Transcript Roy Wright, FEMA-DHS - U.S. Conference of Mayors

The Status of NFIP
Reform and Floodplain
Mapping
Mayors’ Water Summit
December 8, 2010
Key Messages
Messages for Elected Officials to Share with Others:
 Our community is at risk from flooding
 We are working at all levels (e.g., mayor’s office, emergency
planners, land use developers) to reduce the impact of
flooding on our community
 Our office will keep you informed about changes to our
community’s risks
 There are low-cost steps you can and should take to reduce
the impact of floods. To review our community’s flood maps
and see what steps you can take, visit www.fema.gov
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NFIP – Today’s Paradigm
 The NFIP is a voluntary Federal program enabling property owners in
participating communities to purchase insurance against flood losses in
exchange for adopting and enforcing regulations that reduce future flood
damages. A participating community’s floodplain management
regulations, must meet or exceed the NFIP minimum requirements.
NFIP
Flood Insurance
Rate Maps
Insurance
Incentives
Building codes
and regulations
Flood grants
Community Rating
System
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The Vision vs. Reality
Vision
Reality
Flood insurance is viewed as both a
means of helping the individual bear
more easily the risks of flood damage…,
and equally, as a means of discouraging
unwise occupancy of flood prone areas”
Federal policy has not prevented development
in high-risk areas – e.g. since 1980 coastal
county population growth rate (28%) is
consistent with the nation’s rate of increase,
but the density is much greater (17% of the
land area holds 53% of the total population
“…moreover, some continuing Federal
subsidy will also be necessary to a
comparably small number of present
occupants of high risk areas. Otherwise
the cost of their insurance will be more
than they can bear…”
Over 80,000 insured repetitive loss properties
(and growing) and over 8,000 severe
repetitive loss properties (and growing)
“The insurance program should be
designed to encourage construction in
locations where there is no special flood
hazard”
About 25% of the 5.5 million policies are
rated at less than actuarial rates
Half of all flood damage occurs outside
Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHA)
1% of insured properties represent 30% of all
claims
Source: Report to the President on recommendations for establishing NFIP – Secretary of
the Department of HUD, August 1966 ; GAO Reports / NOAA
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The Call for NFIP Reform – The
Process
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NFIP Guiding Principles and
Evaluation Criteria
Guiding Principles
Evaluation Criteria

Protect lives, property, environmental and
cultural assets.

Motivate people to voluntarily participate
in reducing society's risk.

Make the best use of public resources.
 Full assistance is provided to those who
cannot afford the cost of flood

Ensure selection of an adoptable and
sustainable policy.
 Minimize exposure to flood hazards

Consider notions of equity with regard to
risk and socioeconomic status.

Recognize and consider the governance
and responsibility of states, communities
and tribes as a means to achieve
sustainability and resiliency.
 Cost of flood is borne by individuals
 Individuals incur costs of increased risk
gradually
 Maximize natural and beneficial
functions of the floodplain
 Efficiency - Maximize the societal
benefit/cost ratio
 Administrative feasibility
 Political acceptability
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What is Risk MAP?
Through collaboration with State, Local, and Tribal entities, Risk MAP will
deliver quality data that increases public awareness and leads to action that
reduces risk to life and property.
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Risk MAP Elements
 Prioritization
 Elevation Data Acquisition
 Watershed Approach
 Engineering and Mapping
 Risk Assessment
 Mitigation Planning Support
 Risk Communications
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Risk MAP Timeline
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Key Messages
Messages for Elected Officials to Share with Others:
 Our community is at risk from flooding
 We are working at all levels (e.g., mayor’s office, emergency
planners, land use developers) to reduce the impact of
flooding on our community
 Our office will keep you informed about changes to our
community’s risks
 There are low-cost steps you can and should take to reduce
the impact of floods. To review our community’s flood maps
and see what steps you can take, visit www.fema.gov
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Feedback
How can FEMA help mayors raise risk
awareness in their communities?
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Contact Information
Roy Wright
Deputy Director, Risk Analysis Division, FEMA
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.fema.gov
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