By Mike Finney

Gov. John Carney has proclaimed next week Delaware Flood Awareness Week, in conjunction with the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control and the Delaware Emergency Management Agency.

The goal is to better inform residents about flood risk, the likelihood of flooding from extreme weather brought on by climate change and the importance of having flood insurance, as well as flood remediation for addressing property damage or loss.

“Unfortunately, extreme weather events are becoming more common in Delaware,” said Gov. Carney. “We want to make sure that Delawareans stay safe and are prepared for unexpected flood events. I want to thank DNREC and DEMA for their partnership in Flood Awareness Week and urge Delawareans to learn more about the risks of flooding and ways to prepare for extreme weather.”

In Delaware, the most prominent impacts of climate change are sea level rise, increased temperatures and changes in precipitation, including dangerous weather and flooding. But the state’s Climate Action Plan is a resource for how Delawareans can better prepare to deal with these situations.

As part of Flood Awareness Week, and in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the University of Delaware, other resources are available, like flood risk training, an interactive quiz and a flood plain mapping tool.

And, Friday, the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control will present a kickoff event, “Creating a Flood-Ready Community,” in conjunction with the university’s Institute for Public Administration, Delaware Sea Grant and the department’s Coastal Training Program.

The course, at 9 a.m. at the St. Jones Coastal Training Center in Kitts Hummock, will cover risk and hazard concepts, Federal Emergency Management Agency mapping, the Delaware flood insurance program, tools to prevent hazards in a cost-effective manner and strategies for reducing exposure. For information, visit de.gov/dnrecmeetings.

On Monday, Flood Awareness Week formally begins with an interactive quiz and social media content. Visit de.gov/floodrisk.

Also Monday, the Coastal Training Program and UD’s Center for Environmental Monitoring & Analysis will offer demonstrations of coastal monitoring tools in two virtual sessions, 1-2:30 p.m. and 6-7:30 p.m.

Flood Awareness Week also seeks to inform the public about flood insurance.

An article, "Flooding – What You Can Do” published in the Outdoor Delaware online magazine, is available, while DNREC also provides the Delaware Flood Planning Tool app at de.gov/floodplanning.