Pew Urges White House to Consider Future Flood Risk in Federal Investments

The text was updated on June 29, 2017 to correct the number of organizations that have endorsed the letter.

The Pew Charitable Trusts—together with reinsurers, civil engineers, and fiscal conservatives—sent a letter to the White House urging it to retain the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS), which requires federal agencies to consider current and future flood risk when taxpayer dollars are used to build or rebuild in flood plains. The standard, in Executive Order 13690, was issued Jan. 30, 2015. The letter, endorsed by 15 other organizations, stresses that new construction and repairs to public infrastructure should consider long-term flood risk. The FFRMS enhances public safety, ensures long-term fiscal responsibility, and makes communities more prepared for floods.