North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality officials plan to host an online public information session at 6 p.m. Oct. 6 to provide details and gather feedback on draft plans to improve flood resilience in two coastal river basins. The plans are set to be presented to the legislature in October.
NCDEQ Flood Resiliency Blueprint Program representatives will accept comments until Oct. 9. on the draft strategies for the Cape Fear River Basin and White Oak River Basin. The public may attend online via Webex or by telephone.
Supporter Spotlight
DEQ defines the river basin action strategies as strategic flood-resilience plans tailored to the characteristics and needs of each basin. “The strategy outlines actionable steps to empower communities to proactively reduce impacts of flooding. These actions are guided by scientific data, local priorities and long-term sustainability objectives, ensuring the strategy is both effective and responsive to the basin’s evolving needs,” according to meeting announcement.
Officials said the strategies were developed using Flood Resiliency Blueprint Tool data and informed by input from area partners and the River Basin Advisory Groups.
The River Basin Action Strategies are to be delivered to the North Carolina General Assembly in October.
The North Carolina General Assembly in 2021 directed NCDEQ to develop the Flood Resiliency Blueprint, which officials said now supports the planning, evaluation and implementation of flood resilience strategies.
“It is the largest proactive statewide flood mitigation investment in North Carolina history, equipping local governments, the state and supporting organizations with data, tools and processes to better understand flood risk, identify community needs and guide strategic investments to reduce flood risk and strengthen resilience,” according to the department.
Supporter Spotlight
In addition to the opportunity to ask questions or provide input during the public information session, there is an online form for public feedback, or you may submit comments via email at blueprint@deq.nc.gov with “RBAS Feedback” in the subject line.
If joining via Webex, use Meeting No. or access code: 2425 419 9101 and password: blueprint. If calling in, dial 1-415-655-0003 and use code 25837746. This is not a toll-free number.
The Flood Resiliency Blueprint is currently funded and authorized to work in six of North Carolina’s 17 river basins. River Basin Action Strategies are being developed for the six initial basins. DEQ has awarded funding to 84 Blueprint projects in six river basins totaling more than $43 million.
“At the heart of the Blueprint is an online decision support tool to help local governments, agencies and nongovernmental partners develop, evaluate and prioritize resilience actions as well as plan and marshal funding to implement those priorities,” according to NCDEQ.
Officials said the Blueprint will make North Carolina more resilient to flooding by funding projects that limit flood extent and severity, allowing communities to recover more quickly and limit future risk as storms become more frequent and severe.
