Sustainable, Nonstructural Flood Protection for Buildings and Communities Actions and Plans for National Risk Reduction and the Importance of Nonstructural Measures Presented by: Michael Buckley, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Mitigation

Why Mitigate? Turning the Ship: Actions & Plans for National Risk Reduction and the Importance of Nonstructural Measures

Multi-Hazard Mitigation Council Study (2005)  $1 spent = $4 saved!  Benefits individuals, states, and communities through:  Future reduced resource losses  Future increased tax revenues  Future reduced hazard-related expenditures Turning the Ship: Actions & Plans for National Risk Reduction and the Importance of Nonstructural Measures

What Does FEMA Do to Reduce Risk?  National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)  Community Rating System (CRS)  Provisionally Accredited Levee (PAL) Designation  Map Modernization and Risk Map  Mitigation Assessment Team (MAT) Program  Unified Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA)

Turning the Ship: Actions & Plans for National Risk Reduction and the Importance of Nonstructural Measures NFIP Evaluation (2006)  14 reports  191 recommendations in these areas:  Risk Reduction, Risk Analysis, and Risk Insurance activities  Floodplain management, such as  Regulation  Compliance  Community Rating System (CRS)  The Community Assistance Program-State Support Services Element (CAP-SSSE)  The role of the states

NFIP Evaluation (cont) Two main study categories and their results : 1.A review of the compliance processes used by FEMA and our state partners. Recommendations included:  Incorporating higher standards into regulations  Developing/updating guidance and training  Increasing floodplain management resources in the regions and states 2.A survey to determine the actual level of compliance  Approximately 90% of all post-FIRM buildings surveyed had their lowest floor at or above the Base Flood Elevation (BFE) or within 6 inches of BFE; In CRS communities this improved to 96%. Turning the Ship: Actions & Plans for National Risk Reduction and the Importance of Nonstructural Measures

NFIP Evaluation – Implementing Actions  Increased CAP-SSSE by $1M in FY 2009  New Floodplain Management Bulletin on Historic Structures  Updated 4 Technical Bulletins  Supported Training and Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM) CFM  Updating Residential Substantial Damage Estimator (RSDE) Software and Desk Reference  Updating CAV Guidance  Revising NFIP Regulations  CRS Task Force Review and Weighting Forum

NFIP Community Rating System  Approximately two-thirds of all NFIP policies are in CRS communities  1,095 CRS communities as of Oct 1, 2008  26 new communities since Oct 2007  77 CRS Class improvements since Oct 2007  Currently there are 139 CRS Class 6 or better Turning the Ship: Actions & Plans for National Risk Reduction and the Importance of Nonstructural Measures

CRS Strategic Plan  Prepared by the CRS Task Force  Includes 5 objectives and 15 strategies  Represents a six-year concentrated effort through year 2013  Will evaluate CRS activities, aggressively promote CRS - including Class improvements, provide greater attention to repetitive loss property mitigation and improve existing CRS implementation

Turning the Ship: Actions & Plans for National Risk Reduction and the Importance of Nonstructural Measures CRS Strategic Plan Objectives  Ensure that all CRS credits are appropriate and fully earned.  Support FEMA’s initiatives to reduce repetitive flood losses.  Encourage communities to improve their floodplain management programs continually.  Support the CRS Strategic Plan with appropriate procedures and adequate resources.  Implement a knowledge management plan for the CRS.

FEMA’s Role with Levees  Set national FEMA policy relative to levee-impacted areas on NFIP maps  Establish/reflect correct flood insurance risk zones behind levees on NFIP maps  Develop program-level outreach and public awareness materials  Coordinate closely with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers  Educate and inform stakeholders Turning the Ship: Actions & Plans for National Risk Reduction and the Importance of Nonstructural Measures

Levees – Mapping and Implications - OR -

Turning the Ship: Actions & Plans for National Risk Reduction and the Importance of Nonstructural Measures Provisionally Accredited Levees  Procedure Memorandum 43 established Provisionally Accredited Levee (PAL) designation  Allows 24 months for eligible community/levee system owner to compile & submit the required data & documentation to support certification and accreditation of the levee.  FEMA continues the mapping process and will issue preliminary and effective of DFIRMs noting levee as Provisionally Accredited  First PALs will expire in 2009  FEMA plans to fund map revisions in FY09 as PALs expire to accurately identify the risk behind the levee  Feedback throughout Nation: some will be accredited, some will be de-accredited

Transfer Risk Reduce Risk Map Risk Data Risk MAP REDUCE LOSS OF LIFE & PROPERTY Goal – Measure Quantifiable Risk Reduction Assess Present & Future Risks Plan for Risk 2 2 AssessRisk 3 3 CommunicateRisk 4 4 MitigateRisk 1 1 IdentifyRisk Risk MAP Lifecycle 2 2 Assess Risk 3 3 Communicate Risk 4 4 Mitigate Risk 1 1 Identify Risk Turning the Ship: Actions & Plans for National Risk Reduction and the Importance of Nonstructural Measures

Map Modernization Successes

Turning the Ship: Actions & Plans for National Risk Reduction and the Importance of Nonstructural Measures Map Mod - Key Goals

Turning the Ship: Actions & Plans for National Risk Reduction and the Importance of Nonstructural Measures Mitigation Assessment Team (MAT) Program  Overseen by FEMA’s Building Science Division  MAT documents successes, best practices and mitigation projects constructed to higher standards  Evaluates acquisition and elevation projects  Evaluates past HMA projects  Builds library of best practices  Makes recommendations for codes and standards  MATs currently underway for Ike and Midwest Floods. March 2009 completion of final reports.

Coastal A Hazard Area  Recommended by MATs since 1995  Incorporated in ASCE and referenced by latest Building Codes  On MS DFIRMs  Soon part of new coastal map studies as information layer Turning the Ship: Actions & Plans for National Risk Reduction and the Importance of Nonstructural Measures

Sample DFIRM with Coastal A delineated  What is the Coastal A exposure?  Population  Square miles  Number of Housing Units  Loss History  Claims  Number of Policies  What will be the losses avoided? Turning the Ship: Actions & Plans for National Risk Reduction and the Importance of Nonstructural Measures

Updated Technical Bulletins  Openings in Foundation Walls (TB1)  Flood-Resistant Materials Requirements (TB2)  Free-of-Obstruction Requirements (TB5)  Design and Construction Guidance for Breakaway Walls Below Elevated Coastal Buildings (TB9) Turning the Ship: Actions & Plans for National Risk Reduction and the Importance of Nonstructural Measures

 Cornerstone of effective mitigation  Return on investment  Technology transfer  Building code adoption tracking  How many jurisdictions have disaster-resistant codes?  What is the trend?  Can we do better?  Are they making a difference? FEMA’s involvement in Model Building Codes Turning the Ship: Actions & Plans for National Risk Reduction and the Importance of Nonstructural Measures

Unified Hazard Mitigation Assistance  Hazard Mitigation Grant Program  Pre-Disaster Mitigation  Flood Mitigation Assistance  Severe Repetitive Loss  Repetitive Flood Claims Turning the Ship: Actions & Plans for National Risk Reduction and the Importance of Nonstructural Measures

Summary of Accomplishments  Implemented changes based on the NFIP Evaluation  Developed a CRS Strategic Plan  Incorporated the Provisionally Accredited Levee (PAL) as part of flood mapping  Generated the Risk MAP  Continued improvements in Map Mod  Updated technical bulletins and other documents  Created the Unified HMA

Turning the Ship: Actions & Plans for National Risk Reduction and the Importance of Nonstructural Measures Closing Statements  Future FEMA Mitigation activities include  Continue to improve and strengthen resources  Consistently work to strengthen collaborative efforts with other agencies and stakeholders  Continue to refine and promote our programs for efficiency in reducing risk Attendance at additional mitigation sessions at the 4th National Floodproofing Conference and Expedition is encouraged

Turning the Ship: Actions & Plans for National Risk Reduction and the Importance of Nonstructural Measures Additional Mitigation-Related Sessions  Technical Field Tour: The tour will showcase a variety of innovative structure-raising technologies that are currently being employed in the New Orleans area.  Plenary Session 4 – Doing It Right - Don’t Flood Thy Neighbor: This panel will address public awareness/education, community liability issues,  Concurrent Session C, Track 1 – Floodproofing/Nonstructural Policy and Societal Issues  Concurrent Session C, Track 2 – Elevation and Wet Floodproofing  Participants will engage in interactive discussion on these topics: Discussion Session A-1 at 10:30 – noon AND Discussion Session A-2 at 1:30 – 3:00 What are the impediments to implementing more nonstructural floodproofing? How do we get past them? Discussion Session B-1 at 10:30 – noon AND Discussion Session A-2 at 1:30 – 3:00 What are the roles of nonstructural/floodproofing in levee safety, aging infrastructure issues, and short and long term reliance on levees?

Turning the Ship: Actions & Plans for National Risk Reduction and the Importance of Nonstructural Measures Additional Mitigation-Related Sessions (cont)  Concurrent Session C, Track 3 – Buyouts and Relocations  Concurrent Session C, Track 4 – Financing, Packaging, and Incentives  Closing Plenary Session 5 – Looking to the Future: Floodplain Management Issues Across the Nation AND Future Action Plans  Creative Strategies for Post-Disaster Construction, the Patchwork Quilt of Programs and Funding  Elevation Certificates  The NEW Substantial Damage Estimator (SDE) Program

Thank You for Attending This Plenary Turning the Ship: Actions & Plans for National Risk Reduction and the Importance of Nonstructural Measures