FEMA s New Floodplain Maps Changes for Chester County Municipalities and Property Owners

Transcription

1 FEMA s New Floodplain Maps Changes for Chester County Municipalities and Property Owners March 10, 2016 Chester County Association of Township Officials - Spring Conference Dani-Ella Betz, CFM Brandywine Creek

2 History of the Flood Insurance Program 1968 Passage of National Flood Insurance Act Flood insurance becomes available in exchange for local adoption and enforcement of floodplain management regulations Founding of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administers the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Provides Floodplain Mapping Chester County FEMA Maps from 2006 Presenter s Name June FEMA 17, Region 2003 III

3 FEMA Maps FEMA required to identify and map flood-prone areas and establish flood-risk zones 1% annual chance flood OR 100-yr flood OR 26% chance over the life of 30-yr mortgage Flood-risk Zones: Zone AE: Enhanced Study with Base Flood Elevation 100-yr flood Zone A: Zone X: Approximate only 100-yr flood Area outside the 100-yr floodplain (0.2% annual chance flood) 500-yr flood Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) Presenter s Name June FEMA 17, Region 2003 III

4 REGULATED FLOODWAY REGULATED FLOODPLAIN ELEVATION of FLOODING Presenter s Name June FEMA 17, Region 2003 III

5 Regulating In the Floodplain Municipalities are required to restrict: building any type of land development fill in the floodplain and floodway Presenter s Name June FEMA 17, Region 2003 III

6 Chester County Map Revisions Municipal Index Posted Online Restudy of Some Floodplains Updated Zone AE ~ 143 Miles Updated Zone A ~ 45 Miles New FEMA Maps for Entire County All floodplains easier to read Available digitally & works with GIS Presenter s Name June FEMA 17, Region 2003 III

7 Online Interactive FEMA Map with Changes Since Last Map Presenter s Name June FEMA 17, Region 2003 III

8 What Happens Now? Municipalities and property owners should review the maps now Who is In and Who is Out Flood Insurance Required for anyone with federally-backed mortgage in a 100-yr floodplain. Recommended for anyone in or near any floodplain Presenter s Name June FEMA 17, Region 2003 III

9 FEMA Process Continue to submit informal comments to FEMA now. 90 day appeal period anticipated to begin June 2016 (?) Comments must have technical data/analysis FEMA to resolve Comments/Appeals FEMA to send Letter of Final Determination to each municipality (Fall 2016?) Presenter s Name June FEMA 17, Region 2003 III

10 FEMA Process The Letter starts the 6 month ordinance adoption/approval period (Fall 2016 to Spring 2017?) ALL Municipalities must update/replace ordinances by the last day of the 6 month period. NO EXTENSIONS!!! Ordinance must be approved by PA DCED Ordinance must be approved by FEMA Maps Effective Immediately at the end of the 6 month period. Presenter s Name June FEMA 17, Region 2003 III

11 FEMA Process FEMA Allows NO EXTENSIONS!!! FEMA will list all municipalities for suspension from NFIP in the Federal Register at the start of the 6-month period. FEMA will immediately suspend municipalities without FEMA approved ordinances at midnight the last day of the 6 month period. IF SUSPENDED CONSEQUENCES! Residents will be unable to renew or purchase new insurance policies Administratively difficult and time-consuming to re-enter the NFIP Presenter s Name June FEMA 17, Region 2003 III

12 Floodplain Ordinance Requirements Ordinance Checklist and Model Ordinances Available Recommend municipalities begin working on their ordinance before the 6-month period begins Current floodplain ordinances adopted: PRIOR to replace the entire ordinance Between 2009 and likely need to replace entire ordinance Since may just need minor updates PA DCED Contractor will be available to assist and review draft ordinances PA DCED Ordinance Workshop - possible Presenter s Name June FEMA 17, Region 2003 III

13 Presenter s Name June FEMA 17, Region 2003 III

14 Presenter s Name June FEMA 17, Region 2003 III

15 Floodplain Ordinance Requirements Final Ordinance should be reviewed PRIOR TO adoption by: CCPC PA DCED and FEMA Ordinance must be adopted, and subsequently approved by PA DCED and FEMA before the 6-month period ends!!! PA DCED provides reimbursements for up to 50% of the costs associated with preparing, administering and enforcing floodplain ordinances. Presenter s Name June FEMA 17, Region 2003 III

16 How does this affect residents and businesses? FEMA provides a discount on flood insurance premiums if purchased PRIOR TO the date when FEMA MAPS become effective Municipalities encouraged to inform residents Potential FEMA Open House for public and residents Properties removed from and/or near new floodplains are still at risk insurance recommended Presenter s Name June FEMA 17, Region 2003 III

17 In Summary for ALL Municipalities Understand if your floodplains boundaries have been revised and what it means. Submit informal comments to FEMA NOW. Encourage residents in/near floodplains to review the mapping and determine flood insurance requirements. Encourage residents near or removed from floodplains to purchase insurance. Presenter s Name June FEMA 17, Region 2003 III

18 In Summary for ALL Municipalities 90-day appeals period (June August 2016?) then 6-month adoption/approval period. Begin to review and update floodplain ordinance before the 6-month period begins. Ordinances must be adopted and approved by PA DCED and FEMA before the end of the 6-month period. DEADLINE to adopt ordinance can t be extended. If deadline missed = IMMEDIATE SUSPENSION! Insurance cannot be renewed or purchased during suspension! Presenter s Name June FEMA 17, Region 2003 III

19 Flood Map Resources FEMA & PA DCED Ordinance Resources (recommend Internet Explorer): FEMA Chester County Portal Interactive Map Comparing Changes: FEMA Overview for Chester County (find Municipal Index): Questions? Contact Dani-Ella Betz, CFM Chester County Water Resources Authority at (610) For additional contacts including FEMA staff, see the CCWRA Fact Sheet handout. Presenter s Name June FEMA 17, Region 2003 III

20 QUESTIONS? Presenter s Name FEMA Region June 17, 2003 III

21 CCWRA s Regional Flood Control Facilities Preparing for the Next 50 Years Chester County Association of Township Officials 3/10/2016

22 Highlights of Our Discussion What types of dams are in our communities? What are the benefits of these dams? Preparing for the next 50 years Emergency preparedness for communities with dams

23 Dams in Our Communities Hibernia Dam and Chambers Lake, West Caln Township

24 Dams in Chester County * * Does not include low head dams

25 CCWRA Flood Control Dams Located in the upper Brandywine Creek watershed (North of Route 30)

26 Barneston Dam Wallace Township Dry dam Public recreational use permitted (with restrictions)

27 Beaver Creek Dam East Brandywine Township 10 acre sediment pool Closed to the public

28 Hibernia Dam & Chambers Lake Reservoir West Caln Township 90 acre lake 400 million gallon reservoir Open to the public

29 Robert G. Struble Dam Honey Brook Township 160 acre lake Open to the public

30 What are the benefits of CCWRA s dams? Flood Protection Assessed value of $427 million 4,100 parcels Barneston Dam, Wallace Township July 2011 Hurricane Irene August 2011

31 What are the benefits of CCWRA s dams? Recreation Boating, Fishing, Hiking, Birding and more Marsh Creek Reservoir Chester County Planning Commission Chambers Lake Chester County Planning Commission

32 What are the benefits of CCWRA s dams? Water supply from Marsh Creek Reservoir and Chambers Lake Hibernia Dam Installation of Water Supply Valves

33 Preparing for the next 50 years Beaver Creek Dam

34 Preparing for the next 50 years Beaver Creek Dam and Hibernia Dam 2010 Applied to USDA/NRCS for federal support 2011 Accepted in NRCS Dams Rehabilitation Program for technical and financial assistance 2011 Began comprehensive evaluations using current dam safety standards 2014 Planning studies identified items to be included in Rehabilitation Projects 2015 to current - Design underway 2017 to 2018 Construction of improvements

35 Preparing for the next 50 years Beaver Creek Dam

36 Preparing for the next 50 years Hibernia Dam

37 Preparing for the next 50 years Barneston Dam

38 Preparing for the next 50 years Struble Dam

39 Emergency preparedness Dam owners develop Emergency Action Plans Purpose: Safeguard lives Reduce property damage Includes: Effective surveillance Prompt notification Identification of inundation area Process for evacuation

40 Thank You Craig Thomas Chester County Water Resources Authority Please contact us for more information: