Big Muddy Speaker Series presents:
Engaging Missouri River Communities on Flood Mitigation Policy
Presentation by Research Social Scientist Angela J. Catalano
Hosted by Missouri River Relief
The presentation originally took place at the Riechmann Pavilion at Stephen's Lake Park in Columbia, MO on August 12, 2025.
We were joined by Angela J. Catalano, research social scientist at the Missouri Department of Conservation, as she shared her unique study that unites community, science, and policy.
Increasing frequency and intensity of flooding along rivers has brought attention to national flood mitigation planning policies and their implementation at regional and local scale. In response to the historic 2019 floods in the Lower Missouri River Basin in the U.S., the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer (USACE) received Congressional authorization to conduct a system-wide feasibility study to identify flood mitigation options that includes input from the states involved – Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, and Nebraska. To focus on communities particularly vulnerable to the impacts of flooding, the state recommended three spin-off study locations to pilot local engagement: Jefferson City, Brunswick, and Holt County.
As part of her doctoral research, Angela worked with a team of researchers to interview over one hundred riverfront community members at these three sites and analyzed their experiences and opinions about flooding in their area. Angela will provide an overview of her study and highlight the recommendations for agencies to incorporate the science, policy, and community needs in flood mitigation planning into public meetings and community outreach and education.
“Levee Talks” photo by Angela J. Catalano. Community members gather on a levee during the study.
What should I do if there’s a flood?
(A non-exhaustive list)
DON’T
- Ignore warnings and signage
- Drive into water!! Over half of flood fatalities occur from
vehicles driving into flood water - Walk into flood waters – downed power lines, creatures you
don’t want to encounter - Say “why don’t you just move?” to someone who’s
experienced any number of floods
DO
- Heed warnings and signage
- If water enters your home, ensure your home is safe before
entering - Document everything that is touched by water, keep receipts,
and contact your insurance carrier ASAP (save everything!) - Engage in mutual aid!
Meet Your Presenter
Angela J. Catalano
Angela J. Catalano is a research social scientist at the Missouri Department of Conservation, supporting the agency’s mission by evaluating social-ecological interactions in conservation management planning and practices. She is also a PhD candidate at Northeastern University in the Marine and Environmental Sciences program. Her dissertation examines the social, technical, and ecological factors impacted by increased flood events along the Missouri River to identify comprehensive and stakeholder-centered strategies for flood resiliency planning and policymaking. Her work is motivated by her experiences of the tangible, cumulative effects of frequent floods in her previous home of New Orleans. In her circuitous route to environmental social science, she earned a B.A. and M.A. in Cinema, Media, & Digital Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, taught as a full-time instructor at the University of New Orleans, co-founded and programmed films for nonprofit film exhibitor Shotgun Cinema, and worked as a curator and projectionist for film festivals across the U.S., where she discovered Columbia by way of the True/False Film Fest.
Related Presentations
Resources & Links
For more information on this topic, check out these resources:
- The Lower Missouri River Basin Flood Risk & Resiliency Study: Lower Missouri River Basin
- Missouri Hydrology Information Center (MoHIC): Missouri Hydrology Information Center (MoHIC) | Missouri Department of Natural Resources
- Know your flood risk: Flood Insurance | FEMA.gov
- RESEARCH - Examining Truth Regimes Reveals How Local Communities View Flooding and River Management in the Lower Missouri River Basin, USA | Environmental Management
- RESEARCH - Flood Resiliency Engagement in Repetitive-Loss Missouri River Communities: Brunswick, MO, USA
- Sustainability Science Lab at Northeastern’s Marine Science Center: Sustainability Science Lab Homepage
- Further explore Angela’s work at her personal website: Angela J. Catalano
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