Executive summary 8 I. Introduction 26 II. State government capability 28
NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION
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- Coastal Services Center
- U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATIONNational Weather ServiceThe National Weather Service (NWS), housed in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the US Department of Commerce, provides weather, hydrologic, and climate forecasts and warnings for the United States, its territories, adjacent waters and ocean areas, for the protection of life and property and the enhancement of the national economy. NWS data and products form a national information database and infrastructure which can be used by other governmental agencies, the private sector, the public and the global community. National Weather Service offices in North Carolina are located in Wilmington, Raleigh and Morehead City. Products and services provided by the National Weather Service include:
Coastal Services CenterNOAA’s Coastal Services Center serves the Nation’s coastal resource managers. The Center assists this community by providing access to information, technology and training. Partnerships between the Center and coastal management organizations give rise to over 100 projects each year. Primary partners of the CSC include local, state, and federal government organizations; non-profits; private companies; and academia. Coastal hazards are one of the primary themes by which the CSC operates. The Center has a goal to help coastal communities significantly reduce loss due to human, environmental, and economic impacts from both man-made and natural hazards. The Center seeks to reduce impacts from coastal hazards by developing effective hazard mitigation strategies based on the systematic evaluation of risks and vulnerabilities and to increase the development of techniques that more comprehensively calculate the impacts and costs of coastal hazard events and the economic benefits of hazard mitigation activities. The Center seeks to increase the awareness of the hazard mitigation benefits of natural systems to promote informed and comprehensive decision making, and to broaden the focus of hazard mitigation to include social consequences. U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICEAmong other duties, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in the Department of Interior, is responsible for administrating the Coastal Barrier Resources Act. Coastal Barrier Resources ActThe CBRA was enacted by Congress in 1982 in an attempt to shift some of the ill effects of federal subsidies, such as flood insurance and infrastructure assistance, away from coastal barriers, including barrier islands. A product of conservative political times, CBRA was intended to reduce threats to people and property and to minimize the expenditures of the federal government that typically encourage the development of hazardous, sensitive areas of the coast. The act designated a Coastal Barrier Resources System (CBRS), originally comprising 186 undeveloped barrier island units, which has since been expanded to include additional units. After October 1983, a number of federal subsidies would no longer be permitted in these designated areas, including the issuance of new flood insurance policies, and the expenditure of federal money for roads, bridges, utilities, erosion control, and non-emergency forms of disaster relief. In North Carolina, CBRS designated areas are located in Brunswick, New Hanover, Carteret, Currituck, Dare, Hyde, Onslow, and Pender counties. Since the devastating hurricane strikes to the North Carolina coast in 1996, the Raleigh field office of the National Fish and Wildlife Service has been exceptionally active in consulting with federal agencies, especially FEMA, in determining appropriate expenditures of public funds for activities within the System. It also the Service’s responsibility to determine the location of private property in relation to System boundaries. Currently, the FWS is working with Dare County, the State and private surveyors to clarify System boundaries and make this information available to the public. Several studies have sought to evaluate the effectiveness of CBRA at discouraging barrier island development. Results have been mixed, but raise serious questions about the program’s effectiveness. The limited studies showed that at least initially the loss of subsidies slowed development. However, the cases also indicated that, especially for larger developments, developers would probably be able to find replacement insurance and would also be able to replace other subsidies (i.e., through state funding for bridge construction). This has definitely proven true in North Carolina. Other problems with CBRA implementation have also been discovered. There have also been some problems with the certification process established to ensure that federal agencies comply with the act. For example, the Federal Emergency Management Agency found that after Hurricane Fran in 1996, about 100 property owners in North Topsail Beach, North Carolina were issued National Flood Insurance Program policies in error. However, it has also been found that federal agencies generally are adhering to the restrictions. Overall, studies have concluded that CBRA restrictions have had some positive effect, slowing federal expenditures and financial assistance in some CBRS units. It has been recommended that the effect of CBRA could be strengthened by state adoption of provisions and policies consistent with the CBRA, so that the states would be prevented from encouraging development in the CBRS and similar areas. Several states, including Maine, Florida, and Alabama have done this, but North Carolina has not. (Beatley, et al., 2002. An Introduction to Coastal Zone Management. Washington, D.C.: Island Press.) Directory: div div -> 9th May 1950 the schuman declaration div -> Supplemental demographic information div -> Introduction A. 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