What action can FEMA take to encourage better enforcement of floodplain management regulations in a community?

The action that FEMA can take to encourage better enforcement of floodplain management regulations in a community is to reclassify the community to a Class 10 rating. A Class 10 rating is the lowest classification in the Community Rating System (CRS), which indicates that the community is not effectively implementing floodplain management practices. By lowering a community's rating, FEMA signals the importance of compliance with floodplain management regulations.

Communities that are at risk of flooding are motivated to improve their floodplain management practices to avoid a Class 10 rating because doing so could have significant financial implications, including loss of federal assistance and increased insurance premiums for property owners. Promoting better floodplain management by highlighting the consequences of non-compliance effectively encourages communities to take action for effective enforcement of regulations.

Training for community officials, while beneficial, does not have the immediate leverage of a rating change to directly impact enforcement and compliance. Grants to improve local infrastructure can support floodplain management but do not necessarily incentivize compliance. Reducing funding for community projects may create adverse conditions that do not effectively encourage better regulatory enforcement.