Silver Jackets

As a way to bring together diverse Federal, State and Local agencies with flood related responsibilities, for the past several years the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and FEMA have been spearheading interagency collaboration and cooperation through a program called Silver Jackets.  The stated goals of this effort focused on reducing  flood risks and enhancing response and recovery efforts when flooding does occur include:

• "Create or supplement a mechanism to collaboratively identify, prioritize, and address risk management issues and implement solutions, 
• Increase and improve risk communication through a unified interagency effort, 
• Leverage information and resources and provide access to such national programs as FEMA's Risk Mapping, Assessment, and Planning (Risk MAP) program and USACE's Levee Inventory and Assessment Initiative (see also: National Levee Database), 
• Provide focused, coordinated hazard mitigation assistance in implementing high-priority actions such as those identified by state mitigation plans, 
• Identify gaps among agency programs and/or barriers to implementation, such as conflicting agency policies or authorities, and provide recommendations for addressing these issues."

To learn more about this state focused program that is now active in 33 states, use the links below: 

Silver Jackets Website

Silver Jackets Fact Sheet

Comment: Great to see a collaborative effort like this gaining steam.  And of course, at the heart of any program like this is a map!