Sustainable, Nonstructural Flood Protection for Buildings and Communities

1. Sustainable, Nonstructural Flood Protectionfor Buildings and Communities Actions and Plans for National Risk Reduction and the Importance of Nonstructural Measures Presented by: Michael Buckley, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Mitigation

2. Why Mitigate? Turning the Ship:Actions & Plans for National Risk Reductionand the Importance of Nonstructural Measures

3. Multi-Hazard Mitigation Council Study (2005) • $1 spent = $4 saved! • Benefits individuals, states, and communities through: • Future reduced resource losses • Future increased tax revenues • Future reduced hazard-related expenditures Turning the Ship:Actions & Plans for National Risk Reductionand the Importance of Nonstructural Measures

4. What Does FEMA Do to Reduce Risk? • National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) • Community Rating System (CRS) • Provisionally Accredited Levee (PAL) Designation • Map Modernization and Risk Map • Mitigation Assessment Team (MAT) Program • Unified Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA)

5. NFIP Evaluation (2006) • 14 reports • 191 recommendations in these areas: • Risk Reduction, Risk Analysis, and Risk Insurance activities • Floodplain management, such as • Regulation • Compliance • Community Rating System (CRS) • The Community Assistance Program-State Support Services Element (CAP-SSSE) • The role of the states

6. NFIP Evaluation (cont) Two main study categoriesand their results: • A review of the compliance processes used by FEMA and our state partners. Recommendations included: • Incorporating higher standards into regulations • Developing/updating guidance and training • Increasing floodplain management resources in the regions and states • A survey to determine the actual level of compliance • Approximately 90% of all post-FIRM buildings surveyed had their lowest floor at or above the Base FloodElevation (BFE) or within 6 inches of BFE; In CRS communities this improved to 96%. Turning the Ship:Actions & Plans for National Risk Reductionand the Importance of Nonstructural Measures

7. NFIP Evaluation – Implementing Actions • Increased CAP-SSSE by $1M in FY 2009 • New Floodplain Management Bulletin on Historic Structures • Updated 4 Technical Bulletins • Supported Training and Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM) CFM • Updating Residential Substantial Damage Estimator (RSDE) Software and Desk Reference • Updating CAV Guidance • Revising NFIP Regulations • CRS Task Force Review and Weighting Forum

8. NFIP Community Rating System • Approximately two-thirds of all NFIP policies are in CRS communities • 1,095 CRS communities as of Oct 1, 2008 • 26 new communities since Oct 2007 • 77 CRS Class improvements since Oct 2007 • Currently there are 139 CRS Class 6 or better Turning the Ship:Actions & Plans for National Risk Reductionand the Importance of Nonstructural Measures

9. CRS Strategic Plan • Prepared by the CRS Task Force • Includes 5 objectives and 15 strategies • Represents a six-year concentrated effort through year 2013 • Will evaluate CRS activities, aggressively promote CRS - including Class improvements, provide greater attention to repetitive loss property mitigation and improve existing CRS implementation

10. CRS Strategic Plan Objectives • Ensure that all CRS credits are appropriate and fully earned. • Support FEMA’s initiatives to reduce repetitive flood losses. • Encourage communities to improve their floodplain management programs continually. • Support the CRS Strategic Plan with appropriate procedures and adequate resources. • Implement a knowledge management plan for the CRS.

11. Set national FEMA policy relative to levee-impacted areas on NFIP maps Establish/reflect correct flood insurance risk zones behind levees on NFIP maps Develop program-level outreach and public awareness materials Coordinate closely with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Educate and inform stakeholders FEMA’s Role with Levees www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/fhm/lv_intro.shtm Turning the Ship:Actions & Plans for National Risk Reductionand the Importance of Nonstructural Measures

12. Levees – Mapping and Implications - OR -

13. Provisionally Accredited Levees • Procedure Memorandum 43 established Provisionally Accredited Levee (PAL) designation • Allows 24 months for eligible community/levee system owner to compile & submit the required data & documentation to support certification and accreditation of the levee. • FEMA continues the mapping process and will issue preliminary and effective of DFIRMs noting levee as Provisionally Accredited • First PALs will expire in 2009 • FEMA plans to fund map revisions in FY09 as PALs expire to accurately identify the risk behind the levee • Feedback throughout Nation: some will be accredited, some will be de-accredited

14. Risk MAP Lifecycle 1 1 Map Risk Data Identify Risk Identify Risk 2 2 Assess Risk Assess Risk Assess Present & Future Risks RiskMAP REDUCE LOSS OF LIFE & PROPERTY Transfer Risk 3 3 Goal – Measure Quantifiable Risk Reduction Communicate Risk Communicate Risk Reduce Risk 4 4 Mitigate Risk Mitigate Risk Plan for Risk Turning the Ship:Actions & Plans for National Risk Reductionand the Importance of Nonstructural Measures

15. Map Modernization Successes

16. Map Mod - Key Goals

17. Mitigation Assessment Team (MAT) Program • Overseen by FEMA’s Building Science Division • MAT documents successes, best practices and mitigation projects constructed to higher standards • Evaluates acquisition and elevation projects • Evaluates past HMA projects • Builds library of best practices • Makes recommendations for codes and standards • MATs currently underway for Ike and Midwest Floods. March 2009 completion of final reports.

18. Coastal A Hazard Area • Recommended by MATs since 1995 • Incorporated in ASCE 24-05 and referenced by latest Building Codes • On MS DFIRMs • Soon part of new coastal map studies as information layer Turning the Ship:Actions & Plans for National Risk Reductionand the Importance of Nonstructural Measures

19. Sample DFIRM with Coastal A delineated What is the Coastal A exposure? Population Square miles Number of Housing Units Loss History Claims Number of Policies What will be the losses avoided? Turning the Ship:Actions & Plans for National Risk Reductionand the Importance of Nonstructural Measures

20. Updated Technical Bulletins • Openings in Foundation Walls (TB1) • Flood-Resistant Materials Requirements (TB2) • Free-of-Obstruction Requirements (TB5) • Design and Construction Guidance for Breakaway Walls Below Elevated Coastal Buildings (TB9) Turning the Ship:Actions & Plans for National Risk Reductionand the Importance of Nonstructural Measures

21. FEMA’s involvement in Model Building Codes • Cornerstone of effective mitigation • Return on investment • Technology transfer • Building code adoption tracking • How many jurisdictions have disaster-resistant codes? • What is the trend? • Can we do better? • Are they making a difference? Turning the Ship:Actions & Plans for National Risk Reductionand the Importance of Nonstructural Measures

22. Unified Hazard Mitigation Assistance • Hazard Mitigation Grant Program • Pre-Disaster Mitigation • Flood Mitigation Assistance • Severe Repetitive Loss • Repetitive Flood Claims Turning the Ship:Actions & Plans for National Risk Reductionand the Importance of Nonstructural Measures

23. Summary of Accomplishments • Implemented changes based on the NFIP Evaluation • Developed a CRS Strategic Plan • Incorporated the Provisionally Accredited Levee (PAL) as part of flood mapping • Generated the Risk MAP • Continued improvements in Map Mod • Updated technical bulletins and other documents • Created the Unified HMA

24. Closing Statements • Future FEMA Mitigation activities include • Continue to improve and strengthen resources • Consistently work to strengthen collaborative efforts with other agencies and stakeholders • Continue to refine and promote our programs for efficiency in reducing risk Attendance at additional mitigation sessions at the 4th National Floodproofing Conferenceand Expedition is encouraged

25. Additional Mitigation-Related Sessions Technical Field Tour: The tour will showcase a variety of innovative structure-raising technologies that are currently being employed in the New Orleans area. Plenary Session 4 – Doing It Right - Don’t Flood Thy Neighbor: This panel will address public awareness/education, community liability issues, Concurrent Session C, Track 1 – Floodproofing/Nonstructural Policy and Societal Issues Concurrent Session C, Track 2 – Elevation and Wet Floodproofing Participants will engage in interactive discussion on these topics: Discussion Session A-1 at 10:30 – noon AND Discussion Session A-2 at 1:30 – 3:00 What are the impediments to implementing more nonstructural floodproofing? How do we get past them? Discussion Session B-1 at 10:30 – noon AND Discussion Session A-2 at 1:30 – 3:00 What are the roles of nonstructural/floodproofing in levee safety, aging infrastructure issues, and short and long term reliance on levees?

26. Additional Mitigation-Related Sessions (cont) Concurrent Session C, Track 3 – Buyouts and Relocations Concurrent Session C, Track 4 – Financing, Packaging, and Incentives Closing Plenary Session 5 – Looking to the Future: Floodplain Management Issues Across the Nation AND Future Action Plans Creative Strategies for Post-Disaster Construction, the Patchwork Quilt of Programs and Funding Elevation Certificates The NEW Substantial Damage Estimator (SDE) Program

27. Thank You for Attending This Plenary Turning the Ship:Actions & Plans for National Risk Reductionand the Importance of Nonstructural Measures