Other programs aim to help flood victims by improving methods to warn and evacuate people from flood plains and to provide better insurance and relief aid. The U.S. Geological Survey and the army engineers identify and map flood hazard areas in the United States. About 18,000 communities have used this information to set forth regulations for flood plain management. Many of these regulations require that a small strip of land along a waterway be left vacant. Such a strip of land is called a floodway.
Numerous communities establish a wider area along the floodway for use as farmland or parkland.
Permanent buildings can be located on a flood plain and withstand flood damage. The technique of keeping water out of buildings is called flood-proofing. It involves raising buildings off the ground or using waterproof construction materials. The U.S. government and the Red Cross provide relief for flood victims. Flood insurance is available in about 18,000 communities in a program administered by the U.S. government.