Flood Risk Resilience in Alabama: Challenges and Successes

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1 Flood Risk Resilience in Alabama: Challenges and Successes Leslie A. Durham, P.E. Floodplain Management Branch Chief Alabama Office of Water Resources

2 10 Year Partnership with FEMA Flood Map Modernization Digitally updated all 67 counties within first 5 years Mapped over 37,000 miles of floodplain LOMR Delegation Extension of flood mapping efforts Investing back in our communities NFIP Coordination Liaison between communities and FEMA Over 415 communities benefit from the program GIS Capability Community assistance and training Editing, creating and/or sharing of data

3 Processes Products Goals Implementing Risk MAP Vision Deliver High-Quality Risk Data Increase Awareness of Flood Risk Promote Community Mitigation Action Reduce Risk to Lives and Property Understandable Flood Maps Credible data reliable, accurate, watershed-based Illustrations of possible Flood Depths Usable Flood Risk Assessments Tools to understand how flood risk has changed Continuous engagement with communities Enable communities to communicate flood risk to constituents Support that allows communities to identify risks and promote: Community resiliency Sustainability Reduced need for federal disaster assistance MITIGATION PLANNING Enhance delivery of Risk MAP Products Collaborate across all levels of government

4 Challenges to Risk MAP Delivering High Quality Data Alabama Challenges: Limited statewide enhanced elevation datasets Traditionally separate agencies and priorities No statewide GIS agency or data collection efforts 67 Counties/ 67+ different proprietors of data Product Delivery Alabama Solutions: LiDAR Partnerships in 12 counties Stakeholder meetings w/ GIS groups, communities Developed statewide LiDAR specifications Created FTP product download site

5 Challenges to Risk MAP Increasing Awareness of Flood Risk Alabama Challenges: Community/agency buy-in before the storm Communicating data needs Understanding & applying non-regulatory products Technology limitations Alabama Solutions: Comprehensive outreach/communication tools Mitigation workshop, agency meetings Targeted outreach to community groups Identify and prioritize training based on projects AL FRIS (AL Flood Risk Information System)

6 Challenges to Risk MAP Promote Community Mitigation Action Alabama Challenges: Doesn t somebody else handle this? Limited funding due to non-flood disasters Reactive programs Alabama Solutions: New stakeholders at the Risk MAP table Collaborative efforts across all agencies Using GIS to visualize & communicate risk Follow-up with communities on datasets

7 Watershed Resilience Meetings Not a One Size Fits All Approach Upper Alabama Watershed January 16-17, 2013 Population: 299,586 Size: 2,353 sq miles Counties: 6 Houston County March 6, 2013 Population: 101,547 Size: 579 sq miles

8 Lessons Learned - Meeting Prep Agency Coordination Workshop with state EMA counterparts RST Calls Dataset Training/Support Provided training to over 30 individuals using the Upper Alabama and Houston County data prior to Resilience Meetings Plan for a way to provide datasets to communities that do not have GIS staffs Meeting Reminders

9 Lessons Learned - Logistics DO NOT hold these meetings in January! Training is important Risk MAP tools training before Resilience Timing of meetings affects participation Schedule meetings to allow plenty of time for community involvement Plan for adequate staff coverage Need more outreach to non-fpas Concentrated media outreach plan Prepare for alternate funding options FEMA funding for mitigation is limited in Alabama and most recent mitigation projects have been wind-related, not flood Increasing Resilience Together

10 Lessons Learned - Meetings State EMA participation is crucial Remember this is NOT a technical meeting Speak to the known needs of your audience Use community specific actions/areas of mitigation interest in presentation Speak to the known technical skills of the audience Consider expanding technical breakout GIS - database and attributes Engineering - using datasets to aid in mitigating problem areas Prepare your audience for submitting action items Follow-up on action items

11 Resilience - Successes Datasets were well received, positive feedback Received action items from most communities in the watersheds Good opportunity to highlight importance of mitigation planning Community specific training on tools and datasets prior to meetings increased interest

12 Questions or Comments?