
agriculture, while also protecting natural resources in a reasonable and 
cost-effective manner. Additional RFRMT goals include implementing flood 
risk and watershed management programs and activities that complement 
existing mitigation activities. The team is striving to ensure that flood 
risk reduction initiatives encompass federal, tribal, state and local 
programs and authorities in an inclusive or systemic approach.

            The RFRMT's goals also include considering both potential 
structural alternatives and non-structural alternatives in all future 
planning to reduce flood risks and potential losses region-wide.


Forwarded by Jane  Clark


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