FLOOD STUDY Chemung County, NY

1. FLOOD STUDYChemung County, NY FEMA REGION II November 18, 2010

2. Agenda • Introductions • Objectives • Map Modernization (MapMod) Program Overview • Chemung County MapMod Update • Risk Mapping, Assessment, and Planning (Risk MAP) Program Overview • Chemung Watershed Study Introduction • Milestones • Community Engagement

3. Introductions • FEMA Region II • Scott Duell, Risk Analysis Branch Chief • Mary Colvin, Floodplain Management and Flood Insurance Branch Chief • Alan Springett, Senior Engineer, Risk Analysis Risk Assessment Lead • Adie Koby, Program Specialist • Bo Juza, Regional Program Management Lead • Andrew Martin, Regional Support Center Coordinator • Tolga Yilmaz, Regional Support Center Deputy Coordinator • John Dromsky-Reed, Mapping Partner, MapMod • Milver Valenzuela, Mapping Partner, Risk MAP • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Baltimore District • Dan Risley, Hydraulic Engineer, Engineering Division • George Bielen, Operations Manager, Susquehanna River Project, Operations Division • Leon Skinner, Construction Service Representative, Operations Division • New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) • William Nechamen, New York State Floodplain Coordinator

4. Objectives • Objectives • To provide an overview of Chemung County’s mapping project status and deliver draft maps • To transition from MapMod to Risk MAP (Mapping, Assessment, Planning) • To promote community engagement and enhance capability to effectively manage flood risk

5. MapMod Program Overview • Prior to 2003, more than 70 percent of the nation’s flood maps were at least 10 years old. In Chemung County, with few exceptions, the communities' flood maps dated back to the 1980s • Congress appropriated funds in 2003 and directed FEMA to develop and implement the MapMod program, which: • Created county-wide digital maps • Utilized more current data to update maps • Developed a new platform to convert from paper to digital format

6. Chemung County MapMod Update • Original scope of Chemung County study • County-wide DFIRM (78 panels), including 17 incorporated communities • Development of county-wide digital topography from LiDAR (2003 and 2005 collections) • Re-delineation/re-use of 110 stream miles of effective profiles • New approximate analysis for 153 stream miles • Field survey of Elmira Levee System and levee freeboard analysis • Preliminary DFIRM delivery scheduled for November 30, 2010 • Adjusted scope of Chemung County study • Production of draft “work” maps instead of preliminary maps (non-regulatory) • Region II delivering draft maps to Chemung County communities providing update on current status of project • Facilitates project transition to Risk MAP

7. Risk MAP Program Overview • Risk Mapping, Assessment, and Planning (Risk MAP) is a new FEMA program that provides communities with flood information and tools they can use to enhance their mitigation plans and better protect their citizens • The Risk MAP program aims to achieve these goals through new strategies and products that address: • Project prioritization – State and local input (2005 scoping meetings; 2008 letter Southern Tier Central Regional Planning & Development Board; and 2010 community meetings) • Elevation data acquisition • Watershed study approach • Engineering and mapping • Risk assessment, mitigation planning support • Risk communications

8. Risk MAP

9. Risk MAP Vision Through collaboration with State, Tribal, and local entities, Risk MAP will delivery quality data that increases public awareness and leads to action that reduces risk to life and property. Risk MAP will focus on products and services beyond the traditional Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM). FEMA will work with officials to help use flood risk data and tools to effectively communicate risk to citizens and enable communities to enhance their corresponding mitigation plans.

10. Chemung Watershed Overview • Chemung Watershed Study • Community involvement led to better understanding of the community needs • Formal growth, maturity, and additional resources of the program allowed modification of the existing project to deliver Risk MAP • Current FIS Status • Draft-prelim DFIRMs are available as work maps for review by community officials • FEMA has initiated additional detailed studies of 57 stream miles in Chemung County as a result of the levees’ status and other concerns presented by the County • The FIS has been placed on hold pending completion and incorporation of the data from the additional studies

11. Chemung Watershed Study

12. Chemung Watershed Study Elevation Data Acquisition Chemung County LIDAR collected in 2005 Remainder of watershed will be collected in 2011

13. Discovery • Discovery is the process of data mining, collection, and analysis with the goal of initiating a flood risk or mitigation project or risk discussions within a watershed, which includes: • Data Collection • Historical flooding information • Existing flood hazard data • Mitigation activities • Hazard risk assessments, for example, vulnerable assets • Mitigation strategies • Collaboration • Communities • Regional planning entities • Non-governmental organizations • State agencies • Other Federal agencies • Chemung Watershed’s Discovery process will be initiated in early 2011

14. Flood Risk Assessment • Risk MAP will provide state and community officials with three Flood Risk Products: • Flood Risk Report • Flood Risk Database • Flood Risk Map • These are designed to help communities: • Gain a better understanding of flood risk and its potential impact on communities and individuals • Take mitigation actions to reduce risk

15. Program Product Comparisons Non-Regulatory Products Traditional Regulatory Products DFIRM Database Traditional products are regulatory and subject to statutory due-process requirements Risk MAP products are non-regulatory and are not subject to statutory due-process requirements

16. Changes Since Last FIRM Unchanged Unchanged SFHA Increase SFHA Increase SFHA Decrease Unchanged

17. Flood Depth Grids • Depth Grid Calculated as Difference between WSE and Ground XS XS Depth

18. 10% Depth (10-Year) 2 ft 1% Annual Chance Floodplain Boundary 0 ft 0 ft 0 ft

19. 1% Depth (100-Year) 5ft 0 ft 0 ft 1ft

20. HAZUSMulti-Hazard Estimation of Losses Dollar Losses Residential Loss Commercial Loss Other Asset Loss Percent Damage Evaluates Building Stock Structure and Content Considerations Business Disruption Considers Total Occupancy Tables Considers Lost Income and Wages

21. Hazard Mitigation Planning Coordinated and participative Planning Process • Risk Map and Mitigation Planning • Local hazard mitigation plans must be updated every five (5) years. • Use new Risk Map information to update local HMP. • Flood Hazard Profile • Risk Assessment • Mitigation Strategy Refer to the Plan & Keep it Current Identify hazards that can affect the jurisdiction Mitigation Planning Cycle Assess the risks from these hazards Adopt the plan and implement the mitigation strategy Develop strategy to mitigate the risks

22. Risk Communication • Federal/State/Local goals: • To ensure safer communities and reduce risk to life 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

23. Risk MAP Review

24. Milestones • Fall 2006: Chemung County-wide Flood Insurance Study/Flood Insurance Rate Maps funded • Fall 2010: Draft Chemung County Flood Maps delivered • Summer 2012: Preliminary Risk MAP products tentatively scheduled for delivery

25. Community Engagement • FEMA is committed to: • Collaborating closely with communities within Chemung County to accurately portray risk • Engaging the community throughout the project timeline • Using the best and most recent data and information available • Opportunities for collaboration: • Project Charter/Cooperating Technical Partnership • GIS capabilities • Public/private partnerships • Education and outreach • Strategic communications plan development • Information materials development and dissemination • Media relations • Training • Web site and social media links

26. 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 • National Committee on Levee Safety: www.nfrmp.us/ncls • New York State Department of Environmental Conservation NFIP Coordinator • New York State Office of Emergency Management