Now Available: The New Hampshire Flood Hazards Handbook for Municipal Officials

Concord, NH – In New Hampshire, the most common and costly type of disaster we experience is flooding. A community’s existing resources – e.g., staff, plans and preparations, regulations and compliance procedures, and equipment and supplies - serve as the first line of defense in keeping people, property and infrastructure safe from floods. However, these resources can be bolstered with guidance and other forms of assistance from federal and state agencies.

The New Hampshire Silver Jackets Team, a state-led team of state and federal agencies and programs, announces the release of the Flood Hazards Handbook for Municipal Officials. This new publication is designed to help communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from floods. It includes guidance, best practices and information about available federal and state resources organized into situation-specific sections: Before the Flood, During the Flood and After the Flood. Information about ways to reduce (or mitigate) flood risk to lessen impacts from future events is also included.

“Improved flood resilience in our New Hampshire communities means reduced potential for flood-related fatalities, property and infrastructure damage, and economic and social disruption,” said Governor Chris Sununu. “I applaud the New Hampshire Silver Jackets, including our state agencies and federal partners that serve on the team, on the completion of this valuable new resource for our local communities.”

Municipal officials are encouraged to download a copy of the Flood Hazards Handbook from the New Hampshire Silver Jackets Team website to learn how it can help their community work toward a more flood-resilient future.

About the New Hampshire Silver Jackets Team

The New Hampshire Silver Jackets, a state-led team formed in 2015, brings together state and federal agencies to focus on flood risk management issues that affect local communities. The team includes representatives from over 15 agencies and programs, including state agencies such as the Department of Environmental Services, Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, Department of Transportation, Fish & Game Department, Department of Safety Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, and the Office of Strategic Initiatives, and federal agencies such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District; Federal Emergency Management Agency, Region 1 office; the National Weather Service, Gray,

Maine office; the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service and Forest Service; and the U.S. Geological Survey, New England Water Science Center. To learn more, visit the New Hampshire Silver Jackets Team website.