Edward Thomas
Edward Thomas develops partnerships to better map natural and man-made hazards in the United States. Retired from the Federal Emergency Management Agency after nearly 35 years, he is now employed by the engineering firm, Michael Baker Jr., Inc.
During his time in government, Thomas worked primarily in disaster mitigation, preparedness and response. He’s served in various capacities, including the federal coordinating officer, on close to 200 disasters and emergencies. He also was involved in the construction and management of housing developments for the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Thomas is an attorney, a frequent lecturer on Emergency Management issues— especially the constitutional and legal aspects of floodplain regulations—and has authored dozens of articles on disaster-related issues. He regularly participates in the National Task Forces and other boards that develop national disaster and floodplain management policy and is the chair of the American Bar Association's newly formed Hazards and Land Use Subcommittee. He also serves on the National Hazard Mitigation Association board and the Natural Hazards Center Advisory Board.
Thomas has received numerous national and international awards, including the nation’s highest award for Floodplain Management, the Association of State Floodplain Managers Goddard-White Award.
He lives with his wife in the floodplain of beautiful Marina Bay in Quincy, Massachusetts.
Workshop Abstracts
Related Resources from Edward Thomas
Protecting the Property Rights: No Adverse Impact Floodplain and Stormwater Management
Rocky Mountain Land Use Institute, January 2008
More by Edward Thomas for the Natural Hazards Library Staff
The Patchwork Quilt: A Creative Strategy for Safe and Long Term Post-Disaster Rebuilding
National Floodproofing Conference, 2008
A perfect storm of opportunities to establish and fund a program to reduce misery and protect water resources
Louisiana Coastal Law, 2008
Mitigating misery: Land use and protection of property rights before the next big flood
Vermont Journal of Environmental Law