Discovery Meeting: Finger Lakes/ Seneca WatershedFEMA REGION IIMay 6-14, 2014Finger Lakes Contributing Watersheds

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Agenda Introductions Purpose of This Meeting Risk MAP Program Overview Discovery Process Flood Risk Products Finger Lakes* Watershed Data Mitigation Planning NFIP and Community Rating System Risk Communication Next Steps Discussion Session

* Seneca HUC8 = Finger Lakes Watershed

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IntroductionsProject Team FEMA Region II:

FEMA Region II RepresentativeRSC Representative

New York State Department of Environmental ConservationWilliam Nechamen – Chief of Floodplain ManagementJennifer Horton – Environmental EngineerDave Sherman – Environmental Program Specialist Bergmann / Atkins teamCleighton Smith, Senior Water Resources Engineer – BergmannJacob Tysz, Senior Scientist I – AtkinsCidney Jones, Water Resource Engineer – Bergmann

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Who’s Here? State or Federal Representatives County Officials Local Communities

• CEOs/Elected Officials • Floodplain Administrators• Emergency Planners• Town Engineers

Non-Governmental Organizations Private sector Other

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Does Your Community … Have a designated floodplain administrator? Have GIS capabilities? Have an approved hazard mitigation plan? Participate in the Community Rating System? Have coordinated comprehensive and hazard

mitigation plans?

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Purpose of This Meeting Explain the Discovery process Share your concerns about flood risk Share any additional flood data you may have:

• Areas of recent or proposed development• Areas of historical flooding• Overstated or understated flood hazard areas• Areas of possible mitigation interest• Risk communication needs

Explain the FEMA flood risk products and how they can increase your community’s resilience from floods

Share your thoughts on which FEMA flood risk products or mitigation projects you would like in your community

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What is Risk MAP? FEMA works with communities to develop flood risk

products and flood hazard maps that are: Based on the best available data from the community and

latest technologies Conducted on a watershed basis

You can use Risk MAP tools and data to: Improve and implement your Hazard Mitigation

Plans Use information to influence decisions about

development, ordinances, and flood mitigation projects Communicate with citizens about flood risk

Our common goal: to maintain the sustainability of your community by increasing its resilience from floods and other natural hazards

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Sustainable Communities Sustainability

• “meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”

• Traditional indicators of sustainability are social, economic and environmental health

Sustainable Communities Take Action to Reduce Risk and Mitigate Hazards• By mitigating against natural hazards, and reducing

vulnerability to them, we are enhancing sustainability • Sustainable communities minimize exposure of

people and property to natural disasters; sustainable communities are disaster-resilient communities.

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Shifting from MapMod to Risk MAP

Risk MAP = Risk Mapping, Assessment, and Planning

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Risk MAP Project Flowchart

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Discovery Process FEMA and communities “discover” and assess flood risk data Discovery Data Collection Period

• Stakeholder coordination and data analysis Discovery Meeting

• Initial Discovery Map Post-Meeting Review

• Final Discovery Map and Discovery Report Scope Refinement

Watershed Stakeholder Coordination

Data Analysis

Discovery Meeting and

follow up

Post-Meeting Review

Scope Refineme

nt

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Discovery Products and Results• Discovery Report

– Including summary of data, analysis, meetings, and action items or decisions

• Discovery Map– Visual representation of meeting

outcomes and feedback from stakeholders

• Project Study Areas • Index of FIRM Panels to be Updated• National Metrics

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Project materials posted to the RAMPP website and available to you include: Pre-Discovery Webinar Presentation and Meeting Notes DRAFT Discovery Report, including Appendices and Attachments Meeting PowerPoint presentation Wall Maps used at meetings

https://www.rampp-team.com/ny.htm

Scroll down near the bottom of the page to:

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Project Charter/Cooperating Technical Partnership

GIS capabilities Public/private partnerships Education and outreach

Strategic communications plan development

Information materials development and dissemination

Media relations Training Web site and social media links

Opportunities for Collaboration

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Traditional products are regulatory and subject to statutory due-process requirements

Risk MAP products are non-regulatory and are not subject to statutory due-process requirements

Flood Risk ProductsDFIRM Database

Traditional Regulatory Products Non-Regulatory Products (new for Risk MAP)

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Flood Risk Report Increase General Flood Risk Awareness

• Risk and Causes• Risk Reduction Techniques and Mitigation

Practices Deliver Community and Project Level Results

• Project Results Summarized by:− Communities− Watershed or Project Area

Provide Information to Augment or Enhance Other Efforts• Local Hazard Mitigation Planning• Local Emergency Management Planning• Local Planning and Building Development

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Changes Since Last FIRM

SFHA Decrease

Unchanged

Unchanged SFHA Increase

Unchanged

SFHA Increase

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Flood Depth and Analysis Grids Datasets that show

depth, velocity, and probability of flood inundation as functions of event’s magnitude

Serves as key inputs to HAZUS Risk Assessment Analyses

Increases flood risk awareness

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Identifies flood-prone areas and vulnerable people and property

Provides estimate of potential damage

HAZUS MH Flood Risk Assessment

Flood Risk Assessment

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Areas of Mitigation Interest Dataset that shows items that may have an

impact (positive or negative) on the identified flood hazards and/or flood risks

Examples include:• Riverine and coastal flood control structures• (e.g. dams, levees, coastal berms, etc.)• At risk essential facilities and emergency

routes that could overtopped• Stream flow constrictions (e.g. undersized• culverts and bridge openings, etc.)• Previous assistance and claims “Hot Spots”

(clusters of IA and PA claims, RL)• Significant land use changes• Significant riverine or coastal erosion• Locations of successful mitigation projects

Enhanced/optional product

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Finger Lakes/ Seneca Watershed• Study area is located in New York within FEMA Region II, New York

− Cayuga County− Onondaga County− Ontario County− Schuyler County− Seneca County− Tompkins County− Wayne County− Yates County

And small portions of− Chemung County− Cortland County− Livingston County− Monroe County− Steuben County− Tioga County

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Why Finger Lakes Watershed? Age of maps and availability of recent data Areas of high annual losses Numerous LOMC Incidence of repetitive loss structures Number of declared flood disasters

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Data Collection and Collaboration Discovery is the process of data mining, collection, and analysis with

the goal of investigating a flood risk or mitigation project or risk discussions within a watershed.

The following data was researched and reviewed before the meeting:

• CRS, NFIP status• MNUSS –flood hazard mapping needs• High Water Marks• Dams and/or levees • Mid-term Levee Inventory (MLI)• Topo/Elevation Data• Gages• NHD streamline• Various GIS data for the discovery products• Structure Info (bridges, culverts)

• Average Annualized Loss data• Repetitive Loss Data• LOMCs• Effective Data (FIS, DFIRM, FIRM)• List of Communities & Contact Info• Hazard Mitigation Plan (online)• Hazard Mitigation Assistance Program grants

received• Individual or Public Assistance information• Disaster history or history of disaster

declarations

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Elevation Data Acquisition• LiDAR for Wayne, Seneca, Yates, Schuyler and portions of

Onondaga Counties are in progress this Spring

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Data Collection: Effective Studies

County Effective FIRM Date

Cayuga* 2007Chemung 1983 – 1996Cortland* 2010Livingston (Springwater) 1984Monroe (Penfield and Perinton) 2008

Onondaga 1979 – 1999Prelim 6/30/2008

Ontario 1977 -- 2004Schuyler 1978 – 1988Seneca 1979 – 1988 Steuben 1977 – 1995 Tioga (Spencer) 2012Tompkins 1979 – 1988 Wayne 1977--1992Yates 1981 – 2001*Countywide FIRM

Current FIRMs outdated – some date to 1970s• Changes in NFIP policies and

methodologies have since occurred, creating need for an update

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Discovery Map: Flood Risk

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Discovery Map: Potential Loss

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Data We Need from You Review data collected during pre-Discovery meetings Areas of Concern

• Areas of recent or planned development • Areas of high growth or other significant land changes

Areas of historical flooding Other flood risks Mitigation projects Your ideas about Risk MAP products and mitigation projects that may help

your community Your ideas about other ways to increase your community’s resilience from

floodingTo explain some of the actions that your community may take to reduce risk, we’ll review mitigation grants and planning and participation in the NFIP program

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Hazard Mitigation Planning Coordinated

and participativ

e Planning Process

Identify hazards that can affect the

jurisdiction

Assess the risks from

these hazards

Develop strategy

to mitigate the risks

Adopt the plan and

implement the

mitigation strategy

Refer to the Plan &

Keep it Current

Risk MAP and Mitigation Planning • Local hazard mitigation plans must be

updated every five (5) years.• Use new Risk MAP information to

update local HMP. • Flood Hazard Profile• Risk Assessment • Mitigation StrategyMitigation

Planning Cycle

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Categories of Flood Mitigation Activities

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Possible Mitigation Activities

• 2 foot of freeboard for new structures.• Cumulative substantial improvement

clause.• List of publicly owned buildings that

have flood risk.• Acquisition of flood prone structures. • County GIS system.• Updated weather tracking equipment.• Stream bank stabilization projects• Identified sanitary sewer mains

vulnerable to erosion from flood

• Adopted a wellhead protection ordinance.• Vulnerability assessment of water and

wastewater infrastructure. • Elevate, move and acquire flood

damaged structures.• Identify vulnerable critical facilities.• Implement mitigation measures for

repetitive loss properties.• Require elevation of new structures and

substantially improved structures.• Natural stream restoration

Mitigation should be part of overall hazard mitigation plan

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Mitigation Grant Programs (FEMA)• Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP)

Available after a major disaster declaration - the amount of funding is 15% of the total federal assistance provided by FEMA for disaster recovery under the major disaster declaration.

• Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM)Nationally competitive grant program that funds cost effective, comprehensive mitigation activities that reduce injuries, loss of life, and damage to property.

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Mitigation Grant Programs - FEMA (cont’d)

• Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA)Provides funding to assist States and communities in implementing measures to reduce or eliminate the long-term risk of flood damage to buildings, manufactured homes, and other structures insured under the NFIP. FMA incorporates the former Flood Mitigation Assistance Program with the former Repetitive Flood Claims and Severe Repetitive Loss Grant programs.

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Mitigation Grant and Loan Programs NYSOEM Manages FEMA Mitigation Grant Programs NYSDEC: Stream Restoration and Water Quality Improvement

Grants NYS Office of Community Renewal NYS Department of State NYS Environmental Facilities Corporation NYS Energy Research and Development Authority NYS Department of State Office of Communities and Waterfronts Corps of Engineers HUD NRCS

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National Flood Insurance Program Allows property owners to

purchase flood insurance at below market rates

State and local governments agree to adopt and enforce floodplain management ordinances

Over 20,300 communities participate in the NFIP• 1,490 in New York

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Community Rating System (CRS) Flood insurance premium rates discounted to reward community

actions that reduce flood losses, facilitate accurate insurance ratings, and promote the awareness of flood insurance

Class rating system from 1 to 10 Each Class improvement (500 point increments) results in additional

5% discount Uniform minimum credits give you points for activities on the state

level (state laws) and make achieving a Class 9 relatively easy 18 creditable activities, organized under four categories:

• Public Information• Mapping and Regulations• Flood Damage Reduction• Flood Preparation

http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/CRS/ Three communities in the watershed participate in CRS

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Recommended Higher Standards

• Go Beyond 2 feet of freeboard• Restrictions on hazardous material storage• Regulated high risk land uses (e.g. manufactured homes/critical

infrastructure)• Setbacks/Buffers• Conservation/open space area• Cumulative Substantial Damage/Substantial Improvement• Lower threshold for Substantial Damage• Subdivision design triggering flood study• Prohibitions

SFHA development Manufactured homes Fill

• Community Identified Flood Areas

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Risk Communication Federal/State/Local goals:

• To reduce risk to life and property, ensure safer, sustainable communities

• To effectively communicate risk and increase public awareness, leading citizens to make informed decisions regarding their risk

Key factors contributing to successful achievement of these goals are: • Community engagement and exchange of flood risk information• Effective collaboration through partnerships• Strategic communications plan development• Local understanding and implementation of mitigation action and

strategies

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Next Steps Communities will provide additional data NYS DEC will:

• finalize Discovery Map and Discovery Report and distribute to communities and other stakeholders

• update FEMA systems (Coordinated Needs Management Strategy, National Digital Elevation/Orthophotography Programs, etc.)

• prepare Scope of Work for any Risk MAP projects Communities and FEMA will coordinate regarding

Community Cooperation Agreement, signed by the highest elected official, regarding community’s contribution to project

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Feedback Deadline We need comments returned by June 20, 2014 Digital comments can  be submitted to the NYSDEC

floodplain mailbox:  floodpln@gw.dec.state.ny.us

 Written comments can be sent to:New York State Department of Environmental

ConservationAttention:  Jennifer HortonFloodplain Management Section625 Broadway, 4th FloorAlbany, NY 12233-3504

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Resources Risk Assessment, Mapping and Planning Partners:

https://www.rampp-team.com/ny.htm – draft Discovery report, PowerPoint presentation, and maps are posted here

FEMA: www.fema.gov FloodSmart, the official site of the National Flood

Insurance Program (NFIP): www.floodsmart.gov NFIP Reform:

www.fema.gov/business/nfip/nfip_reform.shtm National Committee on Levee Safety:

www.nfrmp.us/ncls

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Contact Information• FEMA :

• Paul Weberg: paul.weberg@fema.dhs.gov • NYS DEC

• William Nechamen: wsnecham@gw.dec.state.ny.us• Jennifer Horton: jehorton@gw.dec.state.ny.us

• Bergmann / Atkins• Cleighton Smith: csmith@bergmannpc.com • Jacob Tysz: jacob.tysz@atkinsglobal.com• Cidney Jones: seneca@bergmannpc.com

This is a review of information already collected; chance to take another look.

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Discussion Session We want to hear from you! What are areas of recent or planned development or

high growth or other significant land changes? What other flood risks are there? What other mitigation plans and projects are there? Do any of the Risk MAP products make sense for

your community? What are your community’s concerns? How can we (both FEMA and you)

communicate risk within your community and increase resilience from floods?