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National Levee Safety Program: Mitigating Flood Risks & Improving Public Safety

Learn about the recommendations for a National Levee Safety Program and the importance of adopting national standards for construction, maintenance, and inspection of levees. Understand the high cost of flooding to communities and the nation and the key activities necessary for a successful program implementation.

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National Levee Safety Program: Mitigating Flood Risks & Improving Public Safety

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  1. Developing a National Levee Safety ProgramMike Stankiewicz - NCLSArizona Floodplain Management Association November 3, 2011 Update on the National Committee on Levee Safety Susan Gilson & Dusty Williams NCLS Association of State Floodplain Managers May, 2012

  2. Presentation Overview • NCLS Introduction • Overview of Recommendations for a National Levee Safety Program • Levee Safety & Flood Risk Management • Way Forward

  3. History • National Committee on Levee Safety (NCLS) created by Congress in response to an event – Hurricane Katrina • Tasked to develop recommendations and a strategic implementation plan for a National Levee Safety Program (January 2009)

  4. Today • Last year’s flooding serves as reminder that we will continue to experience major floods with significant national, regional, and local impacts

  5. Paul Perri Karin Jacoby Mike Stankiewicz Dusty Williams Marilyn Thomas Don Basham Jon Sweeney Committee Members Committee Members Rod Mayer Les Harder Steve Verigin Steve Stockton Eric Halpin Bill Blanton Susan Gilson David Garcia Sam Riley Medlock Robert Turner

  6. Levees Are in Every State Levees Are in Every State Source: ASCE / FEMA

  7. Levees Today Levees Today • Many levees designed for one purpose now serving another. • Built in uncoordinated fashion, by different entities, not as a systems. • Varying levels of responsibility and maintenance – federal, state, local, special districts, private. • No national standards for construction, maintenance or inspection of levees. • Many levees designed for one purpose now serving another. • Built in uncoordinated fashion, by different entities, not as a systems. • Varying levels of responsibility and maintenance – federal, state, local, special districts, private. • No national standards for construction, maintenance or inspection of levees.

  8. Flooding: A High Cost to Communities and the Nation Flooding: A High Cost to Communities and the Nation 2008 = $5.6B 2009 = $1.1B 2010 = $5.1B 2011 = $??B Source: National Weather Service

  9. Recommendations for a National Levee Safety Program

  10. Key Activities of National Levee Safety Program • One-time comprehensive inventory and inspection of levees and maintain a comprehensive National Levee Database • Understand and communicate risks associated with levees • Develop model state levee safety program and incentives to adopt it • Establish Levee Rehabilitation, Improvement, & Flood Mitigation Fund so qualified states and communities can reduce significant flood risk and improve public safety

  11. Key Activities of National Levee Safety Program • Develop model national levee safety standards and encourage federal agencies, states, and communities to adopt standards appropriate to their region and needs • Align federal programs for incentivizing state programs and appropriate investments in levees and leveed areas • Understand and address liability concerns

  12. Context for a National Levee Safety Program Context for a National Levee Safety Program • Part of a larger flood risk management approach • Shared responsibility from individuals and all levels of government required for success • Education and communication are key to success • Primary focus on existing levees and leveed areas • However, future levees should be built to national standards, reduce risk, etc. • Part of a larger flood risk management approach • Shared responsibility from individuals and all levels of government required for success • Education and communication are key to success • Primary focus on existing levees and leveed areas • However, future levees should be built to national standards, reduce risk, etc.

  13. National Levee Safety Program & Flood Risk Management National Levee Safety Program & Flood Risk Management • Improve understanding of role levees play in overall flood risk management • Better communicate role and limitations • Recognize role of nonstructural approaches in improving levee safety • Improve understanding of role levees play in overall flood risk management • Better communicate role and limitations • Recognize role of nonstructural approaches in improving levee safety

  14. Intersection of Levee Safety & Flood Risk Management • Shared Activities • Risk Communication • Community Involvement • Mapping • Levee Rehabilitation • Non-Structural Measures • Environmental-Safety Collaboration • Incentives/Disincentives • Flood Insurance • Evacuation Plans • Hazard Mitigation Plans • Flood Risk Management Activities • Land Use Planning • Levee Certification • Building Codes • Emergency Management • Systems Planning • Levee Safety Program Activities • Inspections • Inventory • Levee Research & Development • Assessments • Training • Assistance • Standards • Operations & Maintenance • Program Oversight

  15. Status of a National Levee Safety Program Status of a National Levee Safety Program • Submitted Report to Congress in January 2009 (completed in 3 months) • Engaged stakeholders until November 2011 in gathering feedback about the implementation of the program and raising awareness of the levee situation and need for a national program • Since March 2012, NCLS has been on a “strategic pause” due to a legal opinion of the legislation from USACE • 12 recommendations need new legal authorities • Non-federal partners on the NCLS have been coordinating and discussing next steps • Submitted Report to Congress in January 2009 (completed in 3 months) • Continuing to engage stakeholders for feedback • National Committee on Levee Safety is working to raise awareness of levee situation and need for national program • 12 recommendations need new legal authorities • Ongoing coordination with Army Corps of Engineers and Federal Emergency Management Agency

  16. Until there is a National Levee Safety Program… Until there is a National Levee Safety Program… • Expanding the National Levee Database (USACE) • Study to align federal programs with the Federal Interagency Floodplain Management Task Force (NCLS) • NFIP Reform (FEMA) • Developing standards via the International Levee Handbook (USACE) • Developing Tolerable Risk Guidelines (USACE) • Activities ongoing in the agencies that supports a National Levee Safety Program • Expanding the National Levee Database (USACE) • NFIP Reform (FEMA) • Developing standards via the International Levee Handbook (USACE) • Developing Tolerable Risk Guidelines (USACE)

  17. Thank You Thank You For more information visit: www.leveesafety.org • For more information: • www.leveesafety.org

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