The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) will host a public information session for its Flood Resiliency Blueprint program on March 25 at 6 p.m. The event, which will be held virtually via Webex, aims to inform the public about the state’s flood mitigation planning efforts.
During the session, attendees will receive an overview of the Blueprint initiative and learn about its online decision support tool as well as ongoing work on River Basin Action Strategies. The Blueprint is described as “the largest proactive statewide flood mitigation investment in North Carolina history,” providing local governments and organizations with data, tools, and processes to guide investments that reduce flood risk and address gaps in mitigation.
Since 2024, the program has funded 81 projects totaling more than $40 million across six river basins designated by the NC General Assembly: Neuse, French Broad, White Oak, Tar Pamlico, Cape Fear, and Lumber.
The online decision support tool is a GIS-enabled web application designed to give users access to accurate flood risk assessments. It also allows users to explore and define resilience actions and helps them evaluate and prioritize these actions for effectiveness.
Each river basin will have its own action strategy developed under this program. These strategies will include specific projects and funding plans aimed at reducing flooding impacts and strengthening communities’ long-term ability to recover from disasters.
There will be an opportunity for questions during the session. Questions can also be submitted by email to blueprint@deq.nc.gov.
The DEQ supports public education and environmental compliance across North Carolina in order to foster community awareness (source). The agency’s mission includes delivering science-based stewardship that promotes health and prosperity throughout the state (source). Its regulatory authority covers air, land, water, and coastal environments (source), handling services such as air quality regulation, permit issuance, law enforcement related to environmental issues, waste management, and oversight of water resources (source). The DEQ operates as a state agency focused on protecting natural resources (source) with its central office located at 217 West Jones Street in Raleigh (source).
Event details:
NC Flood Resiliency Blueprint Public Information Session
Date: Wednesday, March 25
Time: 6 p.m.
Join via Webex: https://ncgov.webex.com/ncgov/j.php?MTID=m1e4c9ef1d0647e6928d442190ce486e5
Meeting Number/Access Code: 2438 419 0160
Meeting Password: blueprint
Telephone access: +1-415-655-0003 US Toll
