Brazoria County Flood Insurance Study

Brazoria County Flood Insurance Study
Update
Larry Voice
FEMA Region VI
August 31, 2009
AGENDA
Flood Map
Modernization
• Introduction
• Study Overview and
Status Update
• Levees
• Post-Preliminary
Process
• Outreach Moving
Forward
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Introduction
Flood Map
Modernization
• FEMA Contracting Officer Technical Representative:
– Larry Voice
– 940-898-5419
• FEMA Outreach Coordinator:
– Diane Howe
– 940-898-5171
• Sign-In Sheet
• Questionnaire
3
Flood Map
Modernization
Study Overview and Status Update
4
Brazoria County Flood Insurance Study
Flood Map
Modernization
• Project Started 2006
• Part of FEMA Map
Modernization
• Part of a nation-wide
effort to update coastal
flood risk data.
• Seventeen of eighteen
coastal counties
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Flood Map
Modernization
Where Are We At Today?
Flood Mapping Project Phases
Community
Coordination
& Mapping
Needs
Assessment
Project
Scoping
(Three phases)
Data
Acquisition
and
Engineering
Analysis
DFIRM
Production
Preliminary
DFIRM
Post
Preliminary
Processing
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Data Acquisition and Engineering
Analysis
Flood Map
Modernization
• LiDAR
–
Texas Natural Resources
Information System (TNRIS)
• Coastal Storm Surge
Model
–
USACE
• Wave Analysis
–
CF3R
• Riverine Studies
–
CF3R
• DFIRM Mapping
–
CF3R
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LiDAR
Flood Map
Modernization
• LiDAR
– Data included Mass Points, Breaklines, Bare Earth DEM, and 2-ft.
Contours
– Significant improvement over USGS National Elevation Dataset
• Collected by TNRIS
– Available through Texas Water Development Board (TWDB)/TNRIS
• Worked with National Geodetic Survey
– Benchmarks
– Subsidence
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Why a New Storm Surge Model for Texas?
Flood Map
Modernization
• Improved engineering,
modeling, and data
– New topographic data
• LiDAR
– New modeling techniques
and equipment
• Advanced Circulation
Model (ADCIRC)
• Changes to the coast
– Subsidence
– Population and development
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ADCIRC Grid
• Finite
Element
• 2M nodes
• >90% in
LA/TX
coastal areas
Flood Map
Modernization
Storm Surge Modeling in Texas
Flood Map
Modernization
ADCIRC/STWAVE Requires High Performance Computing
Clock hours per storm:
Cray XT3
ERDC Sapphire
Sun Constellation
UT Ranger
Dell Linux Cluster
UT Lonestar
7.8 hours
40 minutes
8 hours
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Stillwater Elevations
Flood Map
Modernization
• The storm surge study calculates Stillwater
Elevations, which include the effects of:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Wind
Pressure
Tides
Riverine flow
Wave radiation stresses (offshore waves)
Bathymetry
• Stillwater does not include wave surface motion or
wave run up
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Coastal Storm Surge Model Accuracy
Flood Map
Modernization
• Validated Using Past
Storms
–
–
–
–
Brett
Allen
Rita
Carla
• Hurricane Ike
– Best data on storm surge in
Texas
– Opportunity to test and improve
model
– Delay to project
13
Coastal Storm Surge Model Accuracy
Flood Map
Modernization
• Independent Technical Review
– Local, state and national reviewers
•
•
•
•
•
Dr. Billy Edge – Texas A&M
Steve Fitzgerald – Harris County Flood Control District
Jim Weatherford – Texas General Land Office
Gilbert Ward – Texas Water Development Board
Bill Espey – Espey Consultants
– Currently reviewing validation results
• FEMA Review
– Regional Management Center
– FEMA Engineers
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Next Step After Storm Surge Model?
Flood Map
Modernization
• FEMA expects to receive storm surge results by the end of this
year
• Will complete QA/QC of results early next year
• Storm surge results do not include wave effects
• Wave and Wave Runup Analysis will commence upon acceptance
of storm surge results
15
Base Flood Elevations From Stillwater Elevations
Flood Map
Modernization
Wave Analysis
• Wave Height Analysis For
Flood Insurance Studies
(WHAFIS)
• Wave heights and wave
run-up
• Transects based on LiDAR
and field surveys
Flood Map
Modernization
Field Surveys
Flood Map
Modernization
Riverine Studies and DFIRM
Mapping
Flood Map
Modernization
• Riverine Studies
– Redelineation of riverine studies on effective FIRM
– Community Studies
– Effects of new storm surge study on riverine elevations
• Levee Accreditation
– Owner must certify in accordance with 44 CFR 65.10
– Levee will be shown as providing protection against 1% annual chance flood
• DFIRM Mapping
– Preliminary DFIRMs next year
• End of summer or early fall
• Post Preliminary Process
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Map Modernization Improvements
Flood Map
Modernization
• Current Flood Insurance
Rate Maps (FIRMs) were
developed decades ago
• In 2002, FEMA initiated the
Map Modernization Program
(Map Mod Program)
• New FIRMs will be GISbased Digital Maps
• New DFIRMs will include
Limit of Moderate Wave
Action
• Waves 1.5-3 feet
• No compliance requirements
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Flood Map
Modernization
Benefits of New DFIRMs
• Information will enable informed decisions by all parties
• Planning tool for economic and land use development
• Risk identification for mitigation and recovery
Public
Stakeholders
and Partners
Other
Federal
Agencies
Engineering
Community
Insurance,
Realtor, and
Lending
Stakeholders
State and Local
Government
FEMA/DHS
MOD Team
Education
Community
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Flood Map
Modernization
LEVEE ACCREDITATION
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How Does a Levee Become Accredited?
Flood Map
Modernization
• To be accredited, a levee must meet ALL Section 44 CFR 65.10a-e
requirements, including
–
–
–
–
–
General Requirements
Design Criteria
Operation Plans and Criteria
Maintenance Plans and Criteria
Certification Requirements
• FEMA’s review and response is based on the data and
documentation that are submitted
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FEMA Responsibilities
Flood Map
Modernization
FEMA is not responsible for:
• Certifying or examining levees
• Designing, constructing, operating, or maintaining levee
systems
• Determining how a structure or system will perform in a
flood event
FEMA will accredit levees which have been
certified in accordance with 44 CFR 65.10
Shown as providing protection on the new DFIRMs
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Conditions of Levee Systems
Flood Map
Modernization
• There are three basic conditions for levees/levee
systems:
• Maintained, have proper documentation, and can be certified
immediately
• Cannot be certified because of design deficiency and/or
required maintenance or repair activities
• Appear to be certifiable but do not have 44 CFR Section 65.10
(1-percent-annual-flood-protection) data and/or documentation
compiled
• Provisionally Accredited Levee
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Levee Accreditation Process
Flood Map
Modernization
• FEMA has not yet formally requested levee certification for
levees in Brazoria County
• Letters will be mailed to communities requesting that the
levees be certified. Letters expected to go out late 2009.
– Provide certification
– Request Provisionally Accredited Levee
– Decertify Levee
• Levees should be shown as providing protection on current
effective FIRMs to be eligible for accreditation.
• To be certifiable, the levee system must be owned and
operated by a public entity.
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Levees and NFIP Maps
Flood Map
Modernization
• Accredited
– Legal ease - Levee meets 44 CFR 65.10
– Plain speak - Levee can be reasonably expected to provide
protection against the 1% annual chance flood hazard
– Disclaimer - This is not a guarantee of performance at any level
flood, and larger floods can happen
– Implication - People encouraged to purchase insurance and to take
mitigation action (e.g. elevate structures), but it is not required
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Levees and NFIP Maps
Flood Map
Modernization
• Not Accredited
– Legal ease - 65.10 requirements unavailable or not met
– Plain speak - It is known the levee is not likely to protect against the
1% flood or its ability to protect is unknown
– Disclaimer - FEMA would be violating the law if it accredited a levee
it knows does not meet the requirements or it accredited a levee
without proper information demonstrating compliance with the
regulations
– Implication - Insurance and mitigation (e.g. floodplain management)
required
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Levees and NFIP Maps
Flood Map
Modernization
• Provisionally Accredited
– Legal ease – Levee owner signs PAL agreement stating levee meets 44
CFR 65.10
– Plain speak – PAL Implementation for 24 months
– Disclaimer: PAL is only for the aggregation of certification documents and
data. PAL is not for making repairs or improvements.
– Implication: Maps move ahead with special “provisionally accredited” note
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Procedure Memorandums
Flood Map
Modernization
• PM No. 34
– Interim Guidance for Studies
Including Levees (August
2005).
• PM No. 43
– Guidelines for Indentifying
Provisionally Accredited
Levees(Sept 2006).
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Procedure Memorandums
Flood Map
Modernization
• PM No. 52
– Guidelines for the mapping of
impacted areas landward of
levee systems (March 2009).
• PM No. 53
– Procedures for mapping of
impacted areas landward of
PALs when the 24-month
submittal period expires (April
2009).
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Flood Map
Modernization
POST PRELIMINARY PROCESS
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Flood Map
Modernization
Post Preliminary Process
FEMA DFIRM Post Preliminary Process
Preliminary
DFIRM
Community
Consultation
Officer’
Officer’s (CCO)
Meeting
Varies
(Minimum
30 Days)
Appeal &
Protest
Period
Appeals
Resolved
Letter of
Final
Determination
Community
Adopts
Map
Effective
DFIRM
Varies
90
Days
(3-12 Months)
6 Months
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Post Preliminary Process
Flood Map
Modernization
• Preliminary maps issued
• CCO meeting held
– Typically 30 days after preliminary maps released
– FEMA compliance specialist explains community rights and
responsibilities
• 90 day appeal period starts
–
–
–
–
Two notices in public media
Only BFE changes are appealable
Other issues are protests
Technical evidence must be basis of appeals and protest
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Post Preliminary Process
Flood Map
Modernization
• Appeal resolution
– Typically 3 months to 1 year
• Letter of Final Determination (LFD) issued
• Map adoption by communities
– Within 6 months of LFD
• Maps go effective
– Six months after LFD
– Not used for insurance until effective
• 24 month typical duration
• Current FIRMs are in effect during post preliminary
process.
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Flood Map
Modernization
OUTREACH MOVING FORWARD
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Outreach
Flood Map
Modernization
• Project Reaching Important Stage
– Data will be available within a few months
– Preliminary DFIRMs in approximately one year
• FEMA Outreach Effort
– Details still being worked out
– Joint effort
•
•
•
•
•
FEMA Region VI
FEMA HQ
RAMPP
TWDB
USACE
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When Outreach begins...
CD with list of
resources:
•Community
website
•Permit office
•Libraries
Flood Map
Modernization
Outreach
Flood Map
Modernization
• Past Outreach Efforts
– Tropical Storm Alison
Recovery Project (TSARP)
• http://www.tsarp.org/
– Louisiana Mapping Project
(LaMP)
• www.lamappingproject.com
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Outreach
Flood Map
Modernization
• Subjects covered will
include:
– Technical information on
flood insurance study
– Post preliminary process
– Insurance
• Will likely include:
–
–
–
–
Website
Technical workshops
Public meetings
Additional meetings with
communities
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Community Participation In Outreach
Flood Map
Modernization
• Outreach effort will
provide an opportunity to
communities
– Community participation will
determine success
• Community participation
in meetings
– Participate in FEMA meetings
– Community meetings with
FEMA participation
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Outreach
Flood Map
Modernization
• Questionnaire
–
–
–
–
–
What would the community like to see?
Technical POC
Preferred Media in your area
GIS
Community Website
Please take our business card... we’re only a phone call away.
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