Community Officials Meeting Plumas and Sierra County Physical Map Revision March 6, 2014
Agenda Introductions/Sign In Project Scope Sierra Valley Flood Study (Plumas and Sierra Counties) North Yuba River and Tributaries Flood Study (Sierra County) Flood Insurance Study (FIS) Report Updates Summary of Map Actions (SOMA) Process for Receiving/Addressing Map Comments Post Preliminary Processing Schedule Newspaper Notice Comment Period Map Finalization Public Outreach Planning Questions/Comments
Project Team Members & Responsibilities FEMA Region IX Kathleen Schaefer Senior Engineer Sarah Owen Natural Hazards Program Specialist Sierra County Frank Mansell Natural Hazards Program Specialist Plumas County Western Shasta Resource Conservation District Ryan Teubert Outreach Coordinator BakerAECOM Mark Delorey Study Area Lead Sarah Houghland Project Manager
Plumas & Sierra County PMR Project Scope of Work (Standard Activities) Updated Base Map with 2009 Aerial Photography Produce Revised Flood Insurance Rate Maps Revise Flood Insurance Study Produce a Summary of Map Action List Project Scope of Work (Revision Descriptions) CA DWR Studies Sierra Valley Study Sierra and Plumas Counties North Yuba River and Tributaries Sierra County
Plumas & Sierra County PMR What to look for during your review: Areas where the mapped floodplains have changed Compare with local anecdotal information to see if the mapped floodplain makes sense Changes Since Last FIRM Map By comparing the old floodplain delineation to the updated delineation, increases, decreases and areas of no change in the Special Flood Hazard Area are documented.
Review of FIRMs and FIS What to look for and/or keep in mind as you are reviewing the data: Flood elevations are rounded to the nearest foot on the maps. Refer back to the floodway data tables and water surface elevation profiles for flood elevations reported to the nearest tenth. Look for inconsistencies for the flood elevation mapping (flood elevations on the maps don t match the water surface elevation profiles). There were no changes to the other detailed studies (Zone AE) and approximate studies (Zone A) Look for incorrect labeling of roads and other landmarks. Provides updates to the flood study if the information is outdated. https://hazards.fema.gov/femaportal/prelimdownload/searchresult.action
Review of FIRMs and FIS What to look for and/or keep in mind as you are reviewing the data: Features are mapped to an accuracy of 1/20 th or 5% of the map scale. 500 scale panel features will be mapped within ±25 of reported location. 1000 scale panel features will be mapped within ±50 of reported location. 2000 scale panel features will be mapped within ±100 of reported location. Keep in mind the base map used was 2009 imagery and channel migration might have occurred. The FEMA base map is the only official base map.
Base Map Comparisons
Base Map Comparisons
Base Map Comparisons
Base Map Comparisons
Remaining Project Timeline Preliminary Map Release: 3/3/2014 Publications: 1 in the Federal Register and 2 in the Local Newspaper Appeal Resolution Period Letter of Final Determination (LFD) Community Meeting: 3/6/2014 Appeal Period Map Adoption 30 60 Days Unknown Time Period Appeal Period Starts the 1 st Day after the Second Publication in the Local Newspaper 90 Days Appeal Resolution Period Will Vary Based on the Number of Appeals 6 Months
Appeals Process Any new or modified flood information that is shown in the FIRM This can include: Additions or modifications to any FEMA Floodplain, anything that is shown as Zone A or Zone AE New or re studied areas and previously published areas that have been re delineated as a result of new topographic information Sierra Valley & North Yuba River and Tributaries Anything that was existing or not modified is not appealable
Appeals Process Processes Ways to Object to the Map: Two Mechanisms Appeals Process (can only be submitted during the formal appeal period) Comments Process (can be submitted as soon as the Preliminary maps are released March 3, 2014) Additional Information http://www.fema.gov/library/viewrecord.do?id=4938
Appeals Process Comment Process: An Objection to a Base Map Feature Change Examples of this could be road name, stream name or base map feature inaccuracies Any other Non Appealable Change
Appeals Process Appeals Process Large Geographic Area: Could include an area such as a stream reach Supported by scientific and technical data: New Study, Updated Topography, Methodology Limited to the 90 Day Appeal Period
Ways to Revise the Map Property Removal Only Letter of Map Amendment Process Structure is removed with a letter No physical change to the FIRM revision scale is too small Larger Scale Revison Letter of Map Revision Process Determination will physically revise the map Typically completed to reflect man made changes to the flooding source Applies to all Streams Not Just Newly Studied Areas
Letter of Map Amendment LOMA Process: Localized to a single property LOMA (Letter of Map Amendment) Supported by survey data Processed against the current effective map Does not change the physical map Available at anytime, no limited time period Additional Information http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/fhm/dl_mt ez.shtm
Letter of Final Determination Letter sent by FEMA to community CEO Identifies new map adoption date Provides 6 months (from date of letter) for community to adopt new floodplain ordinance Community should be familiar with their local ordinance adoption process and timeline Short time frame for adoption important to know adoption time frames and processes
What happens on date of the new effective map? All Letters of Map Change (LOMCs) are processed against the new map Mandatory purchase of flood insurance may apply to buildings that are identified by the lender to be in the Special Flood Hazard Area
What if community does not adopt in time? Community goes into SUSPENSION on date of new effective map No new flood policies are written No flood policies can be renewed No disaster assistance available to structures in the Special Flood Hazard Areas (100 year floodplain)
A word about premiums. Rates are standardized across nation Premium estimates should be the same between companies If premiums are different, the quotes are not apples to apples
I have a structure that was out & is now in. What does that mean? Your flood risk went from low to high Mandatory purchase of flood insurance applies when you have a federally regulated, backed, or insured loan and your structure is determined by your lender to be in the SFHA (any zone beginning with A on the FEMA map). Flood insurance is required for the life of the loan
Questions and Answers