Virginia Gov. Northam Issues Proclamation on Flood Awareness Week

RICHMOND, Virginia, March 15 -- Gov. Ralph S. Northam, R-Virginia, issued the following proclamation:

WHEREAS, floods are the most common and costly natural disaster in our country; and

WHEREAS, 90 percent of all presidential declarations of emergency and major disasters involve flooding; and

WHEREAS, on average, 100 Americans lose their lives in floods each year; and

WHEREAS, on average, flood damages throughout the nation annually exceed $3 billion, and as of January 31, 2019, flood insurance claims in Virginia totaled more than $730 million; and

WHEREAS, both direct and indirect costs of flood recovery are borne by all American taxpayers, not just flood victims; and

WHEREAS, Virginia has 2.3 million acres of mapped special flood hazard areas, which represents 9 percent of Virginia's land mass; and

WHEREAS, only 3 percent of Virginians statewide are covered by flood insurance; and

WHEREAS, only 31 percent of people who live in a special flood hazard area have flood insurance; and

WHEREAS, floods can happen without warning and all Virginians should know their risk; and

WHEREAS, the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation is the lead state agency responsible for administering flood-related programs; and

WHEREAS, residents of Virginia can view mapped special flood hazard areas on the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation's Virginia Flood Risk Information System; and

WHEREAS, flood protection information is readily available and provided by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation as well as the National Flood Insurance Program; and

WHERAS, certain communities, including those of low economic means and communities of color, are disproportionally affected by flooding events; and

WHEREAS, the Virginia Department of Emergency Management produces important public information on flood risk and response; and

WHEREAS, Flood Awareness Week is intended to educate the residents of Virginia on the potential risk to life and property from flooding and to promote the purchase of flood insurance by all Virginians;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Ralph S. Northam, do hereby recognize the week of March 14-20, 2021, as FLOOD AWARENESS WEEK in our COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.