High Water Mark Initiative

This outreach initiative encourages communities to post high-visibility reminders of past floods that can improve public awareness of flood risk and encourage residents to take action to reduce it.

FEMA and its partners developed tools, templates, and other materials that communities can customize to launch their own Know Your Line initiative. This flexibility allows communities to choose materials and outreach tactics that work best for them. As part of the program, communities:

• Host a high-profile HWM sign unveiling and/or launch event
• Develop continuous flood risk awareness and outreach activities around the signs, and
• Complete specific mitigation actions that the community will take to reduce flood risk for residents.