Norton Uses Hearing on FEMA to Raise Concerns About D.C. Flood Risk

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today continued her work to mitigate flood risks to the District of Columbia at a House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee hearing on the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) administration of the National Flood Insurance Program. This month, Norton gave remarks at the 2016 DC Flood Summit and cohosted a congressional briefing on flood risks in D.C. and the national capital region.

Just last week, FEMA issued the revised National Flood Insurance Rate map for the District of Columbia, but it appears the map may have to be redrawn to meet new, higher standards outlined in “reasonable and prudent alternatives” (RPAs) issued by the National Marine Fisheries Service that currently only apply in Oregon, but will be eventually applied nationwide. Norton asked FEMA Assistant Administrator for Mitigation Michael Grimm whether FEMA had the resources to implement the RPA’s nationwide, particularly in light of ongoing economic development, authorized by her bills, on the Southwest and Southeast Waterfronts. Grimm responded that resources are a major concern, and not only would FEMA headquarters and regional offices be strained, but so would state, local, territorial, and tribal communities.

Norton also noted the major 2006 flooding of several areas of the Mall and Federal Triangle that affected federal agencies in downtown D.C., including the National Archives, portions of the Smithsonian Institution, and the Internal Revenue Service building. Operations within those buildings were impacted for a prolonged period. She asked Grimm whether FEMA is assisting federal agencies on their land use decisions and mitigation strategies. He responded that Executive Order 11988 requires each agency to look at flood threats and that more information will be provided to the committee.

Norton has introduced a bill to amend the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 to include the District in the definition section of a coastal state, which would make D.C. eligible for federal coastal zone management funding.