FEMA NFIP Community Rating System and Crediting Tsunami Mitigation

1. FEMA NFIP Community Rating Systemand Crediting Tsunami Mitigation Mike Mahoney, FEMA Mitigation

2. CRS Quick Facts What is the CRS? • Voluntary incentive program for NFIP participating communities. • Reduced flood insurance premiums for citizens in return for better floodplain management by communities. • CRS is modeled after the ISO fire insurance rating system.

3. CRS Quick Facts CRS Goals • Reduce flood damage to insurable property. • Strengthen/support insurance aspects of NFIP. • Encourage a comprehensive approach to Floodplain Management.

4. CRS Quick Facts CRS Class and Premium Reductions Class Points SFHA Non‑SFHA 1 4,500 45% 10% 2 4,000 40% 10% 3 3,500 35% 10% 4 3,000 30% 10% 5 2,500 25% 10% 6 2,000 20% 10% 7 1,500 15% 5% 8 1,000 10% 5% 9 500 5% 5% 10 0 0

5. CRS Quick Facts • CRS First Year - 1990 • 1,089 participating CRS communities • 66% of all NFIP policies are in CRS communities • 10 CRS Classes Class 1-4 5 Class 5 41 • Class 6 81 Class 7 217 • Class 8 431 Class 9 174 • Class 10 151 communities

6. CRS Communities

7. CRS Tsunami Credits • CRS provides credit when local governments: • Map tsunami run-up areas • Acquire tsunami hazard areas for open space uses. • Zone tsunami hazard areas for open space uses. • Adopt land use planning measures that control development and uses. • Require new structures to be built at or above the tsunami flood elevation. • Prohibit new critical facilities in tsunami hazard areas and adopt tsunami construction requirements. • Develop local public information and education programs. • Receive the NOAA TsunamiReady designation.

8. CRS Tsunami Credits • CRS Element 610 credits a local government that has been designated by the National Weather Service (NWS) as a TsunamiReady community. • For TsunamiReady credit, the community must: • meet the other mapping requirements for special hazards credit, and, • have adopted a tsunami hazard operations plan or annex that addresses actions to take after a tsunami warning. • Credit Points = 30 points for obtaining and maintaining the designation as a TsunamiReady community. • TsunamiReady communities may also meet CRS communications and educational requirements, so credit may also be awarded for Flood Threat Recognition (FTR). • Community documents that it monitors, and is ready to react to reports from the West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center (WC/ATWC) or the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC). • Credit for FTR = 20 points

9. CRS Tsunami Credits • 410: Mapping of tsunami hazard area • Max 50 pts • 420: Open Space Preservation in Hazard Areas • Max 50 pts • 430: Regulation of Tsunami Hazard Areas • Max 70 pts. using: • 40 pts for elevation above tsunami heights, • 15 pts for prohibiting critical facilities, • 30 pts for following tsunami criteria in FEMA CCM, • 15 pts for special inspections of tsunami construction, • 15 pts for program to upgrade existing buildings, • 15 pts for prohibit hazardous materials

10. CRS Tsunami Credits • 510: Floodplain Management Planning • Gives credit for including tsunami and other hazards. • 520: Acquisition and Relocation • Gives credit for tsunami-related activities if in SFHA. • 530: Flood Protection • Gives credit for elevation of buildings above hazard levels, but cautions to follow seismic and tsunami codes.

11. CRS Tsunami Guidance • CRS currently updating a guide for tsunami credits. Expected to be available by next year. • CRS contractor responsible for tsunami credits is Berry Williams, ISO. • CRS Task Force includes Josh Lott, NOAA, Office of Oceans and Coastal Resource Management • I serve as FEMA technical advisor.

12. Mitigation Planning and Funding • State Mitigation Plans required under Disaster Mitigation Act 2000. • All Pacific coastal states have developed State Mitigation Plans that include addressing the tsunami hazard. • Several communities within these States have also developed Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) plans that address the tsunami hazard, making them eligible for funding under PDM grant program. • Many States and communities have recognized their tsunami risk: • Several coastal counties have FEMA approved multi-hazard mitigation plans that include tsunami chapters. • Some of these Plans include specific tsunami mitigation actions to protect public and critical facilities.  • At least two communities, Seaside and Cannon Beach, OR have completed planned mitigation activities using local funding.

13. Tsunami Hazard Mitigation • Tsunami hazard mitigation eligible under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), which provides mitigation funds for any hazard after a Federally declared disaster. • States allowed to use HMGP funds for any applicable hazard, but project must meet cost benefit rules. • FEMA supported development of a Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program and mitigation projects in Puerto Rico using HMGP funds following Hurricane Georges.

14. NEHRP Tsunami Activities • Tsunami is an earthquake-related hazard covered under the the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP). • Improving tsunami hazard awareness, planning, and mitigation is a goal of FEMA and its NEHRP partners.  • FEMA funds the public/private consortium Cascadia Region Earthquake Workgroup (CREW), who has developed a subduction zone earthquake and tsunami scenario for planning for affected corporations, lifeline, and government entities. • FEMA is working with the at-risk States to increase public awareness for residents and visitors through NEHRP funding. • FEMA is working on translating tsunami products into non-English languages and to provide more exposure for tsunami preparedness and mitigation products on FEMA’s website.