Edward Thomas
Edward Thomas works to reduce unnecessary human suffering and environmental damage from poorly designed human development in natural hazard-prone areas. Retired from the Federal Emergency Management Agency after nearly 35 years, he now serves as president of the Natural Hazard Mitigation Association and is employed part-time by the engineering firm Michael Baker Jr., Inc.
During his time in government, Thomas worked on community development, disaster mitigation, and preparedness and response. He served in various capacities, including the federal coordinating officer, on nearly 200 disasters and emergencies and was involved in the construction and management of community development for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Thomas is an attorney and a frequent lecturer on emergency management issues, especially the constitutional and legal aspects of floodplain regulations. He has authored dozens of articles on disaster-related issues. He regularly participates in the national task forces and on other boards that develop national disaster and floodplain management policy. In addition to his duties for the Natural Hazard Mitigation Association, he is chair of the American Bar Association's Hazards Subcommittee. He also serves on the Natural Hazards Center Advisory Committee.
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.
Related Resources from Ed Thomas
Planning and Building Livable, Safe, and Sustainable Communities: The Patchwork Quilt Approach
With Alessandra Jerolleman, Terri L. Turner, Darrin Punchard, and Sarah K. Bowen
Natural Hazards Mitigation Association, June 8, 2011
