Press Release: Organizations Launch Appalachian Flood Resilience Coalition
APPALACHIA – A dozen organizations, based across seven states, have joined together to launch the Appalachian Flood Resilience Coalition to drive regional collaboration and advocacy in support of policy change and investment needed to create a resilient Appalachia. It promotes the federal policy goals included in the widely endorsed Flood Resilience in Appalachia policy platform released in May 2024. The four policy pillars in the platform are:
Increasing local and state capacity to respond and recover
Relieving the recovery and mitigation burden for low-income households
Improving flood mapping and data inputs
Investing in nature-based hazard mitigation
“When our region flooded in 2022 we knew almost nothing about federal disaster recovery processes and resources. Over the months and years that followed we found out that community and household needs far surpass available recovery resources and that there are so many ways to improve access to federal resources and mitigate such terrible disasters in the future. We are thrilled to be a part of a movement led and informed by organizations who know how devastating floods in Appalachia can be but who also envision a future where smart policy and forward-looking decision-making can make our communities more resilient.” - Rebecca Shelton, Director of Policy, Appalachian Citizens’ Law Center.
Over the last decade, Appalachian communities have experienced dozens of devastating flood events and scientific projections show that the region can only expect precipitation events to become more severe. The risk of flooding and the vulnerability of Appalachians to flood impacts are compounded by many factors. Historically, housing and communities in the region have been concentrated along waterways. A history of degraded and mining lands has increased flood risk. Disinvestment in rural communities across Appalachia has also resulted in less accurate flood maps, fewer early warning systems for rising water levels, and few resources to invest in flood reduction measures.
“Appalachia's geography, economic capacity, and industrial legacy all make it uniquely vulnerable to flooding — and climate change is making things worse. It's a huge challenge, but one Appalachians are up for. Many communities across the region are already implementing creative solutions to quickly respond after flooding, and to build greater flood resilience. We know what the solutions are, we just need to put them into place – the Appalachian Flood Resilience Coalition will do just that.” - Jessica Arriens, senior program manager, Climate and Energy Policy, National Wildlife Federation
“Historic disinvestment from high quality rural data and local challenges in managing complex resilience grants and post-disaster recovery have kept Appalachian communities on the back foot when preparing for the future. Getting our communities the data they need to make smart investments and simplifying government programs so more communities can access federal resources should be top priorities for Congress.” - Kevin Zedack, Government Affairs Specialist, Appalachian Voices
"Appalachian communities have always been deeply connected to their lands and waters, with livelihoods, culture, and identity rooted in the region's rich natural heritage. Climate-driven increases in flooding frequency and intensity now threaten both human and natural communities across Appalachia. Our coalition advocates for increased investment in the most practical and effective solutions; those that will enhance the resilience of our communities to future extreme weather events while supporting the wildlife, clean water, and healthy ecosystems that define this region." - Kat Diersen, Director of Private Lands and Policy, Amphibian and Reptile Conservancy
“For many of us in rural Appalachia, flooding has impacted us personally. Our families, our neighbors, our loved ones are continuing to face the brunt of climate induced disasters year after year. Ensuring federal investments in pre-disaster mitigation and resilience efforts here continue is crucial for this region that we call home.” - Brendan Muckian-Bates, Policy & Advocacy Associate, Appalachian Citizens’ Law Center
“Flood resiliency work is a win-win-win for our communities. It makes us safer, it improves local quality of life, and it has the potential to create thousands of good, local jobs. These reforms are not only desperately needed, they are common sense.” - Dana Kuhnline, Program Director, ReImagine Appalachia
“By improving our flood resiliency in the region, we not only improve the environment but also our public health. These interdisciplinary approaches, that take care of places and people, best prepare Appalachia for the climate risks to come.” - Genevieve Guerry, Flood Risk Project Staff, Wetlands Watch
The Appalachian Flood Resilience Coalition is steered by the Amphibian & Reptile Conservancy, the Appalachian Citizens’ Law Center, Appalachian Voices, National Wildlife Federation, ReImagine Appalachia, and Wetlands Watch. More information about the coalition and their work can be found at www.appfloodpolicy.org. The coalition will be hosting a webinar on Thursday, December 4th at 1 pm for those looking for more information about future legislation priorities. You can register for that event at this link.
