Ky Association of Mitigation Managers

Kentucky Watches, Warnings or Advisories – Weather Alerts Follow the alerts, link here.

Renew KAMM Membership!

KAMM 2018

Joining KAMM has never been easier! KAMM offers three membership levels: Individual ($25) and Student ($10); and Agency/Organization ($250). Membership is based on the calendar year.

Link to Join KAMM or follow the links in the Index (to the right) to register via your payment method.

Save the Date!

2018 KAMM Conference

Lake Barkley State Resort Park, Cadiz

Mitigation Superheroes: Investing in Our Communities

September 17, Preconference workshops and activities

September 18 – 20, 2018

Lake Barkley Lodging: link to state park lodging information on the various types of lodging we have reserved for the conference.

Be a Sponsor: Link to sponsor information to learn about five sponsor levels and benefits.

KAMM Regional Training

Thank you for attending Regional Training, For More Info link here.

Presidential Disaster Declared for Kentucky Counties Impacted by Severe Weather and Flooding

April 27, 2018

President Donald Trump has authorized assistance for certain Kentucky counties that suffered significant damage as a result of the severe weather and flooding event occurring from Feb. 21, 2018 through March 21, 2018.

The President’s action grants public assistance to 34 impacted counties to repair roads, bridges and other infrastructure due to severe storms, tornadoes, flooding, landslides and mudslides. The declaration will also provide the Commonwealth with mitigation funds.

Counties included in this declaration are: Boyd, Bullitt, Butler, Caldwell, Campbell, Carlisle, Carroll, Carter, Crittenden, Fulton, Gallatin, Grant, Graves, Greenup, Hancock, Hardin, Henderson, Henry, Hickman, Jefferson, Kenton, Lawrence, Livingston, McCracken, McLean, Metcalfe, Ohio, Owen, Spencer, Trigg, Trimble, Union, Washington, and Webster.

“The recent award of public assistance and mitigation funding will assist in restoration of our bridges, roadways and infrastructure damaged in the severe weather and flooding event,” said Kentucky Emergency Management (KYEM) Director Michael Dossett. “Our FEMA Region IV partners are currently on the ground in the Commonwealth, and this declaration will allow them to continue providing recovery services.”

Link to Public Assistance Guidance

Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) Funding Announcement

May 9, 2018

Kentucky Emergency Management announced the availability of Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funding as a result of DR4358 Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides and Mudslides, February 9-13, 2018, and DR4361 Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides and Mudslides, February 21- March 21, 2018.

Link to two Notices of Funding:

To be considered for funding, the Mitigation Actions Forms (MAF) must be submitted in the Community Hazard Assessment and Mitigation Planning System (CHAMPS) by Tuesday, June 26, 2018. CHAMPS can be accessed at this website address: https://kyem.ky.gov/recovery/Pages/CHAMPS.aspx.

Kentucky Emergency Management Recovery Branch Applicant Briefings

KYEM will conduct briefings for all prospective applicants seeking hazard mitigation assistance related to:

DR-4358 Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides and Mudslides, February 9-13, 2018, and
DR-4361 Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides and Mudslides, February 21- March 21, 2018.

Mitigation is available for state and local governments, certain quasi-governmental entities, and certain private non-profit organizations throughout the Commonwealth.

Link to the schedule of Applicant Briefing DRs_4358_4361 for these recent disaster declarations

The briefings will discuss the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) and provide direction as to how to apply for grant funding Types of eligible projects include: the acquisition/demolition or elevation of flood-prone or landslide-prone structures, engineered storm water control projects, residential or community tornado safe-rooms, flood-proofing of non-residential buildings, seismic retrofits, utility protective measures, outdoor warning sirens, NOAA weather radios, other types of warning systems, generators, and mitigation educational outreach projects.

Announcing Commonwealth Hazard Mitigation Planning Meetings

February 14, 2018

Kentucky Emergency Management Mitigation Section will conduct hazard mitigation planning meetings for the Commonwealth’s 2018 Enhanced Hazard Mitigation Plan Update, as required by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Link to the schedule, 2018 Notice of Hazard Mitigation Planning Meetings I, which begins in February and ends in August. During these stakeholder meetings topics will include the planning process, summaries of overall commonwealth risk, resource capabilities, evaluations of past and current mitigation activities, and the potential for additional mitigation activities. Please join in a meeting in your area.

FY 2018 WIFIA Notice of Funding Availability

April 4, 2018

EPA announced the availability of funding that could provide as much as $5.5 billion in loans for water infrastructure projects through the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program. Leveraging private capital and other funding sources, these projects could support $11 billion in water infrastructure investment and create more than 170,000 jobs. Prospective borrowers seeking WIFIA credit assistance must submit a letter of interest (LOI) by July 31, 2018. EPA also released a factsheet highlighting the benefits of the WIFIA program.

FEMA Announces the Release of the Annual Report of the Flood Insurance Advocate

April 6, 2018

FEMA released the 2017 Annual Report of the Office of the Flood Insurance Advocate (OFIA). The report is intended to increase transparency, and to support the ongoing improvements to the NFIP with the goal of reducing its complexity. A copy of the Annual Report and Summary can be found on FEMA’s website at www.fema.gov/national-flood-insurance-program-flood-insurance-advocate. Or link to the Annual Report Executive Summary.

In 2017, the OFIA identified eight primary policyholder and property owner challenges, which include recommendations that present opportunities for reducing the complexity of FEMA:

Challenges to customer communication during the claims process
Effectiveness of map change communications
Misunderstandings regarding Zone A
Lack of premium reduction following a lower-level abandonment of a building
Basement determination made at the time of loss
Lack of refunds for duplicate coverage with private insurance
Severe repetitive loss mitigation
Lenders requiring coverage where a claim would not be paid

New to this year’s report is the identification of two external trends (affordability and the complexity of the NFIP) that may require legislative or funding action solutions to resolve. The issues identified in this report are based on the observations of the roughly 500 inquiries the Office received, about 25 percent more than last year’s total.

FEMA Launches New FloodSmart.gov

April 2018

FEMA launched the first phase of the new FloodSmart.gov website. The updates to FloodSmart.gov incorporates social science and website usage research as well as best practices for a streamlined and customer-centric experience. The next phase of the website launch will include insurance agent toolkits, social media templates, marketing tools, and flood map change toolkits.

RESOURCE ANNOUNCEMENTS

Building Codes for Mitigation: Using ASCE 24

January 25, 2018

FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) Division delivered a webinar to share information on the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) 24 Building Codes for Mitigation. Presenters provided information on ASCE 24 flood-specific building code requirements as they relate to HMA, including information about mitigation projects such as elevations, floodproofing, and mitigation reconstruction.

Participants who would find value in this webinar include floodplain administrators, city and building code officials, insurance adjusters, and others who have an interest in understanding and applying ASCE 24 requirements.

Link to https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/158814 for more information.

The Ins and Outs of SBA Disaster Loans for Mitigation

November 16, 2017

SBA provided general information on loans designed for individuals and businesses to conduct mitigation measures such as home elevations, relocating utilities, retrofitting structures and building retaining walls. FEMA provided more information on resources that are available to start these types of mitigation projects.

To review the presentation, technical resources, and questions and answers, please download the information.

USGS Publishes Bulletin 17C, “Guidelines for Determining Flood Flow Frequency”

April 2, 2018

Accurate estimates of flood frequency and magnitude are a key component of any effective nationwide flood risk management and flood damage abatement program. In addition to accuracy, methods for estimating flood risk must be uniformly and consistently applied because management of the nation’s water and related land resources is a collaborative effort involving multiple actors, including most levels of government and the private sector. Bulletin 17C’s Chapter B5 of book 4 (TM 4–B5) deals with flood flow frequency analysis at gaged sites using the Expected Moments Algorithm. The use of extreme flood data represented by interval and censored data types, including historical, paleoflood and botanical evidence, is emphasized.

Map Service Center Enhancements and Related Tools Updates

January 25, 2018

A number of important changes are coming to FEMA’s Map Service Center (MSC) and related services as the agency continues to improve how we provide information related to the delivery of flood maps. On February 3, FEMA will implement changes to the MSC Address Search tool and enhancements to the National Flood Hazard Layer (NFHL) Viewer. The updates streamline access to the NFHL, and reorganize how some other tools are accessed. These updates help reduce the complexity of FEMA for map users by reducing the steps necessary to get the information they need and providing an authoritative, consolidated view of flood risk.

FEMA has been working for many years to transition fully to the use of digital flood maps. The changes on February 3 continue the progress on this transition. Specifically, the changes will direct most users to the NFHL as the primary source for viewing and printing flood hazards information, but users will still be able to access the legacy FIRMette tool.

Read more …. There are four primary updates happening …

Natural Hazard Mitigation Saves: 2017 Interim Report

January 11, 2018

For our nation to become more resilient, we must develop a more effective and efficient way to invest in mitigation. The National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) Multi-Hazard Mitigation Council (MMC) released an updated and expanded Natural Hazard Mitigation Saves: 2017 Interim Report.

The Institute’s project team looked at the results of 23 years of federally funded mitigation grants provided by the FEMA, U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and found mitigation funding can save the nation $6 in future disaster costs, for every $1 spent on hazard mitigation.

The Institute’s project team examined an expanded set of mitigation actions to determine the Benefit Cost Ratios (BCR) of building new structures beyond code requirements. The hazard categories covered in this report include: Riverine Flood, Hurricane Surge, Wind, Earthquake, and Wildland-Urban Interface Fire.

The report uses two high-level Benefit Cost Ratios (BCRs) representing the benefits of mitigation. The report demonstrates that, on average, investments in hazard mitigation measures that exceed provisions of the 2015 model building code can save the nation $4 for every $1 spent.

The report suggests a savings of $15.5 Billion from one year of building new construction beyond code requirements and a total of $158 Billion in savings from federally funded mitigation grant programs funded from 1993-2016.

The report has been vetted by a large group of public and private-sector experts. This Independent Study is directed by the National Institute of Building Sciences with funding support from the FEMA and other governmental and non-governmental sponsors. The authors of this study do not speak for or on behalf of FEMA. Findings presented in this Interim Report should not be taken as reflecting the opinions or policies of FEMA or its staff.

Link to Natural Hazard Mitigation Saves: 2017 Interim Report and the Natural Hazard Mitigation Saves: 2017 Interim Study Frequently Asked Questions.

NFIP Flood Insurance Changes: October 2017, April 2018 and …January 2019

After the flurry of changes to the federal flood insurance program following the reform legislations of 2012 and 2014, FEMA has settled down on making changes in October, April and January. In the recent October 2017 update, we saw minimal changes (HFIAA Surcharge can now be pro-rata refunded if a policy is canceled. And except for mainly the Preferred Risk Policies, the Federal Policy Fee for contents-only policies was reduced to $25). The latest version of the NFIP Manual includes these changes.

The recently announced changes for April 2018 and January 2019 (for the Preferred Risk Policy and Newly Mapped Procedure annual changes) are pretty much in line with last year.

April 1, 2018 highlights: Rate Increases:

Average premium increase is 6.9%
Besides the pre-FIRM subsidized premiums that are congressionally-mandated to increase 25% (e.g., non-primary residences, non-residential businesses), pre-FIRM premiums increase only 5%
Post-FIRM A Zones will see minimal to no increases; e.g., AE: 1%; AO or AH: 0%; Unnumbered Zone A: 2%
Standard X Zone: 1%

Primary Residence Determination: FEMA recognizes a policyholder can have more than one primary residence, as each spouse could live more than 50% of the year at a separate residence.

Phase 2 of Re-underwriting the NFIP policy base: This is delayed/extended. In response to HFIAA, FEMA needs to send out letters to all policyholders to clearly communicate their risk. To do so, FEMA asked insurance companies and NFIP-Direct to underwrite basically all renewal policies, but post-FIRM policies starting October 2016. FEMA would then send a letter to each of those policyholders after the policy renewed. The Post-FIRM phase was to start this October, but it is now delayed due to the recent hurricanes and will start when April 2018 renewal notices begin going out (though some companies have already started it).

January 1, 2019 changes:

Preferred Risk Policy (and eligible A99 and AR) premiums will increase 6%
The Newly Mapped policy multiplier continues to be 15%

NOTE: With all of that published, FEMA just released an additional Bulletin that increases the ICC premium starting April 1, 2018. In some cases, the annual increase is $1, but in others, like pre-FIRM Zone A, we are seeing $5 and $10 increases. FEMA did not revise the overall rate increase percentages mentioned above so we don’t know the relative percentage impact.

FEMA Releases Affordability Framework for the National Flood Insurance Program

April 17, 2018

FEMA released an Affordability Framework for the NFIP, which for the first time provides data-driven analysis of the cost burden borne by flood insurance policyholders and potential policyholders, identifies the populations most burdened by the cost of flood insurance, and provides options for policymakers to consider to help close the flood insurance gap across the nation by reducing the cost burden of flood insurance.

Through the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 and the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2014, Congress directed FEMA to examine options to aid individuals so they could afford risk-based premiums under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), and to develop a framework to help policymakers consider how to provide targeted assistance to policyholders and potential policyholders.

In the Affordability Framework, FEMA proposes several options based on income and offers descriptive models of the cost of each option. The following tasks were considered:

– Understand the affordability of the current NFIP portfolio as a baseline to better understand the impact of changes going forward.
– Begin the process of building the affordability framework.
– Complete the process of building an affordability framework.

As part of FEMA’s 2018-2022 Strategic Plan, FEMA is working to close the insurance gap with the assistance of both public and private insurers. As the largest provider of flood insurance in the United States, the NFIP is working to double the number of properties covered by flood insurance from the current 4 million to 8 million by 2023.

The Affordability Framework is available online at www.FEMA.gov/national-flood-insurance-program-publications.

Mitigation Publications – 2018

Streambank Bioengineering Job Aid available. January 2018. Link to: https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/156338. Bioengineering uses plants to stabilize and reduce erosion on streambanks, bringing together engineering, ecology, and landscape architecture for long-term solutions to reduce risk from natural hazards. This job aid presents the benefits of bioengineered solutions, describes commonly used measures, and identifies steps to plan and execute a successful project, including criteria to use in selecting the right approaches. It includes case studies demonstrating practical applications of bioengineering methods in riverine environments subject to bank erosion and habitat degradation.

NFIP Desk Reference Guide. October 2017. FEMA updated its “NFIP Desk Reference Guide for State Insurance Commissioners and Others.” The guide is in three distinct parts: Before the Flood, During the Flood and After the Flood. Each provides valuable resources on what you need to know, what you need to share with policyholders and property owners, and who to contact. It’s organized to provide you the information you need to know when you need to know it most. FEMA published it electronically to ensure easy updates as the program evolves, and also included an interactive version.

Need help explaining to city officials the value of freeboard? February 2018 The ASFPM developed a tri-fold called, “The Costs & Benefits for Building Higher.” The terminology is relatively simple so that city officials not well versed in floodplain management can understand how communities are safer when building higher, and how their citizens can save money and increase the value of their homes.

Ten Ways to Design Healthy Communities. March 30, 2018. A new report from the Urban Land Institute’s Center for Sustainability and Economic Performance outlines ten fundamental principles for building resilient cities and regions that successfully anticipate, respond to, and recover from both immediate shocks such as hurricanes and other extreme weather events and long-term stresses. Making healthy choices easy is a public-health goal. And how communities are designed can actually have a dramatic impact on that goal. Better still, any civic-minded group or individual can initiate community-health-oriented projects, from developing a new trail or park to reprogramming existing facilities. Download Ten Ways to Design Healthy Communities.

Step-by-Step Guide to Integrating Community Input into Green Infrastructure Projects. April, 2018. Many communities are turning to “green infrastructure” to reduce flooding, clean and conserve water, and provide recreational and other benefits. But how can local governments ensure they’re meeting the needs of the community? The Step-by-Step Guide to Integrating Community Input into Green Infrastructure Projects shows how. The guide provides details and tips to help local governments as they move through the decision making process in eight, easy-to-digest steps. While the guide is directed largely at local governments, it could also be a useful resource for other groups such as community and nonprofit organizations that are looking to implement green infrastructure projects in their communities. Download the Step-by-Step Guide to Integrating Community Input into Green Infrastructure Projects. For additional information, visit ELI’s Green Infrastructure Program.

Mitigation for Homeowners. May 2018. There are a wide range of options for protecting a home from flood and wind events through mitigation. Be
sure to consult with a licensed contractor and the local building department before making any structural changes to understand requirements and obtain any necessary permits. Download the Mitigation_For_Homeowners_FactSheet.

Asphalt Shingle Roofing for High-Wind Regions. May 2018. The purpose of this Recovery Advisory is to recommend practices for installing asphalt roof shingles that will enhance wind resistance in high-wind regions. For the purpose of this advisory, a high-wind region is considered to be an area where the basic (design) wind speed for Risk Category II buildings (as defined in American Society of Civil Engineers [ASCE] 7, Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and Other Structures) is greater than 115 miles per hour. The primary audience for this advisory includes contractors and design professionals, but the practices presented here may also be helpful for homeowners and other building owners. Download the Asphalt Shingle Roofing for High-Wind Regions.

Dry Floodproofing – Planning and Design Considerations. April 2018. The purpose of this Recovery Advisory is to provide guidance on the design of dry floodproofing measures to reduce flood damage and limit interruption of building services. This advisory incorporates observations made by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Mitigation Assessment Teams (MATs) in Texas and Florida after Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. It describes best design practices and successful implementation of dry floodproofing, as well as lessons learned from failures. The information in this advisory is directed toward existing and new non-residential facilities. Download the Dry Floodproofing – Planning and Design Considerations.

Public Assistance (PA) Program and Policy Guide. April 2018. FEMA applies this Version 3.1 to incidents declared on or after August 23, 2017 or, with respect to the changes made in this version, any application for assistance that was pending before FEMA as of August 23, 2017 and has not been finally resolved as of January 1, 2018. This version supersedes Version 3.0 issued on January 2, 2018. On February 9, 2018, Congress passed and the President signed the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (P.L. 115-123). Download the PAPPG_3.1_508_FINAL_5-4-2018.

Planning-Related Activities Using Hazard Mitigation Grant Program 7-Percent Funding. May 2018. To strengthen hazard mitigation across the country, FEMA supports a variety of planning-related activities through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP). In addition to hazard mitigation planning grants, this funding is available for planning-related activities and provides flexibility to State, tribal and local governments to reduce risk and integrate hazard mitigation principles into planning for resilience. Download the Planning_Related_Activities_Fact_Sheet_508_Compliant_5-2-18.

Temporary Occupancy of Substantially Damaged Structures after a Disaster. April 2018. This fact sheet is designed to help Floodplain Administrators and Building Code Officials understand whether communities may allow displaced property owners to occupy potential or declared Substantially Damaged (SD) residential structures until the structure can be brought into compliance with local floodplain management ordinances or building codes. Download the FSTempOccupancySubstantiallyDamagedStructuresAfterDisaster508. For additional guidance on SD, see FEMA P-758 Substantial Improvement/Substantial Damage Reference (2010).

Understanding Substantial Structural Damage in the International Existing Building Code. April 2017. This document will help you understand how the concept of Substantial Structural Damage (SSD) is used within the International Existing Building Code® (IEBC®). FEMA’s Public Assistance Required Minimum Standards Policy found in the Public Assistance Program and Policy Guide, Chapter 2 – Section VII.B.2,1 (Policy) requires that projects receiving FEMA assistance for repair or replacement incorporate the natural hazards-related provisions of the most recent edition of the International Code Council’s® (ICC®) International Building Code® (IBC®), International Residential Code® (IRC®), and/or the IEBC. The policy applies to buildings that have sustained any level of damage (including, possibly, SSD or Substantial Damage), as well as projects involving new construction, such as improved projects, alternate projects, or projects eligible for replacement in accordance with 44 CFR, Part 206.226(f). The relevant code provisions include not only the design criteria for repair or replacement construction, but also those provisions that determine whether repair to the pre-damage condition is sufficient, or whether repair must be supplemented by improvement. Download the PA_Job-Aid-Understanding_SSD_International-rev.

Updated Comprehensive Preparedness Guide Released. May 2018. On May 31, FEMA released the updated Comprehensive Preparedness Guide (CPG) 201 to reflect the changes in methodology for the Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (THIRA) and the Stakeholder Preparedness Review (SPR), formerly the State Preparedness Report. The update includes both the THIRA and SPR because they are interconnected processes that, together, communities use to evaluate their preparedness. The updated methodology goes into effect this year.

The THIRA now includes standardized language to describe threat/hazard impacts and capability targets, and gives communities a structure to collect more specific, quantitative preparedness information while also providing important context. Through the updated SPR process, communities collect more detailed and actionable data on their current capabilities and identified gaps. They indicate their intended approaches for addressing those gaps and assess the impact of funding sources on building and sustaining capabilities,

FEMA is taking a phased approach to implementation of the updated methodology, beginning in 2018. In 2018, respondents will only need to address the response, recovery, and cross-cutting core capabilities in their THIRA/SPR. In 2019, respondents will be required to address all five mission areas. Beginning in 2019, jurisdictions will only need to submit a THIRA to FEMA once every three years.

All types of communities can complete the THIRA/SPR as a way to better understand the risks they face and make important decisions on how to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from the threats and hazards that pose the greatest risks. While all communities can complete a THIRA/SPR if they choose, the THIRA/SPR is required among some communities. In addition to states and territories, Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) and Tribal Homeland Security Grant Program (THSGP) recipients will now also be required to complete the SPR. The THIRA remains a requirement for states, territories, and UASI and THSGP recipients; however, THSGP recipients will only be required to complete the THIRA and SPR for some of the core capabilities. For more information, visit www.fema.gov/threat-and-hazard-identification-and-risk-assessment.

For more mitigation resources and other publications, go to KAMM’s Mitigation Resources page.

Don’t forget to join the KAMM group on LinkedIn and Facebook.

Have questions, contact us at help@kymitigation.org.

For best results we recommend you update to Adobe Reader.

This software is available, for no cost, at http://get.adobe.com/reader/

KAMM Updates