Polk County residents can learn how to prepare for floods and protect against property losses at a flood awareness community meeting on June 8. Iowa Insurance Commissioner Susan E. Voss, along with interagency partners, invites residents to heighten their flood awareness at 7 p.m. in the Des Moines Botanical Center’s Oak-Willow Room, located at 909 Robert D. Ray Drive. The Iowa Flood Awareness Interagency Coalition’s “Don’t Test The Waters” community forum will educate residents on flood preparation efforts and resources available to them, as well as the flood protection efforts that are being provided by the federal, state, and local governments.

Following the presentation, a panel made up of national, state, and local governmental officials and other flood experts will be available to answer questions from community members. Larry Weber of the Iowa Flood Center (IFC) will discuss IFC research projects intended to provide immediate and relevant data to communities and individuals, empowering them to make more informed decisions about their flood risk.

Participating organizations: The Iowa Insurance Division, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management, Iowa Flood Center, Rebuild Iowa Office, National Weather Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the U.S. Geological Survey. For more information, visit the Don’t Test the Waters Iowa website.