A2: State Mitigation Initiatives

Description

1) Resilient NC: 25+ Years of Mitigation Planning & Implementation
Nathan Slaughter, AICP, CFM, ESP Associates nslaughter@espassociates.com
Co-presenters: Chris Crew, john.crew@ncdps.gov; Darrin Punchard, darrin@punchardconsulting.com; Gavin Smith, gavin_smith@ncsu.edu

Abstract: For over 25 years, North Carolina has served as a successful case study in mitigation. This presentation will provide an overview of that story while sharing ideas that other states and communities can use to help enhance their own programs.
Topics to be covered include:

The state’s Hazard Mitigation Planning Initiative (HMPI) which pre-dated the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000, resulting in some of the first hazard mitigation plans in the country and informing national mitigation planning policy.
The state’s Floodplain Mapping Program which has grown into a national model for innovative all-hazards risk management.
Successes with local and state-level hazard mitigation planning, including:
- Project implementation. North Carolina has completed mitigation projects for thousands of properties (HMGP Fran, Floyd, Matthew, Florence, and recent success with BRIC grants just to name a few).
- Unprecedented state-level support and funding, including 1) more than 20 years and $100 million in state funding to meet non-federal HMGP match requirements 2) Hundreds of millions of dollars in state funding to support post-disaster recovery, redevelopment, and long-term resilience building This presentation will bring together many key figures from North Carolina's hazard mitigation history, including current and former state mitigation staff, consultants, and academic partners, to share the story of how North Carolina's hazard mitigation and floodplain management programs have evolved over the past few decades. Each speaker will provide the audience with succinct takeaways from their experiences over the years, including lessons learned and applied, and insight or ideas that other states and communities can use to help build or improve their own programs. Details will also be provided on where North Carolina is heading in terms of the next generation of hazard mitigation and flood risk management.

2) First Comes Fire-Then Comes Floods & More, (State Post Wildfire Mitigation Team), State Floodplain Manager & SHMO Partnerships Are Key
Kathy Holder, CFM, Utah Division of Emergency Management, kcholder@utah.gov
Co-presenters: Tracie J Harrison, CFM, tjharrison@utah.gov

Abstract: How to Build Your State Post Wildfire Mitigation Team- Utah Lessons Learned This is a look at how Utah's Floodplain Manager, State Hazard Mitigation Officer, and Forestry Fire and Start Lands pulled together State and Federal Partnerships to initiate a successful "State Post Wildfire Mitigation Team". Utah has created a "One Stop Shop" for community mitigation options post wildfire.

3) Big Floods, but No Big Media Presence – Minnesota’s Flood Risk Reduction Successes
Ceil Strauss, MnDNR, ceil.strauss@state.mn.us
Co-presenters: None

Abstract: As is happening around the country, Minnesota is seeing trends towards more frequent storms that are both larger and more intense. Many communities are seeing major flooding that is of the same magnitude as past major flooding, but are experiencing such significant reductions in damage that there is little media coverage when the flooding occurred. Higher state regulatory standards and proactive local governments working on flood risk reduction projects have helped reduce flood damage, especially to homes and businesses. This presentation will briefly discuss state higher standards and the State Flood Hazard Mitigation grant program, but will focus on case studies of several communities with past and more recent flooding of similar magnitude, but with significantly less damage due to local efforts. What kinds of projects did they do and how did they leverage federal, state and local funding.

Contributors

Nathan Slaughter

Mr. Slaughter is a certified professional planner and floodplain manager with over twenty-three years of experience in hazard mitigation, resilience and disaster recovery planning, business development, and project management. He has assisted in the development of hazard mitigation plans and disaster recovery plans for over one thousand municipal, county, state, and tribal government clients across the country. Mr. Slaughter has worked in hazard mitigation North Carolina since 2001 and currently serves as the Hazard Mitigation Department Manager at ESP Associates. He recently served as Project Manager for important projects such as the 2023 update of the State of North Carolina's Enhanced Hazard Mitigation Plan, 12 Regional Hazard Mitigation Plans in North Carolina. He is currently working on Hazard Mitigation Plans in Mount Pleasant and Charleston South Carolina.
Kathy Holder

Kathy Holder is Utah’s State Hazard Mitigation Officer, as well as the Mitigation and Recovery Section Manager for the Utah Division of Emergency Management. She leads Utah’s Post Wildfire Mitigation Team and Utah’s State Hazard Mitigation Team. She served as the State Floodplain Manager/National Flood Insurance Coordinator for the State of Utah before her current position. She is a Certified Floodplain Manager with 14 years of experience in Emergency Management. Kathy has worked on several presidentially declared disasters in recovery and held the position of the Deputy State Coordinating Officer for Public Assistance for two of Utah’s most recent presidentially declared disasters. Kathy has held a position on the board of the Utah Floodplain and Stormwater Management Association (UFSMA) for the past 6 years. She holds degrees in Masters of Business Administration, Bachelors of Public Administration, and General Science. She has taught at the University level for over 11 years. Kathy engages in educating Utah communities, government agencies, private nonprofits, and citizens on regulations, permitting, building codes, mitigation, and recovery.
Ceil Strauss

Ceil Strauss is the Minnesota State Floodplain Manager. Ceil has been in the Floodplain Program at Minnesota DNR since 2002, and in the State Floodplain Manager role since 2007. She has worked with the Minnesota DNR an additional 14 years, mainly as an Area (or Field) Hydrologist in the western Twin Cities area. She is past Chair of the national Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM).