A. The State of Oklahoma recognizes the personal hardships and economic distress caused by flood disasters; in particular, the loss of life from floods, the physical and emotional impact of flooding on individuals and communities, public and private property damage and disruption, the increased cost for disaster relief and the need for preservation and restoration of the natural resources and functions of floodplains. Oklahoma also recognizes that it has become uneconomical for the private insurance industry alone to make flood insurance available to those in need of such protection on reasonable terms and conditions. Recognizing these problems, Congress enacted the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, which, among other things, requires the development of a unified national program for floodplain management which sets out a framework for national goals towards which agencies at all levels of government and in the private sector can work each within its own mission and role.

B. The purpose of the Oklahoma Floodplain Management Act pursuant to the most current version of a unified program for floodplain management is to:

1. Protect the natural and beneficial functions of the floodplain, to reduce damage and disruption to property from floods, to reduce costs of disaster relief and to reduce injury and loss of life from floods;

2. Assist state agencies, local governments and the private sector in developing local floodplain management programs and in obtaining training and funding therefor; and

3. Procure flood insurance for those citizens that desire to participate in this federal program.

Added by Laws 1980, c. 179, § 2, emerg. eff. May 13, 1980. Amended by Laws 2002, c. 46, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 2002.