Better flood zone planning

A public policy colleague, Michael Deegan, is developing a system-dynamics model of flood planning. The National Science Foundation is funding his research, the point of which is to provide tools for policy makers to better assess the risk of severe flooding.

By charting government decision making over a 30-year period, Michael has determined that predictable series of errors that government agencies tend to make. When feasible, he plans to refine his model with information from dozens of policy makers in Louisiana.

His paper, "Extreme Event Policy Design: A Conceptual Model to Analyze Policies and the Policy Process for Natural Hazards," is available on the SUNY-Albany Web site.

Hopefully Michael's research will ultimately lead to more effective planning for areas prone to flooding.

Nathan Wilson