The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration manages the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), which is a cornerstone in the nation’s strategy to assist communities in preparing for and recovering from flood disasters. The NFIP was established by Congress with passage of the National Flood Insurance Act in 1968, because despite the nation’s efforts to address flood hazards through construction of civil engineering works such as dams, levees, and floodwalls and seawalls, flood losses were rising and unwise development within floodplains was continuing. This book addresses the importance of planning for flood mitigation in communities and the variety of policies and practices to control floods.