National News

FEMA has released a Fact Sheet about Sections 205 and 207 of the National Flood Insurance Program Reform Act of 2012. Key provisions require FEMA to raise flood insurance rates and change how flood insurance map updates affect policyholders.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have established the Flood Protection Structure Accreditation Task Force and is organizing several web meetings in March for stakeholder input. Its goal is to develop recommendations for aligning agency processes so information collected for either USACE Inspection of Completed Works (ICW) program purposes or National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) levee accreditation purposes can be used interchangeably and to align the information and data collected by or for the USACE ICW program so it is sufficient to satisfy NFIP accreditation requirements for levee systems. Please visit http://www.usace.army.mil/Missions/CivilWorks/LeveeSafetyProgram/TaskForce to register for a web meeting; obtain background information about the task force activities including the interim report; and submit comments online (note: the online comment form will not be available until March 8). In addition, a recording of the web meeting will be posted on this website March 20 for those unable to make one of the four sessions. Comments will be accepted until March 22, 2013.

FEMA is launching a new tool that will allow you to view a community’s preliminary flood hazard data over the web and in one convenient location! Preliminary data issued after April 1, 2013 will soon be accessible from the Map Service Center’s (MSC) Product Catalog. These data provide the public an early look at their home or community’s projected risk to flood hazards. Preliminary data available in this search tool will include: new or revised Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), Flood Insurance Study (FIS) reports, and FIRM Databases. Note: Preliminary data are subject to change, and are not to be reproduced or used as official FEMA data until they are effective. You may use preliminary data for review and guidance purposes only. For more information on preliminary data, visit http://www.fema.gov/preliminaryfloodhazarddata.

FEMA launches a new way to submit a request to change a property's floodplain designation.  Please see here for full information.

FEMA has made available the new FEMA Elevation Certificate.  The EC can be found here.

The memo outlines the use of conflict resolution practices for water and other environmental issues.  The memo directs federal agencies to use third-party facilitation to settle conflicts.The policy supports  an executive order to improve the federal permitting process for infrastructurre projects.

National Preparedness Month may be coming to a close, but as emergency managers, we know that preparedness is needed year-round in our communities. We are also keenly aware that a government-centric approach to disaster management is insufficient to meet the challenges posed by a catastrophic incident. To meet our preparedness goals, the whole community must be actively involved in all phases of the preparedness, response, and recovery cycle.

On Thursday Sept. 27, 2012 we announced the start of the application period for the Community Resilience Innovation Challenge Opportunity. This new monetary opportunity is designed to continue to move community preparedness forward and assist local areas in building and revitalizing community-based partnerships to advance the nation’s resilience to disasters. Submissions will be accepted through Oct. 26.

“The best resiliency ideas originate in our states and communities – not from Washington, DC,” said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. “The goal of this program is to empower communities to collaborate and develop innovative ways to effectively respond to disasters.”

Rockefeller Foundation and FEMA sponsor the Community Resilience Innovation Challenge Opportunity, which will be administered by the Los Angeles Emergency Preparedness Foundation, a third-party intermediary, to encourage local communities to engage in creative activities that enhance disaster resilience. Funding levels will range, with a maximum award of $35,000, and applications are open to most local, state, and tribal agencies and governments; business entities; associations; organizations and groups.

Help spread the word in your communities and share additional information on the Challenge program criteria and application process that can be found at www.fema.gov and www.ResilienceChallenge.org.

NFIP Reauthorization Guidance - July 9, 2012
On July 6, 2012, President Obama signed the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 extending the National Flood Insurance Program’s authority through September 30, 2017.  More information to follow.

A draft of the CRS Coordinator's Manual has been posted at www.CRS2012.org.  Agencies, communities and professionals are invited to submit comments and suggestions to improve the Manual. Click on "Outreach and Feedback" link in the 3rd paragraph of the homepage, and then click on "submit comments" link in the 3rd paragraph of the Outreach and Feedback page and submit any comments you may have.  The deadline to submit comments is July 31, 2012.

See release here.

The US Army Corps of Engineers conducted a listening session for the Federal Interagency Floodplain Management Task Force at the Floodplain Management Association (FMA) Annual Conference on 5 November 2010. The audience of 25 people consisted primarily of members of FMA from California, Nevada, and Hawaii, as well as a few invited guests. The members of FMA were primarily engineers and employees of private consulting companies, state and local government agencies, and USACE District offices.  The report is available here.

The White House Council on Environmental Quality released a proposal to the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) for their review that would significantly change the principles and guidelines that govern America's water resource planning. The proposal would require that such projects help to improve the economic well-being of the Nation for present and future generations, better protect communities from the effects of floods and storms, help communities and individuals make better choices about where to build based on an understanding of the risk, and protect and restore the environment. For more information, go here.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released this report which presents the results of the two-year long "Building Strong Collaborative Relationships for a Sustainable Water Resources Future" project. The input through surveys, shared documents, interviews, and conferences helped develop a set of recommendations to move toward advancing Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM). More information is available at this link.

The White House Council on Environmental Quality just announced the release of the final report of the President's Ocean Policy Task Force which establishes the country's first comprehensive national policy for the stewardship of the oceans, our coasts and the Great Lakes. This national policy will set the United States on a new path toward comprehensively planning for the conservation and sustainable use of the ocean. Americans want clean beaches, abundant seafood and wildlife, a robust economy and jobs and recreational opportunities from our oceans, coasts and Great Lakes areas. This National Policy provides a lasting foundation to help achieve these.  Please see the Press Release here.  Full report can be found here.

The National Association of Flood and Stormwater Management Agencies (NAFSMA) "Excellence in Communications Awards" competition is officially underway for 2012!  This year's program represents the fifth year that NAFSMA has undertaken this program to recognize and share outstanding flood risk and water quality imporvement outreach and education initiatives from both the public and private sectors.  The two main categories in this year's Awards Programs include: (1) Public Awareness of Flooding Risk, and/or Flood Preventions, and/or Emergency Preparedness, and (2) Improving Water Quality.  In addition to awarding the top programs throughout the country, NAFSMA produces a DVD to share these successful initiatives with others in the field. Awards submissions are due at the National Office by June 15, 2012 to be considered in this year's competition.  A submission may include any, or all, of the following: television (public service announcements and special broadcasts); printed materials (including brochures and printed advertisements) and outdoor advertising.  Media has to have been aired between January 2010 and April 30, 2012.  Printed and media materials will be judged and receive awards in separate categories.  For questions, please contact Susan Gilson at 202-289-8625 or or Betty Hollister at 702-254-6133 or . A copy of the announcement can be found here.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is revising its Preferred Risk Policy under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) to extend eligibility an additional year. Effective January 1, owners of buildings found to be in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) during a flood map revision, may be eligible for a preferred risk policy that will allow them to maintain a lower cost flood insurance policy for two years following the effective date of a flood map change.  Read full press release here.

In accordance with the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) regulations, communities or other parties seeking recognition of a levee system as providing protection on NFIP maps must provide data and documentation demonstrating compliance with regulations set forth in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at Title 44, Chapter 1, Section 65.10 (44 CFR Section 65.10). Once compliance with 44 CFR Section 65.10 is demonstrated, the levee system will be accredited on NFIP maps, reflecting the appropriate risk zones for levee-impacted areas. FEMA has seen an increase in the number of accreditation request submittals and has prepared guidance to improve and clarify the process of review for compliance with 44 CFR Section 65.10, and has prepared Procedure Memorandum No. 63. These reviews must be consistent for all accreditation submittals including, but not limited to new and continued accreditation requests as part of a mapping project, requests submitted as Letters of Map Change (LOMCs), Physical Map Revisions (PMRs), and Provisionally Accredited Levees (PALs). To download a copy of this Memorandum, click here.

Thousands who own homes and businesses in locations recently designated as high-risk flood areas will soon have a new way to save on flood insurance protection.  Beginning January 1, 2011, the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is offering a new insurance rating option that will allow many property owners to take advantage of lower-cost flood insurance for two years before they are required to pay standard rates.  The program will make Preferred Risk Policies (PRPs), which start at just $129 a year and are typically only available for properties in moderate-to-low risk areas, available for properties that have been newly mapped into high-risk areas due to a flood map revision on or after October 1, 2008. Information can be found on FEMA's mapping website or through a community's floodplain administrator. Property owners in communities that have received flood map updates since October 1, 2008 should contact their insurance agent for further details.  Additional information can also be found here or by calling the NFIP Help Center at 1-800-427-4661.

Agency to Account for Existing Levees, Flood Control Structures in Assessing Risks. Please see news release here.

In a letter dated December 6, 2010 to Jo-Ellen Darcy, Assistant Secretary of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, seventeen Congressional Members from California expressed concern over the Corp's levee vegetation policy. The letter highlights that removing vegetation from federal levees in the State has the potential to significantly alter ecosystems, place a large financial burden on California's struggling economy, and adversely impacts public safety. It further emphasizes that the vegetation policy is in conflict with federal endangered species regulations. The letter requests that the Corps work with local and state officials to develop a balanced approach to ensure public safety and environmental preservation.  Read Page 1 and Page 2 of this letter.

View complete announcement here.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is pleased to announce an opportunity for the public and interested stakeholders to provide feedback regarding the new levee analysis and mapping approach for non-accredited levees FEMA has developed. Starting on December 15, 2011 the public will have 45 days to provide comments regarding this new approach. The “Public Review and Comment” period is being posted through the Federal Register, which is a formal Federal process for receiving, managing, considering, and incorporating accepted comments.

To provide comments on the new approach, please visit the Federal Register - Levee Approach and download a copy of the “Revised Analysis and Mapping Procedures for Non-Accredited Levees: Proposed Approach for Public Review.”  Alternatively, you can visit the website, search “FEMA-2011-0025,” and download the document. Follow the directions provided on how to submit comments through the website or submit comments here. Note that comments must be received through one of these channels in order to be considered for incorporation into the approach. 

In addition to the Public Review documents being made available online, FEMA will hold three 90-minute online public webinars to present the approach and answer clarifying questions. Participation is limited to 300 guests for each webinar and invitations will be extended on a first come, first serve basis. The dates and contact information for reserving your spot for one of the webinars will take place as described in the Federal Register notice. For more information on the background and development of the new approach, visit here.

Appendix K: Format and Standards for Flood Insurance Rate Maps; Appendix L: Guidance for Preparing Digital Data and FIRM Databases and Procedure Memorandum 66: Flood Insurance Study Report Alignment to Digital Vision: Together these three documents provide standards and guidance necessary to help us devleop comprehensive FIRM Databases and efficiently produce the common regulatory products (FIRM and FIS) that are derived from it.   See this document for an overview of the changes to these regulatory products.  Studies initiated in FY 2012 onward will be required to adopt these standards.  These standards may be adopted for studies initiated in fiscal years prior to FY 2012.

On the new web site, you can: learn about the recommendations for a National Levee Safety Program and the current status of recommendations; read the latest Levee Safety Connections newsletter; test your levee IQ; and broaden your understanding of levee safety in the United States today.  Explore links and web sites related to levee safety activities occurring in the US and abroad. Also, sign up for the levee newsletter and updates here.

The Corps of Engineers is looking for the best way to incorporate participation of sponsors of Federally Authorized-Locally Operated and Maintained levee systems and owners of non-Federal levee systems during the levee screening, national roll-up, and at the LSOG.  Comments due August 25.  Click here for the invitation.  Click here for process diagram.