Description

1) Substantial Damage Tracking Post-Hurricane Ida
Maggie Talley, CFM, Jefferson Parish, mtalley@jeffparish.net
Co-presenters: None

Abstract: Hurricane Ida hit as a Category 4 on the 16th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and brought damaging winds and rain. Jefferson Parish conducted windshield assessments on its 160,000 structures in the weeks after the storm and identified over 1500 substantially damaged structures. As part of its recovery efforts, Jefferson Parish created a tool to capture substantial damage assessments and other related data to track the progress of these structures. This presentation will provide an overview of the damage assessment tracking and reporting tool, a breakdown of the various data sets compiled, and illustrate best practices for tracking substantial damage structures from the time of the disaster through the mitigation phase.

2) Major Changes to FEMA’s New Elevation Certificate
Shilpa Mulik, CFM, FEMA, Shilpa.Mulik@fema.dhs.gov
Co-presenters: Becca Fricke-Croft, CFM, becca.croft@atkinsglobal.com

Abstract: FEMA’s Elevation Certificate (EC) is an important administrative tool of the NFIP. Although the EC is no longer *required* to obtain an insurance policy through the NFIP’s new insurance rating methodology, Risk Rating 2.0 (RR 2.0), most participating communities—particularly those participating in the Community Rating System program (CRS)—still use them for documenting compliance and making floodplain management decisions, especially for development inside the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA). ECs can also document property details that may qualify the property owner to obtain lower insurance rates in any flood zone. In [November 2022], FEMA released a new version of the EC (Form #TBD) with a number of major changes to the form and its instructions to better align with RR 2.0. Many of the changes were intended to address common issues and errors that surveyors and community floodplain administrators make when completing the form. The most noticeable change is that there are two new sections, created to enable property owners to document the elevations needed for potential flood insurance savings under RR 2.0. In this presentation, we will highlight the major changes found in the new EC form (and instructions) and answer common questions asked by surveyors, floodplain managers, and CRS communities.

3) Elevation Certificate Missteps: Connecting Guidance to the Real World
Del Schwalls, CFM, Schwalls Consulting LLC, dschwalls@schwallsconsulting.com
Co-presenters: None

Abstract: This presentation will review the guidance related to some of the most commonly confused aspects of completing the FEMA Elevation Certificate (EC), including Building Diagram selection and how it applies to real world examples. This confusion is often due to conflicting direction issued by the numerous programs and agencies using the EC, including local governments, insurance agencies, CRS, and the NFIP. Given that the EC is a critical tool for ensuring buildings are constructed in accordance with floodplain management regulations, it is vital that the fundamentals and nuances are understood. While this presentation is not a review of all the updates in the new EC, the significant revisions to the instructions and alterations to the form itself will hopefully resolve some of the confusion. Therefore, relevant modifications will be discussed as well. The goal of the presentation will be to educate users on completing the EC so that it meets the needs of any program, and to understand the context behind the requirements.