Kentucky Watches, Warnings or Advisories – Weather Alerts Follow the alerts, link here.
KAMM Membership – 2021
Membership is $25.00 and based on the calendar year. Link to Join KAMM.
2020 KAMM Virtual Conference Recap
- Link to Conference Recap
- Link to Conference Presentations
Save the Date: KAMM 2021 Conference September 21 – 23, 2021
KAMM Winter Newsletter
In this edition …
- A Note from the Chair
- KAMM Board of Directors 2020 Winter Retreat
- 2020 KAMM Virtual Conference
- KAMM Regions
- KAMM Committees
- KAMM Community Grant Overview
- KAMM’s 2020 Mitigation Manager of the Year
- KAMM Conference Daily Selfies
- Grant Funding and Info
- Training Opportunities
- Program Updates and Releases
- From the Division of Water
- Earthquake Updates and Releases
- Thanks 2020 KAMM Conference Sponsors
Link to the KAMM Newsletter Winter 2020-2021!
KAMM’s Community Mitigation Grant
Year-Round Fundraiser
KAMM is excited to announce our year-round Community Grant Fundraiser. Please consider a tax-deductible donation to help support the KAMM Community Mitigation Fund and KAMM’s mission.
For more information, link to KAMM’s Community Fundraiser.
KAMM Board of Directors 2020 Winter Retreat 
Yep, we had our 2-day Winter Retreat virtually. KAMM purchased Go-To Meeting software for our September conference and we have utilized it for our monthly meetings to keep things moving along.
We have lots of great ideas to share. Our Regional Representatives and Committee Leads are preparing for webinars, training and projects in 2021. Stay Tuned!
Training Opportunities
FEMA Elevation Certificate Videos
The CRS Program has just released 8 videos that cover training on the FEMA Elevation Certificate (EC). The videos describe each Section of the EC and explain which fields on the form are required for CRS purposes and why. Each video explains the most common errors we see on the forms and how to avoid them. We also have 2 videos covering general issues associated with ECs such as form date rules, page rules, how to handle annexations, how to handle Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) changes after a building is permitted, and how to document different kinds of buildings. And lastly, we have a video on how to correct and EC once you find one with errors.
The videos should be watched beginning with Section A of the form, and ending with “How to Correct an Elevation Certificate.” They are intended to serve community officials, but please feel free to share these videos with the surveyors, engineers, and architects in your community who fill out these forms. They will benefit greatly from them as well.
- How To Fill Out Section A For CRS Purposes
- How to Fill Out Section B For CRS Purposes
- How to Fill Out Section C & D For CRS Purposes
- How to Fill Out Section E & F For CRS Purposes
- How to Fill Out Section G For CRS Purposes
- General Issues, Part 1
- General Issues, Part 2
- How To Correct an EC
Link to the YouTube videos: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRJw9u8nGNwP8sFZFMCyDqWNR1XnmzkpR
CRS Webinars and EMI courses
Link to our CRS webpage for detailed schedule http://www.kymitigation.org/crs-webinars/
NRCS Conservation Outcomes Webinar Series
This monthly webinar series highlights recent outcomes, emerging opportunities, and conservation tools and data developed to assist with conservation planning and impact and efficiency assessment. The series illustrates the scope of Farm Bill conservation efforts on privately owned croplands, forests, and rangelands; documents the conservation achievements and outcomes of those efforts; and shows the utility of science-based outcomes for helping inform future conservation delivery.
Development of the Agricultural Conservation Planning Framework (ACPF) and Use by NRCS for Watershed Planning
January 28, 3:00 p.m. ET
Nutrient and sediment losses from agricultural watersheds have impacts on aquatic and marine ecosystems of the U.S. Improving agricultural water quality requires planning and voluntary installation of new conservation practices through producer engagement. Practices must be selected and located to be effective based on a watershed assessment, and appropriate for each landscape and each individual farm operation. To help meet this challenge, ARS scientists in Ames, Iowa, have developed the Agricultural Conservation Planning Framework (ACPF) to provide watershed databases and software tools that can be used to present realistic options for placement of conservation practices that can improve water quality outcomes. High resolution data on land cover, soil survey, and topography are analyzed to identify a suite of conservation practice options to reduce impacts of runoff and subsurface tile drainage on water quality. The ACPF provides watershed databases for more than 11,500 small watersheds that cover most of the U.S. Corn Belt. This webinar, presented by ARS scientists Mark D. Tomer and David E. James and moderated by CEAP-Watersheds Assessment Component Leader Lisa Duriancik, will describe the ACPF and a current NRCS project aimed to facilitate evaluation of ACPF results for selected NWQI and CEAP watersheds in 15 states.
Access the webinar at https://nrcs.adobeconnect.com/ceap2/ a few minutes before the webinar starts.
These one-hour, live webinars will occur every fourth Thursday at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) via Adobe Connect at https://nrcs.adobeconnect.com/ceap2/
EPA’s Transportation Stormwater Permit (MS4) Compendium
February 3, 2:00-3:00 PM EST
Stormwater discharges from roadways, including those within defined urbanized areas, are often covered under the NPDES Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) regulations. State Departments of Transportation (DOTs) may be co-permittees with Phase I MS4s under a Phase I permit or small MS4s under either an individual or general Phase II MS4 permit. These permits typically include requirements related to pollution prevention, public education, public involvement, construction, post-construction for new development and redevelopment, and illicit discharge detection and elimination. Transportation stormwater management differs from traditional MS4 stormwater management in several ways, so transportation MS4 permit requirements are sometimes written differently.
This webinar will discuss EPA’s “Transportation Stormwater Permit Compendium,” a compendium of excerpted permit language from MS4 permits and other resources that can be used and/or tailored for transportation-specific MS4 permits. The webinar will discuss characteristics specific to transportation MS4s and roadway runoff, and will provide example excerpts of State DOT MS4 permits addressing various aspects of stormwater management for linear infrastructure projects.
Presenters:
- Heather Goss, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- Susan Jones, U.S. Department of Transportation – Federal Highway Administration
National Dam Safety Technical Seminar
Seminar Date: February 16 – 19, 2021; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Registration is open for the 28th Annual National Dam Safety Program Technical Seminar, “Risk Informed Decision Making and Benefit Cost Analysis for Dam and Levee Projects.” This seminar will be held virtually on FEMA Adobe Connect.
Participants encouraged to apply include all dam and levee safety professionals, including Public and Private Dam owners/operators, Dam Safety Engineers, Land Use planners and emergency management officials.
Register: link to the Emergency Management Institute website to register. Emergency Management Institute | National Dam Safety Program Technical Seminar – Registration (fema.gov).
Grant Announcement and Info
Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration Grant Program 2021 Request for Proposals
Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration Grant Program | NFWF
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and the Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC), in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), USDA Forest Service (USFS), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), FedEx, Southern Company and BNSF Railway are pleased to solicit applications for the 2021 Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration program. This program will award approximately $1.5 million in grants nationwide.
The Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration grant program seeks to develop community capacity to sustain local natural resources for future generations by providing modest financial assistance to diverse local partnerships focused on improving water quality, watersheds and the species and habitats they support.
Projects include a variety of ecological improvements along with targeted community outreach, education and stewardship. Ecological improvements may include one or more of the following: wetland, riparian, forest and coastal habitat restoration; wildlife conservation, community tree canopy enhancement, water quality monitoring and green infrastructure best management practices for managing run-off.
Projects should increase access to the benefits of nature, reduce the impact of environmental hazards and engage local communities, particularly underserved communities, in project planning, outreach and implementation. This program expects that applicants will represent a mixture of urban and rural communities. NFWF may use a mix of public and private funding sources to support any grant made through this program.
The Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration Program focuses on the stewardship and restoration of coastal, wetland and riparian ecosystems across the country. Its goal is to meet the conservation needs of important species and habitats, providing measurable and meaningful conservation and educational outcomes. The program requires the establishment and/or enhancement of diverse partnerships and an education/outreach component that will help shape and sustain behavior to achieve conservation goals.
Funding priorities for this program include:
- On-the-ground wetland, riparian, in-stream and/or coastal habitat restoration
- Meaningful education and training activities, either through community outreach, participation and/or integration with K-12 environmental curriculum
- Measurable ecological, educational and community benefits
- Partnerships: Five Star projects should engage a diverse group of community partners to achieve ecological and educational outcomes.
Proposal Due Date: January 28, 2021 by 11:59 p.m. ET
Link to more info: https://www.nfwf.org/programs/five-star-and-urban-waters-restoration-grant-program.
Program Updates and Releases
FEMA Releases Addendum for the Community Rating System Manual
January 2021
FEMA recently released the Community Rating System 2021 Addendum, a companion guide for the current Coordinator’s Manual. Together, these documents establish and explain various elements of the Community Rating System program including an official description, how the program operates, and how class ratings (Class 10 to Class 1) are determined. The documents will remain effective until a fully revised edition of the Coordinator’s Manual is issued in the future.
The program provides incentives to encourage local jurisdictions to implement floodplain management best practices that exceed the minimum community-based floodplain management requirements of the National Flood Insurance Program. In return, NFIP flood insurance policy holders can receive reductions in their flood insurance premium.
With the 2021 Addendum, FEMA incorporates three new opportunities for communities to earn credit for a reduction in NFIP policy premiums. These include:
- Protecting threatened and endangered species.
- Mitigating substantial damage.
- Promoting flood insurance.
In addition, new prerequisites allow for both new credit opportunities and simplification for communities. These prerequisites include:
- A plan for managing floodplain-related construction certificates (including elevation certificates) to reach Class 9.
- The implementation of 1-foot of freeboard to reach Class 8.
Link to the 2021 Addendum – fema_community-rating-system_coordinator-manual_addendum-2021. Or for more information, view the on the FEMA website.
Frequently Asked Questions
Link to the FAQs – fema_community-rating-system_coordinator-manual_addendum-2021_FAQs
USGS Unveils Mobile Flood Tool for the Nation
The U.S. Geological Survey released a mobile tool that provides real-time information on water levels, weather, and flood forecasts all in one place. The new USGS National Water Dashboard will help inform forecasting, response, and recovery efforts for agencies such as the National Weather Service, FEMA, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and other federal, state and local agencies.
FEMA Mobile App Introduces New Mitigate Your Risk Section
Features in the App
- Receive real-time alerts from the National Weather Service for up to five locations nationwide.
- Share real-time notifications with loved ones via text, email and social media.
- Learn emergency safety tips for over 20 types of disasters, including fires, flooding, hurricanes, snowstorms, tornadoes, volcanoes and more.
- Locate open emergency shelters and disaster recovery centers in your area where you can talk to a FEMA representative in person.
- Prepare for disasters with a customizable emergency kit checklist, emergency family plan, and reminders.
- Connect with FEMA to register for disaster assistance.
- Toggle between English and Spanish.
- Follow the FEMA blog.
Download the FEMA Mobile App.
Publications
Mitigation Matters!
Have questions, contact us at help@kymitigation.org.
Don’t forget to join the KAMM group on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.