Strengthening Floodplain Management through Training and Resources

Response

Cornell University researchers partnered with state agencies and nonprofit organizations to assess training needs and identify gaps in professional development for floodplain administrators. The project team developed a comprehensive Floodplain Administrator “Body of Knowledge” to define core competencies and guide training development. Based on these findings, researchers created new training modules focused on high-need topic areas. Stakeholders were also engaged to co-develop evaluation metrics that measure not only training participation, but also longer-term impacts on local floodplain management practices and community resilience.

Results

The project resulted in the development of four new trainings covering regulatory floodways, substantial damage assessment, floodplain administrator duties, and FEMA compliance visits. A total of 161 floodplain administrators participated in the training during the first year. Needs assessments demonstrated strong demand for accessible, low-cost training options, with 78 percent of surveyed administrators indicating a preference for regional workshops or webinars. Researchers and practitioners jointly developed a suite of evaluation metrics to better capture training effectiveness and community-level resilience outcomes. Project findings also supported the award of $193,000 in additional funding to expand floodplain management training statewide.

Public Value

By strengthening the knowledge and capacity of local floodplain administrators, this project improves community resilience to flooding. Well-trained administrators help protect lives, reduce property damage, and support informed land-use decisions that lower long-term public costs. These benefits contribute to safer communities and more sustainable development across New York State.