The study gives a quick review of the national flood problem, a comprehensive review of the problem in Virginia, an identification of various programs which have attempted to ameliorate flood damages, and two major pieces of legislation recommended to be adopted for further progress in flood damage abatement. Floods are too big a problem to be handled piecemeal. Only when we shift from simply reacting to them to actually planning for them can we expect to make headway in reducing flood damage losses. Flood plain occupation in which benefits do not exceed the estimated total costs (direct, indirect, and social) is undesirable, because it causes an eventual net loss to society. Any public policy encouraging submarginal development adds to those losses. Virginia's annual flood damage bill is excessive. Direct damages from the August 20, 1969, flood were in excess of $90 million. (WRSIC abstract)