Vernon
.
But it did change when the flood insurance program became strong. Here you got into this
other problem of using expected probability. The Corps people didn't want to do a FEMA
study on their
studies, all their studies are done by study contractors.
The Corps does the studies. The USGS does some of them, the SCS does some of them,
and then a lot of them are done by private contractors.
But the Corps wanted to use expected probability in their studies. FIA says, "No way.
If you're going to work for us, you're going to do things the way we want it done." It
was a tough job. I know Jerry [Peterson] used to have a real battle with a lot of the
districts. He'd come see me, "Hey, what can I do to get these people." I'd have to call
up and talk to them and say, "Hey, if you guys are going to get this job and do stuff for
FIA, you've got to do it the way they want it done. You don't necessarily have to endorse
it. You just do it the way they want it done. Just say that you did it right as far as it
goes. But because you would do it differently doesn't mean that what they want isn't
okay for their purpose.
Well, FEMA even went so far as having the National Academy of Sciences review that
expected probability concept. They came up with the conclusion that there was no
statistical reason why FEMA should use it in their program, in their flood insurance
program. But, anyway, they said it was a worthwhile concept, there just wasn't any
rational way of saying it had to be used in a flood insurance program.
Even to this date a lot of the problems that FEMA has with the Corps are concepts of the
Corps people about
capability. FEMA has had technical evaluation contractors
and that's who I'm working for, one of those right now, who review all the work of the
study contractors. They try to decide whether there are any problems with what the study
contractors have done.
Of course, whatever they come up with for a flood insurance study is always subject to
challenge by the community or by other people. So if things don't come out the way the
community wanted them to or think they should, they can always challenge it or get their
own consultants or do their own work and try to prove that FEMA didn't come up with
the best answer. A lot of times FEMA changes answers when thev review the other work
and say, "Well, that's better than what we had done and we'll make a change for you.
Occasionally it gets to be a real tough battle when the political business gets involved.
The community will get their congressman or their senator to say, "Hey, why? This area
shouldn't be in the floodplain. The congressman gets involved, and he fusses at FEMA
because they're not doing what the community wants. So FEMA has a tough time dealing
with the senator or congressman.
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