In the wake of historic flooding in Texas, the 86th Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 8 in 2019 that authorized and established the regional and state flood planning processes. The 86th legislature also established the Flood Infrastructure Fund (FIF) where only projects identified in the Texas State Flood Plan will be eligible for funding from this new source. With the first cycle of regional flooding planning well underway, communities can take advantage of this opportunity to bring new flood mitigation resources to their jurisdictions. This presentation will provide an overview of the Texas regional flood planning process and offer perspectives from across the state, highlighting ways that communities can be strategic in their involvement and maximize their chances for future funding of flood studies and mitigation projects. 

By the end of this course, participants will be able to better : 

• Understand what’s next in the first-ever Texas regional and state flood planning process 
• Examine various lessons learned across different planning regions and their unique perspectives 
• Discover ways to get more involved in and maximize funding opportunities