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Doug Brown and Syed Moin, Success in Flood Damage Reduction
Doug Brown was with Environment Canada when the Canada-Ontario Flood Reduction Program first came into effect in
1978, and he was one of the interviewers who hired Syed Moin - specifically for the program!
Doug Brown and Syed Moin were there at the very beginning, "It was
an exciting initiative," they both say. "We were starting
something new." Doug's main priority was to ensure that the federal
and provincial components of the Flood Damage Reduction Program worked
in concert. "One of the things I am most proud of is how well we
were able to work with our provincial and local partners, over a long
period of time. It was fourteen years!"
The Canada-Ontario Flood Damage Reduction Agreement was signed
on March 31, 1978. With the Agreement, the federal government
moved from funding structural flood control initiatives on an
ad-hoc basis and began a 14-year partnership with the province
and local municipalities to address the damage caused by flooding
in a more sustainable way.
The Canada-Ontario Flood Damage Reduction Program was designed
to reduce the risk of loss of life and damage due to flooding.
These goals were met and surpassed by realizing a three step approach:
first, the identification of flood hazards, mapping and designation
of the flood hazard areas, and the introduction of governing policies.
Syed, a self-professed "techno-crat" says, "My
function was to ensure that all the technical standards were
implemented - to tighten quality control in the studies used to
initiate the policies". The policies came into effect as soon
as the areas in question were designated a flood risk by the
partners in the Agreement.
The primary benefit of the Agreement is best illustrated by a
study done in 1986, comparing flood damage costs during a two
month period of that year in Michigan and Ontario. A series of
intense rainstorms occurred in August and September of 1986, causing
extensive flooding and damage in Michigan - up to $500 million
US for the two months - while little damage occurred in Ontario
- about $500,000.
The difference in disaster assistance transfer payments existed
for a number of reasons, the main one being that while flooding
did occur in Ontario, the land was reasonably free of developments,
therefore, reasonably free of structural damage. "Studies
such as these illustrate the cumulative impact, and benefit of
the Flood Damage Reduction Program," Doug explains.
Say Doug and Syed, "The benefits of this program will be
showing themselves for years to come. The changes in policy implemented
over the past 14 years will be illustrated each and every time
flooding occurs in Ontario!"
Simply put, rather than spending a great deal of money after flooding
occurred, or in structural measures, the Agreement stipulated
that any and all monies would be spent ensuring that little damage
would be caused simply because there would be little to damage
in those areas. "What we have is a more proactive, and frugal
method of dealing with the inevitable flooding that occurs in
Ontario," Doug explains. Dedicated individuals such as Doug
Brown and Syed Moin are the reason that the program is so effective.
They should be extremely proud of all that they, and their program,
have accomplished - the Canada-Ontario Flood Damage Reduction
Program is truly a success story!
Ontario Region Success Stories
Great Lakes Success Stories
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