The Jackson Flood of 1979 A Public Policy Disaster

In April 1979, the Pearl River in Mississippi inflicted damage estimated at one-half billion dollars in the city of Jackson and surrounding areas. Most property damage accrued to development built in the floodplain since the previous major flood in 1961. This development was encouraged by public investment, including a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers flood control project completed in 1968 which proved unreliable. Issues for national flood policy posed by the Jackson experience include the need for (1) land use regulations as concomitants to flood control structures, (2) improved coordination between different levels and units of government sharing jurisdiction over floodplains, (3) consideration of inter-jurisdictional effects in the allocation of flood protection resources, (4) location of vital public services outside floodplains, and (5) revision of post-disaster recovery policies to encourage mitigation of future losses.