As a new resident in Montgomery County, VA, very quickly it became clear not only the frequency of rain in the area, but the long stretches of road just down the street from me that experience major flooding. I think this proposal for flood prevention and protection is very necessary across the state, especially after my own individual research into the most affected areas.Flood mitigation initiatives can help create local jobs, which is a smart investment especially during COVID-19 and the loss of many non-essential jobs. This proposal would create job availability in construction, demolition, etc. Research from the National Institute of Building Sciences states that, “Every $1 invested in projects that reduce risk before a natural disaster strikes can, on average, save $6 in future costs.” With this being said, my trouble with the guidelines lies within the Statutory Requirements for the Fund. To start, I think that it be made clear to constituents an actual dollar amount as opposed to a percentage so that the Commonwealth have a better understanding of the proposal. Secondly, I back the no less than 25% distribution to “low income” areas, however I would be interested in seeing a more detailed version of a priority list. Due the pandemic and limited resources, I think it is vital to protect small businesses, so I think consideration should be made to heavy-trafficked business areas with recurrent flooding as well. For example, the street near my home that is affected by flooding is a bit isolated from the center of town and is mostly small businesses and farms whose land takes a toll quite often.