GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.—The Center for Neighborhood Technology’s RainReady program, based in Chicago, received national recognition for its new and unique approach to address the front lines of floodplain management.

The Association of State Floodplain Managers, the world's leading voice for sound floodplain management, science and policy, presented RainReady with its 2016 James Lee Witt Local Award for Excellence in Floodplain Management June 23 during its national conference in Grand Rapids, MI. This award recognizes either an overall program or a specific project or activities that epitomize the best in floodplain management. In April 2000, the ASFPM Board of Directors resolved to name this award after former FEMA Director James Lee Witt in recognition of his landmark efforts to support, enhance and encourage local floodplain management capabilities.

The Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT) created the RainReady program to directly engages communities and homeowners to address and solve urban flood problems at the local level.

The program emphasizes that, as storms become increasingly destructive, homes and businesses face a heightened risk of urban flooding, even when they aren’t located in formally-designated floodplains.

Through publications, planning assistance and community involvement the program offers innovative, cost-effective solutions scaled to the individual property owner and community to keep properties dry and help communities stay resilient in the face of a changing climate.

The companion website is rich with resources that are appropriately scaled for the user—be they a homeowner, a neighborhood representative or a contractor. The tools and recommendations show that flood mitigation is just as important at home as it is in the centralized offices of local government.

Partnerships make good programs great, and this year’s recipient has partnered with the Silver Jackets and the Center for Neighborhood Technology, an award-winning non-government agency committed to sustainable development and livable urban communities.

Trademarked as “RainReady,” the program has been embraced by Chicago-area communities like the Village of Midlothian, which adopted the nation’s first RainReady plan this January.

The nominating committee applauded the new and unique approach to address the front lines of floodplain management, and selected RainReady to encourage more of these types of programs.

“Every year I am impressed with what individuals, agencies and organizations are doing to promote floodplain management practices and policies that not only keep people and property safe but also preserve the natural functions of our floodplains for future generations,” ASFPM Executive Director Chad Berginnis said. “It’s an honor to recognize them for this incredible work, and hopefully it will inspire others as well.”

ASFPM, with offices in Madison, WI and Washington D.C., celebrates its 40^th anniversary this year. The association has 36 chapters and more than 17,000 members worldwide. Its mission is to promote education, policies and activities that mitigate current and future losses, costs and human suffering caused by flooding, and to protect the natural and beneficial functions of floodplains—all without causing adverse impacts.

Contact Michele Mihalovich, Public Information Officer for ASFPM at michele@floods.org