FEMA REGION III COASTAL HAZARD STUDY Final Results and Outreach Lessons Learned June 4, 2014 Mari Radford Christine Worley Robin Danforth David Bollinger FEMA Region III RAMPP FEMA Region III FEMA Region III 1
Today s Discussion Overview and Status of Region III Coastal Study Why a new coastal study is needed Storm Surge Analysis Wave Height Analysis Coastal Study Timeline Coastal Study Results and Impacts Non-regulatory Products and how they can be used Outreach Efforts and Lessons Learned Outreach Strategy Outreach Materials and Websites Coastal Outreach Advisory Team (COAT) Community Meetings Questions/Discussion 2
Why a Region III Coastal Study Project? Coastal flood risk information is out of date New Coastal Guidelines need to be implemented Update base data such as the topographic dataset and aerial imagery to high-resolution products and seamless Digital Elevation Model (DEM) Take advantage of higher performance numerical modeling Take advantage of improvement in GIS technologies to allow for more accurate FIRMs 3
Where is the Study Occurring? All Region III coastal counties and cities 4 states 54 counties and cities Atlantic Ocean, Chesapeake Bay, Delaware Bay, and their tributaries 4
Region III Storm Surge Project completed late 2011 Jeff Hanson Mike Forte Region III Storm Surge Project Managers, USACE-FRF 5
Wave Height Analysis Completed Summer 2013 Modeling set-up Transect layout Field reconnaissance Obstruction carding Development of a seamless (topo/bathy) DEM Wave height analysis Starting wave conditions (wave height and period) Wave setup determined from the ADCIRC model Dune/bluff erosion WHAFIS modeling for overland wave height computation Wave runup Coastal hazard mapping 6
Region III Coastal Study Timeline Surge Study Results Late 2011 Coastal Hazard Analysis Results Early 2012 Summer 2013 Preliminary FIRMs Summer 2012 Early 2014 Public Comment Period Spring 2013 Summer 2014 Letter of Final Determination Fall 2013 Late 2015 New Effective Coastal FIRMs Spring 2014 Summer 2016 7
Region III Coastal Preliminary FIRMs Preliminary FIRMs and FIS can be viewed at: https://www.rampp-team.com Also on the FEMA Map Service Center (MSC) with digital FIRM databases: http://hazards.fema.gov/femaportal/prelimdownload/ 8
Impacts: Results Comparisons to the effective data and resultant base flood elevations and mapping can now be made for many counties and cities. Some increases, but many decreases in BFEs Generally a reduction in BFEs in the upper Chesapeake Bay Generally an increase in BFEs in the lower Chesapeake Bay In Delaware, some increases and decreases along the coast and Delaware Bay, mostly decreases in the inland bays 9
Impacts: New Runup Mapping Different BFEs along the shore Because of different slopes at the shore 10
Impacts: New LiMWA Line 11
Impacts: New LiMWA Line (continued) LiMWA sits inside Zone AE LiMWA can cross into another Zone AE Triangles point to higher waves Indicates where wave height exceeds 1.5 feet 12
Impacts: Community Ordinance Updates Ordinance updates for all coastal communities Some communities with new Zone VE areas Some communities will incorporate new LiMWA into ordinances 13
FEMA s Risk MAP Program Risk Mapping, Assessment, and Planning (Risk MAP) 2010 2014 Builds on Map Mod digitized FIRM successes Will deliver quality data that increase public awareness and lead to action that reduces risk to life and property. Watershed approach Regulatory Products: FIS and FIRM (Coastal re-mapping) New Non-Regulatory Products and Datasets Mapping Assessment Planning 14
Risk MAP Products Promote Resilience FLOOD RISK DATABASE Changes Since Last FIRM Data Areas of Mitigation Interest Flood Risk Assessment Data Flood Depth & Analysis Grids Flood Risk Map Flood Risk Report Ad-Hoc Flood Risk Analyses 15
Why We re Doing This: Reduce Risk Hazard mitigation is defined as any sustained action taken to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to life and property from hazards Use new regulatory and Risk MAP information to: Update Hazard Mitigation Plans and assess risks Identify potential projects or actions in communities that can reduce risks from profiled hazards Identify higher standards that will enable future development to be more resilient More effectively communicate risk 16
Recommended Higher Standards 1 2 feet of freeboard Restrictions on hazardous material storage Regulated high-risk land uses (e.g., manufactured homes/critical infrastructure) 50-foot setbacks/buffers Conservation/open space area Cumulative Substantial Improvement/Damage Lower threshold for Substantial Damage Adopt Zone VE construction standards in LiMWA area Subdivision design triggering flood study (5 lots or 5 acres, whichever is less) Prohibitions SFHA development Manufactured homes Fill Enclosures below the BFE Community identified flood areas 17
OUTREACH 18
Region III Coastal Outreach Strategy Mapping project scope and outreach components Appendices 1. Critical Info for Participating Coastal Counties/Communities 2. Current Mapping-Related Initiatives in Region III 3. Coastal Outreach Advisory Team 4. Key Stakeholders 5. Outreach Implementation Plan 6. Flood Risk Open House Plan 19
Coastal Study Outreach Materials Outreach fact sheets General Coastal Flood Study Technical Analysis and Mapping LiMWA Quarterly newsletter Outreach meetings PowerPoint slides CD handouts 20
Lowered BFEs in the Upper Chesapeake Bay Concerns from community officials on lowering BFEs One-page fact sheet for communities and public In-depth technical white paper for FEMA and RAMPP with talking points COAT Input: How to communicate? Topographic information update Refined surge modeling Isabel greater than 1% event Messaging? Freeboard Future risks Insurance benefits 21
Coastal Study Outreach Websites Website www.r3coastal.com Flood Information Portal http://riskmap3.com / 22
Coastal Outreach Advisory Team The roles of the COAT: Share local data or new information Relate study information and status to other stakeholders Provide input on outreach methods, target groups, etc. Identify potential contentious issues Provide input on coastal study methodology 23
Coastal Outreach Meetings 5 Regional Technical Storm Surge Study Meetings Stakeholder Meetings: COAT 5 Community Meetings per coastal county or city Initial Coastal Community Coordination Meetings (all 54 held) Flood Study Review Meetings (all 54 held) Final Community Coordination Meetings (51 held) Open Houses (including public) (16 held) Resilience Meetings 24
Coastal Community Coordination Meetings Main comments/questions: Mapping: Concerns over multiple LFD/effective dates and thus multiple adoption periods and ordinance revisions Some were combined (in DE, MD, and VA) Others were put on hold until countywide studies are effective (only in MD) Will BFEs and floodplain widths be increased? Was sea level rise accounted for? 25
Coastal Community Coordination Meetings (continued) Main comments/questions (continued) Ordinances: New Zone VE areas New model floodplain ordinances in MD and VA Adopting higher standards based in the LiMWA Costs to communities: Changing ordinances Notifying property owners Answering questions Insurance Support for insurance questions and outreach CD with FEMA brochures and FAQs MD counties directed to www.mdfloodmaps.org 26
Public Open House Meetings Discussing when to hold at CCO Meetings Open House Meeting outreach materials Open House Trifold Open House Community Toolkit Open House Plan 27
Public Open House Meetings 28
Resilience Meetings Develop Regional Coastal Resilience Plan Hold Resilience Meetings Address questions that arose during the mapping process Present non-regulatory products Present other tools in the risk reduction toolkit (CRS, grants, etc.) Encourage coastal communities to use the new hazard analysis and risk information to take action to reduce their risk and become more resilient to future flooding events 29
Contact Information Mari Radford FEMA Region III Mitigation Planner 215-931-2880 mari.radford@fema.dhs.gov Robin Danforth FEMA Region III Coastal Study Project Officer 215-931-5573 robin.danforth@fema.dhs.gov Jeff Gangai, CFM RAMPP Coastal Study Technical Lead Dewberry/RAMPP 703-849-0251 jgangai@dewberry.com Christine Worley, P.E., CFM RAMPP Coastal Study Task Order Manager URS/RAMPP 301-820-3282 christine.worley@urs.com David Bollinger FEMA Region III Mitigation Outreach Coordinator 215-931-5561 david.bollinger@fema.dhs.gov State Floodplain Managers: DE: Michael Powell / Greg Williams MD: David Guignet / Kevin Wagner PA: Daniel Fitzpatrick VA: Charley Banks 30
Thank you! Questions? 31