From the time pioneers first settled along the Mississippi River, communities there have lived with the threat of rising waters, especially during spring floods and extreme weather events, many of which have devastated homes, businesses, farms, and infrastructure. Over time, flooding along the river has become more common and costly. Local jurisdictions and states are increasingly looking for policies to mitigate flooding, and save lives and money. The Pew Charitable Trusts’ “Mitigation Matters” report, released in late 2019, provides a menu of options for officials to make their communities more resilient.
On Friday, March 20, Pew, the Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative, and Washington University in St. Louis will co-sponsor an event to highlight ways cities and states are using policies to create funding sources and regulations to help reduce flood risk up and down the Mississippi. Experts will share examples of how localities in the Mississippi River Basin and around the country have prepared for and responded to flooding in their communities.