Phetmano Phannavong, P.E., CFM District Department of the Environment (DDOE) Flood Resilience Workshop I: Reducing Costs & Increasing Flood Resilience through FEMA s Community Rating System August 2, 2013
Floods are the most common, most predictable, and most costly of all natural disasters in the United States. Floods occur in all communities. The national response to flood disasters was limited to constructing flood-control works, and providing disaster relief to flood victims. This approach did not reduce losses, nor did it discourage unwise development.
Established on August 1, 1968 by the U.S. Congress (The National Flood Insurance Act of 1968) Administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Based on a mutual agreement between the federal government and the participating community Making federally backed flood insurance available in those communities that agree to regulate development in their mapped floodplains
The average annual U.S. flood losses in the past 10 years (2002-2011) were more than 2.9 billion. Since 1978, the NFIP has paid over $36.9 billion for flood insurance claims and related cost (as of 12/31/2010) www.floodsmart.gov
The District participated in the NFIP in 1976. The District passed D.C. Law 1-64, The District of Columbia Applications Insurance Implementation Act on May 26, 1976. The Law gives the Mayor rule-making authority. The Law also allows the Mayor to delegate the authority to agencies to promulgate rules and to review building permits to determine whether or not the proposed building sites are reasonably safe from flooding.
DC - State and Community DC s Initial FIRM/FIS and Floodplain Ordinance: November 15, 1985 DC s Effective FIRM/FIS: September 27, 2010 DDOE currently is the Floodplain Administrator and DC-NFIP Coordinating agency DDOE coordinates with other District agencies and FEMA Region III
There are three basic components of NFIP: Mapping Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) (Know Your Risk) Regulations Floodplain Regulations (Reduce Your Risk) Insurance Flood Insurance Policies (Insure Your Risk)
2003-2005: 2007: March 2010: Project Scoping Preliminary Map Released LFD Issued Mar. - Sept. 2010: Sept. 27, 2010: Revision of Regulations Public Outreach Town Hall Meetings FIRM Became Effective
Federal Properties Military Bases National Park Land Planned Development Neighborhoods/Waterfront Neighborhoods East of the Anacostia River Deteriorated Streams and Infrastructure Waste Water Treatment Plant
Downtown
Bolling Air Force Base
Watts Branch
DCMR 12 DC Construction Codes Adopted most flood provisions in the International Codes DCMR 20 Flood Hazard Rules 1.5 ft. Freeboard Elevation Certificate Floodproofing Certificate Evacuation Plan
Flood Insurance Policies: 2,338 Flood Insurance Premiums: $1,167,884 Flood Insurance Coverage: $401,978,600 As of May 31, 2013
Coordination among key District agencies: District Department of the Environment (DDOE) Floodplain Administrator Department of Consumer & Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) Building Code Official DC Department of Homeland Security & Emergency Management Agency (HSEMA) DC State Hazard Mitigation Officer DC Office of Planning (OP) DC Planner DC Insurance, Securities, and Banking (DISB) DC Insurance Commissioner
Federal Triangle Stormwater Drainage Study Working Group DC Flood Risk Management Team
June 24-26, 2006 200-Yr. Storm Event Overwhelmed sewer system Interior flooding within Federal Triangle Area Impacted federal and District properties and infrastructure Millions of dollars in damage
Published along with Companion Report in October 2011 Modeled existing sewer system and surrounding flooded area Predicted ponding levels in different rainfall events Provided six alternatives with costs to mitigate flood risk www. ncpc.gov
Organized by NCPC, FEMA, USACE, and DC Overview of EO11988 and 8-Step Process by FEMA Floodproofing Techniques by USACE and FEMA s Building Science Team Floodproofing Measures by Federal Triangle Agencies
National Gallery of Art National Archives
17 th Street Closure Structure Project Potomac Park Levee System Improvement Potomac Flood Inundation Mapping Flood Emergency Plan Update Establishing a DC Silver Jackets Team
Federal properties and projects De-accredited federal levees Coordination among federal and District agencies Multiple District agencies overlapped roles and responsibilities Interior and riverine flooding
DC s Floodplain Management: http://ddoe.dc.gov/service/floodplain-management