Alabama’s Floodplain Management Program Tom Littlepage Alabama Office of Water Resources

History of the Office of Water Resources (OWR)  Severe droughts in 1986 and 1988  Alabama Water Resources Study – 1990   Actions by Corps of Engineers and Georgia to alleviate Georgia drought conditions Threatened the availability of water in Alabama Highlighted the fact that we had no system in place to assess water use  Alabama’s Response Executive Order by Governor Hunt established the Office of Water Resources Executive Order by Governor Hunt established the Office of Water Resources Water Resources Act of 1993 formalized the agency and placed it under the umbrella of ADECA Water Resources Act of 1993 formalized the agency and placed it under the umbrella of ADECA

Mission Statement “The Office of Water Resources will plan, coordinate, develop, and manage Alabama’s water resources, both ground and surface water in a manner that is in the best interest of the State of Alabama. This includes recommending policies and legislation, conducting technical studies, implementing and participating in programs and projects, and actively representing Alabama’s intra and interstate water resource interests.”

OWR Functional Organization Water Management Interstate Issues Floodplain Management OWR

OWR Functional Organization Water Management Interstate Issues Floodplain Management OWR

FPM Components NFIP Technical Assistance Floodplain Mapping FPM

National Flood Insurance Program  Makes affordable flood insurance available  Is based on an agreement between a local community and FEMA Community passes a local ordinance to foster “smart” growth in flood-prone area Community passes a local ordinance to foster “smart” growth in flood-prone area And In Return FEMA makes flood insurance and disaster assistance available to community FEMA makes flood insurance and disaster assistance available to community

NFIP Tools  Local Ordinances  Flood Insurance Study  Maps identifying flood-prone areas Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM’s) Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM’s) Flood Hazard Boundary Maps (FHBM’s) Flood Hazard Boundary Maps (FHBM’s) Floodway Maps Floodway Maps

OWR’s Role in the NFIP  Provide technical assistance and education to local Floodplain Administrators  Provide outreach to floodplain development stakeholders, i.e. surveyors, homebuilders  Assist FEMA with compliance-related issues

Maps  To be effective, maps of flood-prone areas must be: Accurate Accurate Maintained and Updated Maintained and Updated Readily Available Readily Available

Age of Flood Maps in Alabama Average = 15+ Years

Flood Map Modernization Program  Congress created the FMMP to: Update FIRMs Update FIRMs Produce Digital FIRMs Produce Digital FIRMs Build State capability to maintain maps Build State capability to maintain maps Strengthen relationships among Federal, State, and local agencies Strengthen relationships among Federal, State, and local agencies

Leading the Way  Alabama is a Cooperating Technical Partner with FEMA in the Flood Map Modernization Program  Alabama is one of only two states in Region IV that is proactively implementing Floodplain Management Programs to include Map Maintenance  The Office of Water Resources is the agency where the Alabama FMMP is housed

As a Cooperating Technical Partner Alabama Will…  Administer the Flood Map Modernization Program  Conduct All Flood Map Maintenance  Process Letters of Map Change (LOMCs)  Provide for the Distribution of Paper FIRM’s and DFIRM’s

What is a DFIRM?  Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map Digital data is used in the FIRM production Digital data is used in the FIRM production Base map, graphics, text, shading, and geographic data are all included Base map, graphics, text, shading, and geographic data are all included Maps are produced in a countywide format Maps are produced in a countywide format

DFIRM = Flood Data/Analysis Base + Topography + DFIRM Production

Importance of Updates Current MapUpdated Map

Flood Mapping Process  Education and Outreach  Scoping  Technical Analyses  Engineering Review and Map Production

Scoping  FY2003 MapMod Projects nearing completion  FY2004 MapMod Projects underway  FY2005 MapMod Project scoping just completed  FY2006 MapMod Projects scoping to begin next January and will involve: Agency/Community Coordination Agency/Community Coordination Community’s ability to provide assistance and leverage cost Community’s ability to provide assistance and leverage cost

Technical Analysis  Spatial Data  Hydrologic and hydraulic Studies  Draft DFIRM Production

DFIRM Production Process Flow Chart

Map Production  Review of engineering analyses  Map review, publication, and production  Public review and comments  DFIRM produced and distributed

Where Are We In the Process?  Business Plan has been approved by FEMA  Funding for FY2003, FY2004, and FY2005 projects allocated  Initial aspects of the FY2006 projects underway

Flood Map Modernization Project Selection  FEMA Criteria High population density High population density History of repetitive loss/claims/disaster History of repetitive loss/claims/disaster High growth areas High growth areas Large NFIP policy base Large NFIP policy base Ability to leverage other Federal agency work Ability to leverage other Federal agency work Availability to cost share with state and regional entities Availability to cost share with state and regional entities

Business Plan  Plan for the entire state  Plan has to be approved by FEMA Mapping Goals Mapping Goals Program Management Program Management Funding Needs Funding Needs  LOMC  Legislation

Counties By Year

Program Plan  Establish Flood Map Modernization Business Plan as part of overall Floodplain Management Business Plan Comprehensive plan Comprehensive plan Outline long-term goals and objectives Outline long-term goals and objectives Describe plan to establish state capability Describe plan to establish state capability

How can you help?  Get involved in the map process through local Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance Administrators.  Give us feedback on the end products.  Be informed of our progress.

Contact Information Web: Phone: (334) FAX: (334)

Questions?