FLOOD STUDY Union County, NJ

FEMA REGION II August 24, 2011 2:00pm

Agenda

 Introductions  National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)  FEMA Strategic Plan & Risk Mapping, Assessment, and Planning (Risk MAP) Goals  Risk MAP Program Overview  Meeting Objectives  Current Status of Union County Flood Study  Risk Assessment  Community Engagement  Questions 2

Introductions



Local – Union County (Host) & Communities



State – New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP)

Senior Engineer:

Kunal Patel

GIS 3:

Chris Gould, CFM

Principal Engineer:

Tom Slowinski 

FEMA Region II

Risk Analysis Branch Chief:

Scott Duell

Risk Analysis Risk Assessment Lead/Senior Engineer:

Alan Springett

Risk Analysis Branch Senior Planner:

Cathleen Carlisle

Communications and Outreach Lead:

William McDonnell

Study Project Manager:

Paul Weberg, PE

Floodplain Management and Insurance Lead:

Kim Rizzo

Regional Support Center Outreach Lead:

Crystal Smith, CFM 3

The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)

 The National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 created the Federal Insurance Administration to: • • Identify flood-prone areas within the U.S. Establish flood-risk zones within those areas • Provides flood insurance only IF the community participates in NFIP • Participating communities agree to adopt and enforce ordinances that meet or exceed FEMA’s requirement • The program goal is to reduce the risk of flooding losses 4

“The Three-Legged Stool”

 The NFIP balances three related program areas

1.

Flood Hazard Identification

(Mapping)

2. Floodplain Management

(Regulations such as building codes And zoning)

3. Flood Insurance

(Provision of Flood Insurance for Property owners in participating Communities) 5

Floodplain Management

 Prevent increases in flood losses • Regulations, zoning ordinances & building codes  Reduce the flood risk to existing development • Disaster preparedness • • Flood Insurance Emergency Plans • Structural Measures (dams, reservoirs, dikes, levees & floodwalls)  Preserve and restore natural floodplains • Floodplain, wetland, coastal barrier resources regulations • Development/Redevelopment policies 6

Union County – NFIP Policies, Claims, Repetitive Losses, CRS

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Community Rating System (CRS)

 The National Flood Insurance Program's (NFIP) Community Rating System (CRS) is a voluntary incentive program that recognizes and encourages community floodplain management activities that exceed minimum NFIP requirements  As a result, flood insurance premium rates are discounted to reflect the reduced flood risk resulting from community actions meeting the three goals of the CRS: • Reduce flood losses; • • Facilitate accurate insurance rating; and Promote awareness of flood insurance 8

Premium Discount

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Class Points SFHA Non-SFHA 4,500 + 4,000 - 4499 45% 40% 10% 10% 3,500 - 3999 3,000 - 3499 2,500 - 2999 2,000 – 2499 1,500 - 1999 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 10% 10% 10% 5% 1,000 - 1499 500 – 999 0 - 499 10% 5% 0 5% 5% 0

FEMA Strategic Plan & Risk MAP Goals



FEMA Strategic Plan Goals 2008-2013

o Lead an integrated approach that strengthens the Nation’s ability to address disasters, emergencies, and terrorist events o Deliver easily accessible and coordinated assistance for all programs o Provide reliable information at the right time for all users o FEMA invests in people and people invest in FEMA to ensure mission success o Build public trust and confidence through performance and stewardship 

FEMA Risk MAP Goals

• Collaboration with Federal, State and local stakeholders to achieve goals under Risk MAP: o Address gaps in flood hazard data o Public Awareness/Outreach o Hazard Mitigation Planning o Enhanced Digital Platform o Alignment and Synergies 10

Guiding Principles

 Engage communities early and often  Agree upon and document project outcomes and responsibilities  Coordinate with other programs operating within the same community  Leverage associations to provide a third-party perspective  Use local media and language that people understand 11

Risk MAP Program Overview

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Risk MAP Vision

   Through collaboration with State, Tribal, and local entities, Risk MAP will deliver quality data that increases public awareness and leads to action that reduces risk to life and property. Risk MAP will focus on products and services beyond the traditional Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM). FEMA will work with officials to help use flood risk data and tools to effectively communicate risk to citizens and enable communities to enhance their corresponding mitigation plans.

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FEMA’s FY10 Flood Mapping Progress Report and Production Plan

 With FY2009 and FY2010 Congressional appropriations for Flood Hazard Mapping, FEMA is conducting flood map update projects: • Improve engineering and mapping for high flood risk areas affected by

coastal flooding

, levees, and other riverine flood hazards • Leverage established

Cooperating Technical Partner (CTP)

relationships and resources  To learn more, see the FEMA’s FY10 Flood Mapping Progress Report and Production Plan on www.fema.gov

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Recent Activities



Introduction to Risk MAP - Face to Face

July, 2011 ◦ Cape May, Atlantic, Ocean, Monmouth ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  ◦ August, 2011 Middlesex, Union, Hudson, Essex

Initial meetings conducted – via Webinar:

2010 April - Morris June – Bergen, Somerset July - Essex August – Monmouth, Union September - Cape May October – Passaic, Middlesex November – Atlantic December – Ocean ° ° ° 2011 February – Cumberland, Salem June – Cumberland, Union July - Cape May, Atlantic, Ocean, Monmouth 15

Meeting Objectives

 Engage Union County and communities and promote local residents to reduce their vulnerability to risk  Provide information to local officials to help them communicate flood risk to residents and businesses  Provide an update on the current status of Union County’s Flood Study  Encourage partnerships and collaborations to leverage and advance risk management and mitigation measures 16

Union County Flood Study -

Overview



Project Team

• Local Officials • New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (Cooperating Technical Partner) • FEMA  Risk Assessment, Mapping, and Planning Partners (RAMPP), a joint venture of Dewberry, URS, and ESP  Regional Support Center (RSC)  Regional Program Management Lead 17

Union County Flood Study -

Scope

 Incorporation of approximately 4 miles of detailed analysis for the Elizabeth River  Restudy of all coastal hazard zones  Incorporation of NJFHA boundary to the DFIRM maps and Flood Insurance Report (FIS) profiles for the Elizabeth River  All the coastal and riverine analysis will be produced in the FEMA Countywide format in the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD88)

Datum Conversion for Union County Elevation in NGVD 29 Elevation in NAVD 88

 NAVD 88 = NGVD 29 – 1.1 feet

897.1’ NGVD 29 896’ NAVD 88 895.1’ NGVD 29 894’ NAVD 88

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Milestones



Coastal Surge Study complete:

October, 2011 

Coastal Overland wave analysis complete:

January, 2012 

Coastal and Riverine Analysis complete:

Mid 2012 

Preliminary Flood Study:

June 2012 19

Union County Flood Study -

Update On the Current Status

 Acquisition of the effective countywide mapping data has been completed  Field survey for the approximately 4 miles of detailed analysis for Elizabeth River has been completed. Hydrology and Hydraulics processes are under way. • Coastal storm surge analysis is underway. Preliminary transect layout, field survey and obstruction carding have been completed.

 Awaiting response from communities to the letters sent out in November, 2009 and January, 2010 regarding data request 20

Union County Flood Study -

Paneling Scheme

•Restudy of all coastal hazard zones and Elizabeth River 21

Local Communities –

Data Gathering



Local technical data availability?

 Bridge replacements; new storm water management systems; new H&H studies; new aerial photography and/or topographic information, etc.

 Contacted each community letting them know about field surveys taking place in their communities back in November, 2009 and data request in January, 2010  Only response received from City of Linden  Is this an accurate representation of your communities?



Levee impacted areas?

 FEMA is exploring more precise approaches for identifying flood hazards in areas impacted by levees 22

Coastal Storm Surge and Overland Wave Hazard Analysis

Overview – Gulf & Atlantic

6. MAPPING 5. RUNUP 4. WAVES 3. EROSION 2. SETUP 1. SURGE

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Union County – Transect Layout

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Coastal Study Technical Panel



The intent of the technical panel is to engage subject matter experts in coastal engineering analysis process



Meetings were held on:

  4/14/2011 5/10/2011 

Members:

  

Academics and Other Interested Parties:

 Stevens Institute of Technology   Richard Stockton College of NJ City University of New York – Hunter College   Cousteau Institute under Rutgers University Columbia University  Barnegat Bay Partnership

State and Local Government:

    New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection New York State Department of Environmental Conservation New York City Northeast States Emergency Consortium

Other Federal Agencies:

 USACE   NOAA USGS 25

Risk M

A

P Risk Assessment Tools & Resources



HAZUS-MH:

Estimating potential losses from earthquakes, floods, and hurricanes   New Version 2.0 includes coastal storm surge modeling For more information and to download the HAZUS-MH software: http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/hazus/index.shtm



National Tool:

Evaluating appropriate long-term mitigation measures  For more information and to download the National Tool software: http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/floodplain/data_tool.shtm

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Risk MA

P

Mitigation Planning



Hazard Mitigation Plans:

• Guides your decisions on mitigation activities for all hazards you face • • Are an important resource for responding to disasters Facilitates access to federal assistance for mitigation 

We reviewed your mitigation plans and found that:

• Union County: 2011 Mitigation Plan:  County Approved 27

Union County, NJ Mitigation Plan Update

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Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA)

 HMA grant programs provide funding for eligible mitigation activities that reduce disaster losses and protect lives and property from future disaster damages  Communities with approved hazard mitigation plans can apply for Federal Assistance  Federal Assistance applications through New Jersey OEM (Bob Little) 29

Risk Communications

 Federal/State/Local goals: • To create safer communities and reduce risk to lives and property • To effectively communicate risk and increase public awareness, leading citizens to make informed decisions regarding their risk  Key factors contributing to successful achievement of these goals are: • Community engagement and exchange of flood risk information • Effective collaboration through partnerships • Strategic communications plan development 30

Risk Communications

 Acknowledgement of the challenges in the complex, multi-disciplinary, multi-dimensional, and evolving processes of risk communications • Conflicting priorities and messages • Difficulty in translating scientific information • Disagreements on what constitutes risk  FEMA created a list of supporting, customizable tools and templates and is currently developing those materials in order of need as identified by FEMA Regions • Region II is waiting on FEMA HQ’s development and outcomes • Region II is initiating its own risk communications strategy 31

* * - OFA = Other Federal Agencies 32

Risk Communications

NJ Coastal Outreach Strategy

 The overarching goal of the New Jersey Coastal Outreach Strategy is to globally increase awareness of, and engagement in, the remapping of NJ coastal counties.  Key themes: • Flood risks have changed in many coastal communities since the date on their effective FIRM panels • • When completed, the storm surge study will contain valid, defensible results Mitigation Planning involves learning about the hazards that can impact a community, setting clear goals to reduce their vulnerability to the identified hazards, and putting in place long-term hazard mitigation strategies • Coordinated, sustained mitigation activities are the best way to ensure your community will be physically, socially, and economically resilient to future natural hazard impacts 33

Risk Communication Strategy

Resources

 Region III Coastal Website: • www.R3Coastal.com

 Region IV Coastal Website: • http://www.southeastcoastalmaps.com

 Region VI Coastal Website: • http://www.txchart.com

 Region II Coastal Website: • To be announced 34



Example FEMA Region II Risk MAP Activities Schedule

Current:

August, 2011 • Risk MAP Introduction  October, 2011 • Mitigation Planning  December, 2011 • National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) & Community Rating System (CRS)  February, 2012 • Technical Details of the Study  April, 2012 • Risk Assessment  June, 2012 • Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA)  August, 2012 • Risk Communication 35

Resources

  

FEMA:

www.fema.gov



Floodsmart, the official site of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP):

www.floodsmart.gov



Risk Assessment, Mapping and Planning Partners:

www.RAMPP-team.com

NFIP Reform:

www.fema.gov/business/nfip/nfip_reform.shtm

HAZUS-MH software:

http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/hazus/index.shtm



National Tool software:

http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/floodplain/data_tool.shtm



Hazus User Groups:

http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/hazus/hz_users.shtm#4   New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection

-

NFIP Coordinator New Jersey State Office of Emergency Management 36

Questions & Feedback

  

Please complete your survey. Your feedback is very important to us.

This presentation & hand-outs will be posted at:

www.RAMPP-TEAM.com

Contact Information NJDEP

John Moyle / Joseph Ruggeri / John Scordato / Tom Slowinski / Chris Gould / Kunal Patel NJDEP, Bureau of Dam Safety & Flood Control Phone: 609-292-2296 NJDEP website: www.nj.gov/dep/floodcontrol 

FEMA Risk Analysis Branch Chief:

Scott Duell / 212-680-3630 / [email protected]

Risk Analysis Risk Assessment Lead/Senior Engineer :

Alan Springett / 212-680-8557/ [email protected]

Communications and Outreach

: William McDonnell / 212-680-3636 / [email protected]

Study Project Manager:

Paul Weberg / 212-680-3638 / [email protected]

Flood Insurance & Management:

Kim Rizzo/ 212-680-3637 / [email protected]

Mitigation Planning:

Cathleen Carlisle / 212-680-8529 / [email protected]

HAZUS & GIS:

Brian Shumon / 212-680-3631 / [email protected]

Regional Support Center Coordinator:

Andrew Martin / 646-216-3677 / [email protected]

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