The Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973: A Rational Approach To Flood Damage Prevention

Throughout history, man has utilized rivers for water supply, transportation, power generation, and waste disposal. This strong relationship has encouraged the location of human settlements near rivers and streams despite the risk of periodic flooding. The modern technology of transportation and public services has reduced the necessity for riverside locations, but the development of flood plains in urban areas has continued, resulting in the periodic loss of human life and property when flooding has occurred. Within the United States, flooding has taken over 5000 lives in the last fifty years and causes an estimated $1.25 billion in property damages annually.\u27 This damage is the result of man\u27s development of flood plain land interfering with the natural phenomenon of flooding. Unlike other natural disasters (tornadoes, hurricanes, lightning), the locus of flooding is identifiable and its occurence is reasonably predictable. Those who suffer from flooding usually could be viewed as assuming the risk of injury or property damage. Yet, as will be discussed later, other factors necessitate governmental interference in the landowner\u27s decision to place development within a flood plain