The Floodplain Management Services (FPMS) Program authorizes the Corps to provide planning-level technical assistance and analyses to federal, state and local agencies on flooding and floodplain management related issues. Products may be completed with all federal funding or in combination with voluntary contributions from a non-federal partner. Detailed plans and specifications as well as construction would have to be accomplished under other Civil Works authorities or by the non-federal sponsor. View the FPMS Program Fact Sheet and the FPMS Projects Fact Sheet that is updated annually for current projects.
Types of FPMS projects include:
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Flood modeling (hydrologic and hydraulic)
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Floodplain mapping
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Flood emergency access studies
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Flood/Hurricane preparedness and response
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Flood hazard vulnerability analysis
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Flood risk management studies
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Flood-proofing studies
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Flood warning systems
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Stormwater-related flood studies and mapping
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Dam break analyses
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Outreach materials
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Anything related to flooding!
For example, Howard County and the Corps signed a Letter of Agreement in September 2016 to initiate a flood proofing study for Historic Ellicott City after they experienced devastating flooding in July 2016. As part of this FPMS study, the Corps surveyed buildings in the floodplain and evaluated and developed non-structural measures for flood proofing individual sample structures to reduce future damages. Examples of nonstructural flood proofing measures include elevation of buildings, moving valuables to higher locations, raising utilities and waterproofing buildings by applying sealant and installing closures on doors and windows. The study wrapped up in 2018, and a report was delivered to Howard County.
In addition, Baltimore District is working with the District of Columbia to investigate the Oxon Run watershed, which comprises 14 square miles of highly urbanized land. The investigation will evaluate the impact of flooding along Oxon Run when environmental restoration alternatives are implemented such as: channel modifications; removal of sanitary sewer lines; modification of existing federally-authorized flood risk management systems, and stormwater management. A related objective of this project is to remove homes within the 100-year floodplain. The DC Department of Energy and Environment is voluntarily contributing funds for this study.
Projects compete for limited funding across the county. A municipality/state must contact the Corps to request a study, and the study area must be an area and not one individual property.
Sample letter to request FPMS assistance from Baltimore District
Sample Letter of Agreement to partner with Baltimore District under FPMS
For more information regarding FPMS, please contact Stacey Underwood at 410-962-4977, or Stacey.M.Underwood@usace.army.mil.