1. Working Together to Build Back Stronger and Safer Roy Wright, Deputy Associate Administrator for Mitigation Karen Helbrecht, Program Specialist 9:15-10:00 a.m. January 31, 2013

2. 2 Agenda  Strategic Foresight Initiative Overview Driving Forces Climate Change Implications  Hurricane Sandy Recovery Advisory Base Flood Elevation Maps Policy Implications National Disaster Recovery Framework  Moving Forward Mitigation Planning NHMA and the State of Vermont  Perception of Risk 2012 Flood Survey Results  Further Studies  Q&A

3. 3 Strategic Foresight Initiative: Overview  Understand factors driving change that will impact emergency and disaster management over a 20-year horizon  Develop a shared sense of direction and urgency in the emergency management community that enables us to drive to action  Collectively prepare for the future across multi-sectors  Plan for and take action to meet the evolving needs

4. 4 Strategic Foresight Initiative: Driving Forces Changing Role of the Individual Universal Access to/ Use of Information Technical Development and Dependency U.S. Demographic Shifts Government Budgets Evolving Terrorist Threat Critical Infrastructure Climate Change Global Interdependencies

5. 5 Climate Change Implications  Coastal development patterns and demographics are changing  Climate change and sea level rise are increasing the risk of inundation and storm damage  FEMA is assessing the “current risk” Using Advisory Base Flood Elevations (ABFEs), partners are working on future risk information

6. 6 NOAA Interactive Maps  Interactive map shows future areal extent of one- percent annual chance coastal flood hazard areas, resulting from sea level rise

7. 7 Hurricane Sandy: Flood Risk Information  New Jersey (10 Counties) Released December 2012 Atlantic County, NJ Bergen County, NJ Burlington County, NJ Cape May County, NJ Essex County, NJ Hudson County, NJ Middlesex County, NJ Monmouth County, NJ Ocean County, NJ Union County, NJ  New York (8 Counties) Westchester County and portions of New York City were released January 28, 2013 Bronx County, NY Kings County, NY New York County, NY Queens County, NY Richmond County, NY Westchester County, NY Remaining areas of New York will be released in February 2013

8. 8 Hurricane Sandy: Flood Risk Information  Prior to Sandy, FEMA was performing a restudy of the New Jersey and New York coastline with anticipated products to be delivered in mid- 2013  Effective information for many of the areas of NJ and NY does not currently reflect the best available data  FEMA provided near-term Advisory Base Flood Elevations (ABFEs) to support reconstruction efforts  Advisory information reflects current risk  Coastal flood zones updated using ABFEs may extend further inland than the SFHAs shown on current effective FIRMs

9. 9 Advisories: Engaging Whole Community What We Have Completed Proposed Plan Post Data Release (in order of timing) Proposed Plan Post Data Release (in order of timing) State: Worked with DEP & SHMO on Outreach Plan Gave ‘first look” at the data Public/Elected Officials: Conduct webinar with elected/public officials to give them a “first look” at the data Conduct a “telethon” and reach out to counties and communities that have had the greatest impact Elected Officials: Conducted ABFE Webinars for State & Congressional Stakeholders Will conduct “first look” at data prior to release Public Officials: Conduct Public Official Outreach Meetings-base future outreach on specific county/community needs Other Federal Agencies & Recovery Partners: Tie ABFEs into infrastructure, public works and other recovery elements. Public Officials: Conducted 7 ABFE Overview Webinars Media: Send media packet and conduct media briefings Builders, Architects, and Engineers: Engage National, State, and Regional Associations on ABFE importance & implications Public Officials: Called All County Planners, shared ABFE overview and scheduled public outreach briefings Insurance, Builders & Architects: Defined a call plan for reaching targeted groups in these industries Insurance Community: Engage National, State, and Regional Associations on ABFE importance & implications NGOs & Public Institutions: Engage the major NGOs and Public Institutions on ABFE importance & implications

10. 10 Hurricane Sandy: Elevated Restaurant See how building to higher standards helped Windansea Restaurant in Hurricane Sandy

11. 11 Hurricane Sandy Lessons Learned: Coastal Residential Construction  Key Takeaways: Setbacks key to reducing damages Inadequate foundations for coastal flood and erosion conditions New construction was placed atop old foundations  Key Successes : Damage to V-zone house elevated above Base Flood Elevation was minimal Building setbacks and wide dunes reduced damage

12. 12 Hurricane Sandy Lessons Learned: Critical Facilities  Key Observations: Flood damage nearly all due to inundation Emergency power system design focus is to mitigate normal power loss Flood protection plan typically two dimensions  Key Take-Aways: Below-grade spaces and utility systems are extremely vulnerable to inundation Emergency power systems are not being looked at holistically Need to examine quick connects for temporary power and other systems

13. 13 Policy Implications: Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012  On July 6, 2012 the President signed into law MAP-21 (P.L. 112-141), Otherwise known as the Biggert- Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act 2012 or “BW 12”  What it does: Reauthorized of NFIP for 5 years Eliminates a variety of existing flood insurance discounts and subsidies.  Results of the law: New flood insurance rates will reflect the true flood risk of an insured property. Policy rates could increase based on one or all of the following circumstances: 1. Change of ownership 2. Lapse in insurance coverage 3. Change in flood risk 4. Substantial damage or improvement to a building

14. 14 National Disaster Recovery Framework (NDRF) Hurricane Sandy presented an opportunity to fully implement the NDRF  FEMA appointed Federal Disaster Recovery Coordinators and Mitigation Advisors  All 6 RSFs are still active with full participation from supporting agencies and organization  Mitigation and Recovery staff are ensuring a coordinated approach to delivery all programs

15. 15 State of Vermont & Tropical Storm Irene  State of Vermont received assistance from the Environmental Protection Agency (APA)  Partnered with the National Hazard Mitigation Association (NHMA) and the Coastal Hazard Center to: Develop policy options to improve resiliency Create community guidance promoting long-term resilience Evaluate selected state programs and policies Identify conflicts with what new river science reveals about vulnerabilities to future flooding and erosion hazards

16. 16 Mitigation Planning Evaluation of State Mitigation Plans Overall plan quality has improved over the past decade Strengths Articulating Goals Fact Based Mitigation Policies Implementation and Monitoring Inter- organizational coordination Participation across groups and Organization Areas for Improvement

17. 17 Perception of Risk: 2011-2012 Flood Survey Results – Flood Awareness  There is a stark difference in perception of flood risk between the public and local officials in Risk MAP areas vs. Non Risk MAP Areas Do You Believe Your Community is at Risk of Flooding?

18. 18 Flood Survey Results: Public Findings  Proximity to a hazard does not prompt action Being located near a flood hazard did not make individuals feel that their community was at greater flood risk, but it did make individuals feel that their home was at greater risk Despite that, they did not act significantly differently than those who were not located near flood hazards in terms of their behaviors to protect their homes against flooding  Those who didn’t take action to reduce flood risk didn’t think there was a risk 81% did not take actions because they did not believe there was a risk 5% mentioned cost as a reason 4% did not know what actions to take

19. 19 Further Studies  What truly informs local decision making on climate change adaptation?  How do we see, from a adaptation standpoint, the integration of economics, housing, infrastructure, health and social services, and natural and cultural resources?  How can we better integrate programs and processes across Federal agencies, State departments, and local governments?

20. 20 Q&A

21. 21 Roy Wright| Roy.Wright@fema.dhs.govRoy.Wright@fema.dhs.gov Karen Helbrecht| Karen.Helbrecht@fema.dhs.govKaren.Helbrecht@fema.dhs.gov