The Virginia Floodplain Management Association has named Gloucester County its 2021 Community of the Year. An award was formally presented to county representatives on Feb. 8.

“Gloucester was nominated and selected for the award based on the unbelievable work the county has done in floodplain management,” said Kenneth Somerset, regional representative on the VFMA Leadership Team.

Somerset added that Gloucester was the first to create an active public/private group that eventually led to the formation of the county’s Floodplain Management Committee.

This committee now meets quarterly to evaluate Gloucester’s adopted Floodplain Management Plan. This plan analyzes the county’s existing coastal flood management practices and provides recommendations to strengthen the overall flood management program, helping to lessen the amount of damage caused by coastal flooding.

Because of these efforts, Gloucester became the first “Class 6” rated locality in the commonwealth within the Co...