Description

1) Equity Considerations for Floodplain Management: Existing Federal Efforts to Address Needs of Historically Underserved Communities
Ummekulsoom Lalani, Atkins North America ummekulsoom.lalani@atkinsglobal.com
Co-presenters: Phetmano Phannavong, phetmano.phannavong@atkinsglobal.com

Abstract: As impacts of global climate change continue to intensify and impact at-risk communities, changes in land development, weather patterns, and sea levels may result in communities having a greater risk of flooding. State, local, tribal, and territorial governments continue to face pressures as they determine how to address the needs of communities to respond to flood hazards. Furthermore, resources for flood risk management are often inequitably distributed even though socially vulnerable populations experience the worst repercussions. The debilitating impacts of disasters on at-risk communities has shifted the conversations around how to prioritize equity and social justice considerations for floodplain management. ASFPM has also committed to reassessing current policies, programs, and practices in the field of floodplain management to examine approaches that alleviate inequities. Other relevant national shifts include the Justice40 Initiative which requires 40 percent of the overall benefits from federal investments in climate and clean energy to flow to disadvantaged communities and includes programs such as FEMA’s BRIC and FMA grant programs as well as the Risk Mapping Assessment and Planning program. Executive Orders 14008 and 13950 both address the need to build resilience against the impacts of climate change with a focus on advancing racial equity and support for underserved communities through the federal government. This presentation will use examples from the aftermath of Hurricane Ian and Hurricane Fiona to demonstrate the importance of applying an equity lens before, during, and after disasters to address the needs of underserved and vulnerable communities. It will also provide an overview of current national and federal initiatives, such as the White House’s National Initiative to Advance Building Codes, FEMA’s Building Codes Strategy, Building Codes Adoption Tracking Portal and the Climate and Economic Screening Justice Tool to examine opportunities to enhance flood risk management that incorporate considerations for equity.

2) Who are risk models leaving behind?
Carlos Genatios, Ph.D., Miami Dade College, carlosgenatios@gmail.com
Co-presenters: None

Abstract: Risk models typically use public data, which, in several cases, is unprecise or non-updated. Besides, the averaged probabilistic values in census tracts or census blocks do not allow an adequate risk assessment of populations with high or low social vulnerability. Some data requiring local verification for risk assessment are: topography, building inventory, building footprint, statistics of the population, property values, recently built infrastructure, modifications to the coastline, alterations to dunes and vegetation, and the situation of the sea walls, among others. We have analyzed several Census tracts from the cities of Miami and Miami Beach to compare the results (a) using data from public information and (b) using updated and improved data from drone flights and local verification. In these examples, the economic losses produced by hurricanes and floods using the improved inventory equal 2.7 and 1.7 times the losses obtained with the public inventory. Videos captured with drones over the last three years show the impacts of King Tides. In some census tracts considered medium risk, we verified the presence of buildings with a high physical vulnerability that can be severely affected while also showing high social vulnerability. To improve risk analysis and generate more inclusive procedures, we have implemented: Use of drones and lidar for data capture, generation of topographies, DSM, and DTM; Correction of building footprints and building inventory; Survey for the structural characterization of buildings. We are also working on data collection with drones to evaluate dunes and the replenishment of beaches. We have also developed a comprehensive risk analysis survey that includes aspects of social vulnerability and community resilience. In addition, as part of a community engagement effort, we have created a College Credit Certificate in GIS technology, with environmental risk analysis examples, which provides for articulation with High School, and is stackable to Associate in Sciences and Bachelor of Sciences degrees in Information Technology. This presentation will show variations and inaccuracies in risk assessment examples under flooding and hurricane hazards, using available public data and procedures to improve the results.

3) Developing Improved Benefit Cost Analysis (BCA) Guidance: Equitable Alternatives to Traditional BCA
Anne Watkins, AECOM, anne.watkins@aecom.com
Co-presenters: Jenna Rao, Texas Water Development Board, jenna.rao@twdb.texas.gov; Saul Nuccitelli, Texas Water Development Board, Saul.Nuccitelli@twdb.texas.gov; Emily Schwimmer, AECOM, Emily.Schwimmer@aecom.com

Abstract: Protecting communities from flooding through a variety of mitigation techniques is essential to creating a more resilient future. One way to assess the feasibility of a given flood mitigation project is the benefit cost analysis (BCA). Funding for flood mitigation often relies on the project having a benefit cost ratio (BCR) that exceeds 1. However, not all municipalities have the resources to conduct a BCA. Additionally, traditional BCA has come under scrutiny by researchers who posit that it prioritizes “dense, high-value property areas and promotes retreat from low-density, low value areas” (Tate 2016). It is important for floodplain managers to work to provide equitable outcomes for all communities whether urban or rural, high or low income.
The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) and AECOM previously developed a BCA Input Tool to assist local project sponsors in preparing a BCA to meet the requirements of the State Flood Plan and Flood Infrastructure Fund. They are currently developing a BCA Guidance document to identify scalable approaches and investigate a range of additional benefit types and values to support communities in developing more comprehensive BCAs. The scalable approach to BCA analysis includes detailed BCAs for specific, identified projects that are seeking financial assistance as well as more approximate BCAs for high level planning purposes. The guidance document aims to include traditionally underrepresented land use types (agricultural, transportation, utility infrastructure) and impact types (social, health/safety, environmental) to emphasize people rather than property. One methodology involves applying equity weights to certain benefit categories to incorporate the higher marginal value of each dollar spent on flood recovery to lower income residents. This presentation will review common BCA approaches and discuss alternatives with the goal of offering equitable solutions to ensure that all communities in Texas can fairly compete for funding for a variety of flood mitigation projects.