About This Course

Flooding is a perennial hazard for rivers and coasts alike. Every year, flooding results in billions of dollars of damage and the loss of dozens to hundreds of lives across the United States. Efforts to mitigate this hazard rely on the work of geoscientists, planners, and communicators to assess and minimize risks, prepare and inform communities, and ensure that lives and livelihoods are prioritized before, during, and after flood events.

This course features experts from federal and state government, who will discuss activities coordinated at national and local levels to assess, mitigate, and communicate flood risk.

This course is based on the AGI Critical Issues webinar “Assessing, Mitigating, and Communicating Flood Risk” that was co-sponsored by the American Association of Geographers, American Institute of Professional Geologists, American Meteorological Society, Association of State Floodplain Managers, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), International Association of Hydrogeologists: United States National Chapter, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Natural Hazard Mitigation Association, and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

Course Objectives

Students are expected to learn the following when they take this course:

• What the different types of flood inundation maps are, and how are they used in the flood risk management lifecycle.
• How state and local agencies use flood inundation maps to communicate flood risk to local communities.
• Examples of best practices for working with state and local agencies and communities to assess and mitigate impacts from flood events.