An ad hoc committee will organize a series of regional workshops or case studies to explore the issue of urban flooding in 3 to 8 metropolitan areas in order to gain an initial understanding of its extent and causes in the chosen locations. These case study/information gathering sessions will provide information from federal, state, and local government agencies, and other relevant stakeholders responsible for flood control, flood response, recovery, or mitigation on questions related to urban flooding both outside and inside the floodplain, such as:

-- How big is the problem of flooding in each metropolitan area; i.e., how bad can floods be or have floods been and how much do floods cost?
-- What causes the worst impacts of flooding, including structural and human impacts (human life and property)?
-- How could the worst impacts be avoided or mitigated?
-- Who is affected most by floods in the metropolitan area?
-- Which regions of the metropolitan areas see the longest lasting or most costly effects of flooding?


Based on information gathered from the case study cities, the committee will produce a consensus report that:
1. Identifies any commonalities and variances among the case study metropolitan areas in terms of causes, adverse impacts, unexpected problems in recovery, or effective mitigation strategies, as well as key themes of urban flooding.
2. Provides an estimate of the size or importance of flooding in those urban areas; and
3. Relates, as appropriate, causes and actions of urban flooding to existing federal resources or policies, including but not limited to the National Flood Insurance Program, non-disaster grants, Stafford Act authorities, or others.