South Pacific Division Commander Colonel Mike Wehr and FEMA Region IX Administrator Nancy Ward met Monday, August 8, to discuss progress and collaboration working with the states of California and Nevada to inventory levee conditions, and modernize floodplain maps and data bases.

The two federal agencies are working with local officials to improve citizens' understanding and response to flood risk. New studies and cooperation between federal, state and local agencies are rapidly providing communities, first responders, elected officials, and engineers a clearer picture of both hazards and opportunities to work together to reduce risk and improve emergency response.

FEMA Region IX Administrator Nancy Award accepted a Certificate of Appreciation from Col. Wehr. He presented the certificate as a token of the Corps' regard and thanks for the FEMA team's collaboration with the Corps on floodplain management, mapping, risk analysis, and hazard mitigation, especially for California's Central Valley. He said FEMA Mitigation Division Director Sally Ziolkowski and Kathy Schaefer Chief of the Hazard Mitigation Assistance Branch and thier teams have been key to progress.