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Rediscovering Water Resources and Responsibilities NAFSMA Annual Meeting Flood Management General Session – Levee Safety. Luis Rodriguez, Chief, Engineering Management Branch, Mitigation Tuesday, December 10, 2013. Flood Hazard Mapping and FEMA ’ s Former Approach. Accredited levee system
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Rediscovering Water Resources and Responsibilities NAFSMA Annual MeetingFlood Management General Session – Levee Safety Luis Rodriguez, Chief, Engineering Management Branch, Mitigation Tuesday, December 10, 2013
Flood Hazard Mapping and FEMA’s Former Approach Accredited levee system When a levee was found to be in compliance with 44 CFR 65.10, the flood hazard was mapped to be contained within the levee system. Non-accredited levee system However, areas with non-accredited levees were mapped as if the levee system provided no flood hazard reduction (“without levee” analysis).
Developing the New Approach • Suspended in-progress studies and revisions of non-accredited levee systems • Sought an approach that would: • Comply with statutory and regulatory requirements • Be cost-effective, repeatable, and flexible • Leverage local input, knowledge, and data • Align available resources • Convened a multidisciplinary project team to evaluate technical options for non-accredited levee systems • Sought and implemented feedback • Independent Scientific Body and Community Roundtable • Public Review • National Academy of Sciences (NAS)
New Approach to Levee Analysis and Mapping • Published new approach Levee Analysis and Mapping Procedures in July 2013 • Details how FEMA will analyze and map non-accredited levee systems (not 44CFR65.10 Compliant) • Replaces “Without Levee” designations • Hallmark Principles • Interactive Stakeholder Engagement Process • More Robust Levee Analysis and Mapping Procedures • Recognition of the Uncertainty Associated with Levee Systems • Analysis of Levee Reaches
Suite of Procedures • There are five procedures that can be applied to a non-accredited levee: • Natural Valley • Sound Reach • Freeboard Deficient • Overtopping • Structural-Based Inundation • A system can be broken up into multiple reaches in order to analyze the flood risk in its vicinity 1 System ↓ Multiple Reaches
New Approach Pilot Projects • 25 Pilot projects underway • FEMA considered a number of factors to select the pilot projects, including: • Projects that would likely employ a range of levee procedures, to properly pilot the new approach; • Data availability; and/or • Need for continued flood risk communication. • Purpose of Pilot Projects • Validate the new approach and demonstrate its merit • Evaluate technical procedures in a variety of flooding conditions • Evaluate whether the application/implementation of the new procedure meets FEMA’s objectives and commitment to Congress • Determine baseline costs for major components of the new process • Document and compile “lessons learned” • Prepare educational and training materials for future communities, as new approach is implemented nationwide
Pilot Projects: Current Status and Next Steps • Phase I: Identify Pilots (Completed) • Phase II: Outreach and Data Collection (Ongoing) • Develop Local Levee Partnership Teams • Conduct Public Meetings and Outreach • Develop Final Approach Plan • Phase III (Future) • Conduct Analysis and Mapping • Projects to be Determined by Approach Plans • Pilot Outcomes • Usability of Technical Approaches • Identification of Mitigation Measures
Levee Analysis and Mapping Pilots • Region III: • Grant County • Hardy County, WV • Region IV: • Upper Tombigbee Watershed, MS • Union County, KY • Richland and Lexington Counties, SC • Region V: • Dearborn County, IN • Rock island County, IL • Ross County, OH • Tazewell County, IL • Kent County, MI • Morgan County, IN • Region VI: • Plaquemines Parish, LA • St. Charles Parish, LA • St. Tammany Parish, LA • Lafourche Parish, LA • Terrebonne Parish, LA • Brazoria County, TX • Nueces County, TX • Victoria County, TX • Region VII: • Franklin County, MO • Miami County, KS • Marion County, KS • Region VIII: Ward County, ND • Region IX: Maui County, HI • Region X: Bannock County, ID
Continued Evolution Work on longer term levee issues Periodically issue operating guidance and standards Provide communities with a clearer idea of their role Emerging information and guidance will affect the future of the approach