Description

1) Best Practices for Floodplain Management Program Reviews: A State’s Perspective
Yi Chan, CFM, Atkins, yi.chan@atkinsglobal.com
Co-presenters: Manuel Razo, manuel.razo@twdb.texas.gov

Abstract: This presentation will provide an overview of the tools and methods used to streamline the permit review and community evaluation process, as well as lessons learned and tips for implementing this in your own state. In Texas, there has been an effort to provide assistance and oversight of local community floodplain management programs by conducting a large volume of Community Assistance Visits (CAV), with a focus on high-risk communities that have been impacted by floods such as Hurricane Harvey in the last several years. The State of Texas and Atkins worked jointly to complete essential components of the CAV process for five communities in the span of a month. This work involved floodplain tours and development activity documentation using the ArcGIS collector app, a review of floodplain program documentation (including permits, elevation certificates, site plans, and LOMCs), identifying potential violations, and suggested CAV follow-up actions. This presentation includes an overview of the custom CAV assessment documentation tools developed during this effort, that efficiently documented and communicated findings and allowed for a seamless transition of information, so that anyone could get a clear overview of a community’s potential programmatic deficiencies and continue to the next steps of the audit process. This project provides an example of how contracted services can successfully support a state’s workload, while still allowing the state program staff to be present in the process and build and maintain relationships with the local communities. While the CAV process is changing, states can still use the tools covered in this presentation to help evaluate local floodplain management programs.

2) Benefits of NCDOT’s partnership with NCDPS: NFIP compliance, Mapping, Flood Monitoring and beyond.
Brian Radakovic, PE, CFM, NCDOT, bmradakovic@ncdot.gov
Co-presenters: Abhijit Patil, Ph.D, NCEM North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program, abhijit.patil@ncdps.gov

Abstract: The mission of North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) is connecting people, products, and places safely and efficiently with customer focus, accountability, and environmental sensitivity to enhance the economy and vitality of North Carolina. North Carolina Department of Public Safety mission is to safeguard and preserve the lives and property of the people of North Carolina through prevention, protection, and preparation with integrity and honor and as a Cooperating Technical Partner (CTP) is delegated the responsibility to update and maintain the state’s Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs), Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps (DFIRMs), and processing of all Letters of Map Changes (LOMC) in North Carolina to ensure compliance with FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) regulations. Both NCDOT and the NCDPS recognized the need to function in a collaborative partnership in order to effectively deliver NFIP compliance for NCDOT’s multi-modal transportation programs, ensure DFIRMS have the best available data and protect the safety of the traveling public from flooding hazards. This led to the 2008 signing of the MOA (recently updated in 2021), which allows for efficient use of both agencies' resources and has been developed in a manner to streamline project NFIP approval to maintain construction schedules in a cost-effective way, provide NCDOT funded positions within NCDPS to achieve shared goals, and to expand the flooding alert tools with North Carolina. NCDOT’s Highway Floodplain Program and NCDPS’s North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program (NCFMP) work together to manage this MOA. This presentation will discuss how the MOA between NCDOT and NCDPS has served to mutually benefit both state agencies in fulfilling their respective missions and goals. Discussion will include a summary of past successes, lessons learned, and future goals for the continuation of this MOA between the two state agencies.

3) Florida Pilot Program to Advance Floodplain Management Compliance Among Communities
Conn Cole, Florida Division of Emergency Management, Conn.Cole@em.myflorida.com
Co-presenters: Kristabel Moore, kristabel.moore@em.myflorida.com

Abstract: This session will cover the Florida Division of Emergency Management Office of Floodplain Management’s (FDEM OFM) preparation for and response to organizing and conducting post-disaster operations in the wake of Hurricane Ian. Subjects to be explored include pre-disaster communications with local communities, initial post-disaster Community Assistance Contacts (CACs), including requests for assistance, staff deployments to assist with post-disaster operations, and the long-term impacts of Hurricane Ian. In addition, we will discuss the role of the State in communicating the need for enforcing floodplain management regulations following disasters and how damage influences patterns of ordinance amendments in both severely and non-impacted communities. The FDEM Office of Floodplain Management’s session will explore how coordination efforts between Florida and its FEMA Region IV partners streamlined pre- and post-disaster efforts. Toward the end of the presentation, the speaker will discuss lessons learned in the form of successes and challenges throughout the response efforts. This presentation should give the audience a greater understanding of Florida’s post-disaster mechanisms and how the OFM operates - proactively (pre-hurricane) and reactively (post-hurricane). In addition, the session will help local FPAs understand what preparations must be made before storms and how to navigate through the State’s resources following a disaster. This goal will be strengthened by providing helpful materials developed by our office.