FLOOD STUDYMiddlesex County, NJFEMA REGION IIAugust 24, 201110:00am

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Agenda Introductions

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)

FEMA Strategic Plan & Risk Mapping, Assessment, and Planning (Risk MAP) Goals

Risk MAP Program Overview

Meeting Objectives

Current Status of Middlesex County Flood Study

Risk Assessment

Community Engagement

Questions

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Introductions Local – Middlesex County (Host) & Communities

State – New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP)Principal Engineer: Tom Slowinski

Senior Engineer: Kunal Patel

GIS 3: Chris Gould, CFM

FEMA Region IIRisk Analysis Branch Chief: Scott Duell

Risk Analysis Risk Assessment Lead/Senior Engineer: Alan Springett

Risk Analysis Branch Senior Planner: Cathleen Carlisle

Communications and Outreach Lead: William McDonnell

Study Project Manager: Paul Weberg, PE

Floodplain Management and Insurance Lead: Kim Rizzo

Regional Support Center Outreach Lead: Crystal Smith, CFM

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The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)

The National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 created the Federal Insurance Administration to:

• Identify flood-prone areas within the U.S.

• Establish flood-risk zones within those areas

• Provides flood insurance only IF the community participates in NFIP

• Participating communities agree to adopt and enforce ordinances that meet or exceed FEMA’s requirement

• The program goal is to reduce the risk of flooding losses

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“The Three-Legged Stool” The NFIP balances three related

program areas

1.Flood Hazard Identification

(Mapping)

2. Floodplain Management

(Regulations such as building codes

And zoning)

3. Flood Insurance

(Provision of Flood Insurance for

Property owners in participating

Communities)

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Floodplain Management Prevent increases in flood losses

• Regulations, zoning ordinances & building codes

Reduce the flood risk to existing development• Disaster preparedness

• Flood Insurance

• Emergency Plans

• Structural Measures (dams, reservoirs, dikes, levees & floodwalls)

Preserve and restore natural floodplains• Floodplain, wetland, coastal barrier resources regulations

• Development/Redevelopment policies

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Middlesex County – NFIP Policies, Claims, Repetitive Losses, CRS, CAC & CAV

COMMUNITY Number of Policies Total Coverage Total

Premium

Total Claims

Since 1978

Total Paid Since 1978

Number of Repetitive

LossProperties

CRS

Community Assistance

Contact (CAC)

Community Assistance

Visit (CAV)

OLD BRIDGE, TOWNSHIP OF 199 $56,393,200 $168,545 54 $461,821 3 NO 04/18/2010 01/29/2009

SOUTH RIVER, BOROUGH OF 1,052 $40,578,900 $272,139 201 $2,133,705 19 8 05/20/2010 02/24/1995

EAST BRUNSWICK, TOWNSHIP OF 120 $40,482,200 $86,781 47 $246,894 2 NO 09/30/2008 02/22/1995SOUTH AMBOY, CITY OF 66 $19,083,800 $42,935 1 $2,642 0 NO 04/06/2006 02/24/1995

SAYREVILLE, BOROUGH OF 277 $63,152,700 $261,682 113 $41,258,593 10 NO 05/06/2010 02/24/1995PERTH AMBOY, CITY OF 27 $9,335,500 $30,651 26 $1,142,839 2 NO 09/05/2007 10/24/2002

CARTERET, BOROUGH OF 84 $22,505,700 $96,805 77 $226,540 0 NO 03/12/2010 1/24/1995

WOODBRIDGE, TOWNSHIP OF 487 $135,355,500 $553,717 300 $3,141,125 20 10 08/04/2008 08/13/1997

EDISON, TOWNSHIP OF 251 $77,575,800 $225,099 85 $736,293 8 NO 11/14/2007 -

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Community Rating System (CRS) The National Flood Insurance Program's (NFIP)

Community Rating System (CRS) is a voluntary incentive program that recognizes and encourages community floodplain management activities that exceed minimum NFIP requirements

As a result, flood insurance premium rates are discounted to reflect the reduced flood risk resulting from community actions meeting the three goals of the CRS:• Reduce flood losses;• Facilitate accurate insurance rating; and• Promote awareness of flood insurance

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Guiding Principles Engage communities early and often Agree upon and document project outcomes and

responsibilities Coordinate with other programs operating within

the same community Leverage associations to provide a third-party

perspective Use local media and language that people

understand

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Risk MAP Program Overview

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FEMA’s FY10 Flood Mapping Progress Report and Production Plan

With FY2009 and FY2010 Congressional appropriations for Flood Hazard Mapping, FEMA is conducting flood map update projects:

• Improve engineering and mapping for high flood risk areas affected by coastal flooding, levees, and other riverine flood hazards

• Leverage established Cooperating Technical Partner (CTP) relationships and resources

To learn more, see the FEMA’s FY10 Flood Mapping Progress Report and Production Plan on www.fema.gov

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Recent Activities Introduction to Risk MAP - Face to Face

Initial meetings conducted – via Webinar:

July, 2011◦ Cape May, Atlantic, Ocean, Monmouth

August, 2011 ◦ Middlesex, Union, Hudson, Essex

2010◦ April - Morris◦ June – Bergen, Somerset◦ July - Essex◦ August – Monmouth,

Union◦ September - Cape May◦ October – Passaic,

Middlesex◦ November – Atlantic◦ December – Ocean

2011° February –

Cumberland, Salem° June – Cumberland,

Union° July - Cape May,

Atlantic, Ocean, Monmouth

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Meeting Objectives Engage Middlesex County and communities and promote

local residents to reduce their vulnerability to risk

Provide information to local officials to help them communicate flood risk to residents and businesses

Provide an update on the current status of Middlesex County’s Flood Study

Encourage partnerships and collaborations to leverage and advance risk management and mitigation measures

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Project Team• Local Officials

• New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (Cooperating Technical Partner)

• FEMA Risk Assessment, Mapping, and Planning Partners

(RAMPP), a joint venture of Dewberry, URS, and ESP Regional Support Center (RSC) Regional Program Management Lead

Middlesex County Flood Study -Overview

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Milestones

Coastal Surge Study complete: October, 2011

Coastal Overland wave analysis complete: January,

2012

Coastal Analysis complete: Mid 2012

Preliminary Flood Study: July 2012

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Field reconnaissance has been completed.

Coastal analyses are in process. Transect layouts have been defined. Draft Geographic Information System characteristics have been produced.

Awaiting response from communities to the letters sent out in January, 2010 regarding data request

Middlesex County Flood Study - Update On the Current Status

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Middlesex County Flood Study - Paneling Scheme

•Restudy of all coastal hazard zones

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Local technical data availability? Bridge replacements; new storm water management

systems; new H&H studies; new aerial photography and/or topographic information, etc.

Contacted each community letting them know about coastal field reconnaissance taking place in their communities in November 2009 & July 2010, and data request back in January 21, 2010

No response received Is this an accurate representation of your communities?

Levee impacted areas? FEMA is exploring more precise approaches for identifying

flood hazards in areas impacted by levees

Local Communities – Data Gathering

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Coastal Storm Surge and Overland Wave Hazard Analysis Overview – Gulf & Atlantic

6. MAPPING

5. RUNUP

4. WAVES

3. EROSION

2. SETUP

1. SURGE

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The intent of the technical panel is to engage subject matter experts in coastal engineering analysis process

Meetings were held on: 4/14/2011 5/10/2011

Members: Academics and Other Interested Parties:

Stevens Institute of Technology Richard Stockton College of NJ City University of New York – Hunter College Cousteau Institute under Rutgers University Columbia University Barnegat Bay Partnership

State and Local Government: New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection New York State Department of Environmental Conservation New York City Northeast States Emergency Consortium

Other Federal Agencies: USACE NOAA USGS

Coastal Study Technical Panel

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Risk MAPMitigation Planning Hazard Mitigation Plans:

• Guides your decisions on mitigation activities for all hazards you face

• Are an important resource for responding to disasters

• Facilitates access to federal assistance for mitigation

We reviewed your mitigation plans and found that:• Middlesex County: 2011 Mitigation Plan:

County Approved

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Middlesex County, NJ Mitigation Plan Update

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Risk Communications Federal/State/Local goals:

• To create safer communities and reduce risk to lives and property

• 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

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Risk Communications Acknowledgement of the challenges in the complex,

multi-disciplinary, multi-dimensional, and evolving processes of risk communications

• Conflicting priorities and messages

• Difficulty in translating scientific information

• Disagreements on what constitutes risk

FEMA created a list of supporting, customizable tools and templates and is currently developing those materials in order of need as identified by FEMA Regions• Region II is waiting on FEMA HQ’s development and

outcomes

• Region II is initiating its own risk communications strategy

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* - OFA = Other Federal Agencies

*

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The overarching goal of the New Jersey Coastal Outreach Strategy is to globally increase awareness of, and engagement in, the remapping of NJ coastal counties.

Key themes:• Flood risks have changed in many coastal communities since the date on

their effective FIRM panels

• When completed, the storm surge study will contain valid, defensible results

• Mitigation Planning involves learning about the hazards that can impact a community, setting clear goals to reduce their vulnerability to the identified hazards, and putting in place long-term hazard mitigation strategies

• Coordinated, sustained mitigation activities are the best way to ensure your community will be physically, socially, and economically resilient to future natural hazard impacts

Risk CommunicationsNJ Coastal Outreach Strategy

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Risk Communication StrategyResources Region III Coastal Website:

• www.R3Coastal.com

Region IV Coastal Website:

• http://www.southeastcoastalmaps.com

Region VI Coastal Website:• http://www.txchart.com

Region II Coastal Website:• To be announced

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Example FEMA Region IIRisk MAP Activities Schedule Current: August, 2011

• Risk MAP Introduction

October, 2011• Mitigation Planning

December, 2011• National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) & Community Rating System

(CRS)

February, 2012• Technical Details of the Study

April, 2012• Risk Assessment

June, 2012• Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA)

August, 2012• Risk Communication

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Resources

FEMA: www.fema.gov

Floodsmart, the official site of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP): www.floodsmart.gov

Risk Assessment, Mapping and Planning Partners: www.RAMPP-team.com

NFIP Reform: www.fema.gov/business/nfip/nfip_reform.shtm

HAZUS-MH software: http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/hazus/index.shtm

National Tool software: http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/floodplain/data_tool.shtm

Hazus User Groups: http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/hazus/hz_users.shtm#4

New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection - NFIP Coordinator

New Jersey State Office of Emergency Management

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Questions & Feedback Please complete your survey. Your feedback is very important to us.

This presentation & hand-outs will be posted at: www.RAMPP-TEAM.com

Contact Information NJDEP

Joseph Ruggeri / John Scordato / Tom Slowinski / Chris Gould / Kunal Patel

NJDEP, Bureau of Dam Safety & Flood Control

Phone: 609-292-2296

NJDEP website: www.nj.gov/dep/floodcontrol

FEMA

Risk Analysis Branch Chief: Scott Duell / 212-680-3630 / Scott.Duell@dhs.gov

Risk Analysis Risk Assessment Lead/Senior Engineer: Alan Springett / 212-680-8557/ Alan.Springett@dhs.gov

Communications and Outreach: William McDonnell / 212-680-3636 / William.McDonnell@dhs.gov

Study Project Manager: Paul Weberg / 212-680-3638 / Paul.Weberg@dhs.gov

Flood Insurance & Management: Kim Rizzo/ 212-680-3637 / Kim.Rizzo@dhs.gov

Mitigation Planning: Cathleen Carlisle / 212-680-8529 / Cathleen.Carlisle@dhs.gov

HAZUS & GIS: Brian Shumon / 212-680-3631 / Brian.Shumon@dhs.gov

Regional Support Center Coordinator: Andrew Martin / 646-216-3677 / Amartin@dewberry.com