State policy and local resilience: evaluating state policies for flood resilience in the Great Lakes region of the United States

ABSTRACT

Flood resilience policy and planning are highly localized in the United States (US) and many parts of the world, with local governments responsible for a wide range of land use and infrastructure investment decisions that drive flood risk and response. However, many local governments lack the resources to plan for and adapt to increased flooding without external support. State governments can help by promulgating rules and providing guidance and resources that make flood resilience planning at the local level easier, more likely, and more equitable. However, very little is known about the programmes and policies US states can and do develop to support local flood resilience, how much these programmes and policies vary between states, and the extent to which states are going beyond required or standard practice. In this study, we develop an evaluation framework for state flood policies and programmes that captures the types of programmes and policies used by states in the US, distinguishing between required or standard practices and more advanced approaches. We use a numeric scoring system to operationalize four distinct categories of state policy: information provision, planning guidance, regulations and standards, and funding and financing. The scoring system accounts for whether states incorporate climate change and social equity into their resources. We then apply the framework and scoring system to the eight states of the Great Lakes region: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Our findings demonstrate both the consistencies and variation in state-level flood management programmes and policies, identify policy leaders in the region, and reveal areas where states can prioritize further investment and policy development for better flood risk management. The study provides an evaluation framework for scholars and practitioners of subnational flood policies and programmes, and descriptive insights into the status of state-level flood resilience policy and planning in the Great Lakes region.

Key policy insights

• Evaluations of state and other subnational government support for local flood resilience should centre on information provision, planning guidance, setting regulations and standards, and providing funding and financing to support better planning and implementation of relevant policies.

• In the Great Lakes region of the US there is wide variation between states in their adoption of standard and more advanced strategies for supporting local flood resilience, and the emphasis they give to justice and equity.

• States that have adopted more advanced strategies can serve as an important resource for learning and sharing of experience across localities or subnational regions.

KEYWORDS:

• Flood planning
• adaptation policy
• governance
• environmental justice

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 We were able to confirm our findings for all of the Great Lakes states except with managers and decisionmakers in Wisconsin and Minnesota, who did not reply to our messages.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: [Grant Number NA20OAR4310148A].