Flood Risk Review and Resilience Meeting: Allegheny County Allegheny County Conservation District Building December 5-6, 2012 Introductions Risk MAP Project Team Local partners and officials State partners and officials Representatives from U.S. and Pennsylvania congresses Other Federal Agency partner representatives Other stakeholder organization representatives 2 Meeting Objectives Project Timeline To help you better understand: Your flood risk, as individual communities and as a County Strategies you can use to reduce your risk Resources available to help you implement those strategies The importance of communicating flood risk to your constituents 3 4 Understanding Your Flood Risk Understanding Your Flood Risk By understanding your flood risks, you can make informed decisions to reduce them FEMA developed your Flood Risk Products based on: Data gathered over the project Analyses associated with the development of the flood risk products Engineering Flood hazard mapping Risk assessment 5 6 1
Using Depth Grids for Identifying Actions Depth Grids Better information on depth of flooding across the floodplain These provide enhanced data to develop a more accurate Benefit Cost Analysis (BCA) for mitigation projects, a big step towards implementation Using Flood Risk Assessment for Identifying Actions Flood Risk Assessment Identifies areas of higher flood risk by census block Quantifies potential future flood losses to existing structures Improves ability to identify areas requiring higher building code requirements Supports mitigation plan updates and disaster recovery planning through improved risk quantification 1% Chance Risk (100-yr) 7 8 Non-Regulatory Flood Risk Products and Datasets Flood Risk Map Flood Risk Datasets Depth Grids Flood Risk Assessment Flood Risk Map Flood Risk Report Flood Risk Products Flood Risk Map Flood Risk Report Flood Risk Database Flood Risk Database Access portals DVD Flood Risk Datasets Flood Risk Map & Report: https://www.rampp-team.com/pa.htm Flood Risk Database: http://riskmap3.com/pa/allegheny/ 9 10 Flood Risk Report 11 12 2
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19 20 21 22 Why We re Doing This: Hazard Mitigation Hazard Mitigation is defined as any Strategies To Reduce Your Flood Risk sustained action taken to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to life and property from hazards FEMA encourages local governments to develop Hazard Mitigation Plans To increase public and political support and a commitment for mitigation To be eligible for Hazard Mitigation Assistance grants Use new Risk MAP information to update your Hazard Mitigation Plan 23 24 4
Hazard Mitigation Builds Sustainable, Resilient Communities Strategies to Address Your Specific Areas of Concern RESILIENT tending to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change SUSTAIN from Latin sustinēre to hold up Synonyms: nourish, nurture http://www.merriam-webster.com A Community that plans for and mitigates against natural disasters is Resilient and more Sustainable: Economically businesses reopen more quickly Socially daily lives not as disrupted and stressed Environmentally - better functioning ecosystems with restored biodiversity Goals From Current Allegheny Co HMP Strategies From Current Allegheny County HMP Best Practices Promote hazard mitigation as a public value in recognition of its importance to the health, safety, and welfare of the population Provide community outreach and education about flooding/develop a class to educate property owners about the NFIP York Township, York County held a workshop in September to educate area local officials about Flood Risk and Insurance using the Flood Manager Program Weebles Wobble but they don t fall down 25 Ways to take Action Floodplain Management Ordinances Higher building standards Community Rating System (CRS) Reduces flood insurance premiums 26 What Action Will You Take? What are some areas of mitigation interest in your community? Can you think of any potential mitigation projects? Provide feedback to FEMA representatives during the working session Technical assistance Federal agencies and professional associations Grants for Mitigation Projects FEMA: HMGP Other Federal Agency grants: HUD/CDBG 27 Spotlight on a Local Best Practice 29 Land Use Ordinances Local Building Codes Management Best Practices Mitigation Projects Community Identified Mitigation Programs 28 Spotlight on a Regional Best Practice 30 5
Spotlight on a Recent Best Practice Communication Roles and Responsibilities 31 Communicate Your Risk Flood risk awareness: 32 Communicate Your Risk (cont.) Risk MAP makes it easier to Leads to action Increases overall community resilience Builds support for implementing the mitigation plan share flood risk information with your constituents: Community outreach plan template Your constituents*: Expect to hear about flood risk from local officials, insurance agents, and real estate agents Prefer to hear about it in the local news and through mailings Draft letters to citizens Draft media materials Guidance on how to use the Risk MAP products to communicate risk User friendly Flood Risk Report * From 2010 FEMA Risk MAP Flood Risk Awareness Survey 33 34 Get More from Your Data Community Development Allegheny County, PA Know Your line Initiative -High Local Hazard Mitigation Plan goal to utilize GIS for first responders Water Marks Residential/commercial density in the floodplain Location/inundation area of Build a bridge between historic events local data and maps, the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan and the Risk MAP products Total properties with insurance policies and as a percentage of the population Areas of increasing population growth Areas requiring protection 35 36 6
Emergency Management Utilizing Local Data Allegheny Co Hazard Mitigation Plan Accessibility to at risk areas, from critical facilities Industrial/Manufacturing plants in the floodplain Vulnerable populations Characteristics which make communities more/less vulnerable to flood risk 37 38 Integrate Local Data and New Risk MAP Datasets 39 40 Resources Next Steps: Driving Action Allegheny County, PA Flood Reference the new Allegheny County Mitigation Plan Information Portal: http://riskmap3.com/pa/allegheny/ Substantial Damage Estimator: http://www.fema.gov/library/viewreco rd.do?id=4166 Use your new mapping tools http://riskmap3.com/pa/allegheny/ Know Your Line Initiative - High Water Marks: To learn more about the Know Your Line Initiative, please contact Vincent Brown of FEMA at vincent.brown@fema.dhs.gov Integrate local data to enhance flood risk awareness Personally Identifiable Information (PII), will require a privacy notice. These data can t be distributed to the public if they identify individual properties. 41 42 7
Breakout Groups Review the datasets and discuss how it can be used Focus on how the flood risk products and mitigation strategies can enhance plans Review incentives and discuss coordination and communication 43 44 8