Which of the following best illustrates a proactive approach to floodplain management?

Choosing to develop a detailed flood mitigation plan and secure funding exemplifies a proactive approach to floodplain management because it involves anticipating potential flood risks and taking strategic steps to mitigate their impact before disaster strikes. Proactive management includes activities that enhance community resilience and preparedness, ensuring that measures are in place to reduce vulnerability to flooding.

This approach allows communities to identify risks, allocate resources effectively, and implement solutions such as improving drainage systems, restoring wetlands, or reinforcing infrastructure, thereby reducing the overall potential for damage and loss of life when flooding does occur. By securing funding ahead of time, communities can ensure they have the financial means to enact these plans and not be caught unprepared when flooding presents itself.

In contrast, the other options represent more reactive or fragmented approaches. Waiting for disaster declarations to implement repairs ignores the importance of prevention and can lead to greater costs and losses. Conducting inspections only after a flood occurs reflects a lack of preparedness and does not address vulnerabilities before they result in damage. Encouraging individual community members to handle mitigation individually can result in inconsistent efforts and a lack of comprehensive planning, which is less effective than a coordinated community-wide strategy.