WHEREAS, floods are the most common and costly natural disasters in the United States and can result in loss of life; and 

WHEREAS, 90 percent of all presidential declarations of emergency and major disasters involve flooding; and 

WHEREAS, on average, 125 Americans lose their lives in floods each year; and 

WHEREAS, on average, flood damages throughout the nation annually exceed $8 billion, and as of January 15, 2026, flood insurance claims in the Commonwealth of Virginia totaled more than $755 million; and 

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth of Virginia has 2.3 million acres of mapped special flood hazard areas, which represents 9 percent of Virginia's land mass; and 

WHEREAS, only 3 percent of Virginians statewide are covered by flood insurance; and 

WHEREAS, floods can happen without warning and all Virginians should know their risk; and 

WHEREAS, the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation is the lead state agency responsible for administering flood-related programs; and 

WHEREAS, residents of Virginia can view flood hazard maps and data on the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation’s Virginia Flood Risk Information System; and 

WHEREAS, flood preparedness information is readily available and provided by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation; and 

WHEREAS, the Virginia Department of Emergency Management produces important public information on flood warning and response; and 

WHEREAS, Flood Awareness Week is intended to educate all residents of the Commonwealth of Virginia on the potential risk to life and property from flooding and to promote flood resilience through the National Flood Insurance Program; 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Governor Abigail D. Spanberger, do hereby recognize the week of March 8-14, 2026, as FLOOD AWARENESS WEEK in the COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.