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2018 KAMM Conference
Thank you for attending the conference!
Mitigation Superheroes: Investing in Our Communities
September 17, Preconference workshops and activities
September 18 – 20, 2018
KAMM Conference Recap: We have presentations, photos, Certificate of Attendance and resources. Link to Conference Recap.
KAMM Receives 2018 Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador Recognition 
Bulletin Aligning Mitigation Planning and the Community Rating System
October 23, 2018
Written by Amanda Sharma, MBA, MRLS, CFM – FEMA Headquarters Mitigation Planner/Analytics
FEMA’s local mitigation planning and the CRS program’s Activity 510 Floodplain Management Planning are aimed at guiding communities through a planning process that can help them move from being aware of their natural hazard risk to acting to reduce it. Nationwide, more than 20,000 jurisdictions have an approved or approvable-pending-adoption hazard mitigation plan. At the same time, 22,000+ communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, and nearly 1,500 of those participate in the Community Rating System.
Obviously, these programs are not mutually exclusive. They were created for different purposes, but have the same goal: to help communities reduce threats and losses caused by floods and other natural hazards. After all, 99 percent of communities enrolled in the CRS also engage in local hazard mitigation planning plans. So, if communities are engaging in both kinds of planning, why must they write two different, separate plans?
The National Mitigation Planning Program at FEMA tackled this question in its new publication, Mitigation Planning and the Community Rating System Key Topics Bulletin. This document assumes the perspective of the mitigation planner and is organized around the local mitigation planning requirements. It aligns mitigation planning requirements to Activity 510 Floodplain Management Planning steps, with helpful hints and advice about common challenges associated with coordinating the processes. The Bulletin is intended to help community officials integrate the two planning processes to produce more effective flood mitigation actions and meet the criteria of both programs more efficiently. The full authorities for each process have not changed. They are available in the Local Mitigation Plan Review Guide (2011) and the CRS Coordinator’s Manual (2017).
Communities could save planning participants time, maximize available resources, and add value by building connections to streamline their planning processes. If you’ve thought about developing a combined local mitigation and Activity 510 plan, check it out.
Updated FEMA 213, Answers to Questions About Substantially Improved / Substantially Damaged Buildings (2018)
October 26, 2018
A joint effort by the Building Science Branch and Floodplain Management Division, updated FEMA 213 significantly expands the number of questions answered in the 1991 version of the publication. The enforcement of the SI/SD requirements can be a major concern for local officials, especially after their communities experience widespread damage from floods or other disasters. The questions and answers in the revised FEMA 213 are intended to guide floodplain administrators, building officials, building inspectors, zoning administrators, citizen planning boards, and elected and other local officials who have roles in enforcing floodplain management and building codes It is also helpful for architects, engineers, contractors, building owners and others.
FEMA 213 provides short answers to many questions and concerns, while encouraging local officials and others to refer to more complete guidance in FEMA P-758, Substantial Improvement/Substantial Damage Desk Reference. Each question includes a text box referring readers to specific sections in the SI/SD Desk Reference.
The revised FEMA 213 has four sections:
- Section 1 briefly describes the NFIP and the purpose of the booklet.
- Section 2 answers questions about pertinent definitions and regulations, and also answers some general questions about SI/SD.
- Section 3 answers questions about how to determine substantial improvement and substantial damage.
- Section 4 answers common questions that arise in the post-disaster period.
FEMA 213 is available here on FEMA’s Floodplain Management Publications webpage.
Quick Reference Guide: Comparison of Select NFIP and 2018 I-Code Requirements for Special Flood Hazard Areas
October 30, 2018
The updated Quick Reference Guide illustrates the similarities and highlights the differences between the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) minimum requirements and the requirements of the 2018 International Codes® (I-Codes®) and ASCE 24-14, Flood Resistant Design and Construction (ASCE 24), a standard referenced by the I-Codes. The illustrations highlight some of the key similarities and differences between foundation types, lowest floor elevations, enclosures below elevated buildings, and utilities requirements of the NFIP and I-Codes for most residential, commercial and industrial buildings (classified as “Flood Design Class 2” structures by the building codes).
The Quick Reference Guide is available here on FEMA’s Building Code Resources webpage.
Annual Update: National Flood Insurance Program Rate Changes Effective April 1, 2019
October 1, 2018
As announced on Oct. 1, 2018, key changes being made to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) on April 1, 2019, include updated Insurance Policy Premium Increases conforming to the premium rate caps established by the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 (BW-12) and the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2014 (HFIAA).
- Premiums will increase upon renewal an average of 8.2 percent beginning April 1, 2019. These amounts do not include the HFIAA Surcharge, or the Federal Policy Fee (FPF). It is important to note that nearly 80 percent of NFIP policyholders already pay a full-risk rate.
- Annual premium increases of 5 percent for Preferred Risk Policies (PRPs) and 15 percent for Newly Mapped procedure policies will become effective Jan. 1, 2020.
Effective April 1, 2019, FEMA will introduce a Severe Repetitive Loss (SRL) Premium for all policies covering properties with an SRL designation. The SRL Premium will be 5 percent for all SRL policies. Link to the April 1, 2019, and January 1, 2020, Program Changes.
Disaster Recovery Reform Act of 2018 Transforms Field of Emergency Management
October 5, 2018
President Donald J. Trump signed the Disaster Recovery Reform Act of 2018 (DRRA) into law as part of the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act of 2018. As the 2017 hurricane season and California wildfires demonstrated, impacts from a disaster can be devastating. With the economic disruption and the cost of disasters on the rise nationwide, FEMA worked closely with Congress over the past year as they considered, and ultimately passed, important reforms to federal disaster programs.
These reforms acknowledge the shared responsibility of disaster response and recovery, aim to reduce the complexity of FEMA and build the nation’s capacity for the next catastrophic event. Highlights from the DRRA include:
- Greater investment in mitigation, before a disaster: Authorizing the National Public Infrastructure Pre-Disaster Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, funded through the Disaster Relief Fund as a six percent set aside from disaster expenses.
- Reducing risk from future disasters after fire: Providing hazard mitigation grant funding in areas that received Fire Management Assistance Grants as a result of wildfire. Adding 14 new mitigation project types associated with wildfires and windstorms.
- Increasing state capacity to manage disaster recovery: Allowing for higher rates of reimbursement to state, local, tribal and territorial partners for their administrative costs when implementing public assistance and hazard mitigation projects. Additionally, the legislation provides flexibility for states and tribes to administer their own post-disaster housing missions, while encouraging the development of disaster housing strategies.
- Providing greater flexibility to survivors with disabilities: Increasing the amount of assistance available to individuals and households affected by disasters, including allowing accessibility repairs for people with disabilities, without counting those repairs against their maximum disaster assistance grant award.
- Retaining skilled response and recovery personnel: Authorizing FEMA to appoint certain types of temporary employees who have been with the agency for three continuous years to full time positions in the same manner as federal employees with competitive status. This allows the agency to retain and promote talented, experienced emergency managers.
The full text of the bill can be found at www.congress.gov.
FEMA Outreach Starter Kit
September 2018
When it comes to a disaster, insured survivors are able to recover quicker and more fully from a flood or other catastrophic event than their uninsured neighbors. FEMA has committed itself to increasing flood insurance coverage across the country. FEMA is calling this their ‘Moonshot’.
One of the things FEMA is aiming to do, as part of this Moonshot, is to help enable community leaders in communicating flood risk and insurance to citizens. FEMA has designed this outreach starter kit for local officials to use to reach their residents on the importance of purchasing and maintaining flood insurance. Within the kit, you will find key messages, press release templates you can use, Op-Eds, and Social Media messages. All of these materials are designed to be adapted to your community and the message you want to share with your citizens.
Download the starter kit by visiting, https://www.fema.gov/media-library/Assets/documents/166428.
Getting Planning Mileage Out of the Flood Risk Products
August 2018
FEMA’s Flood Risk Products (FRPs) are sets of data designed to help communities make better planning and investment decisions. FEMA encourages communities to use the FRPs to support local mitigation planning. For example, using FRPs to identify the location and impacts of flood hazards in order to better prioritize areas in need of mitigation strategies.
However, community planners may not be aware of what data is available or how it can be used to help meet the mitigation planning requirements found in the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. The new “Using Flood Risk Products in Hazard Mitigation Plans” publication aims to help planners improve how they talk about flood risk in their mitigation plan. The document explains what FRPs are, where they can be found, and includes several case studies. Most importantly, the publication walks the user through how each FRP can be applied to help meet mitigation planning requirements.
This product is now available Using_FRPs_in_HMPs_Guide_508.
A Good Day for FEMA Region IV – Kentucky is the 2nd Annual CTP Recognition Program Winner
July 3, 2018
On the left, National CTP Program Coordinator, Laura Algeo, and representing the winner of the 2nd Annual CTP Recognition Award for the KDOW, Carey Johnson.
The Cooperating Technical Partners (CTP) Program launched the CTP Recognition program in 2017 to award high-performing CTPs for their efforts in project management, communications best practices and the development of tools and resources. This year, at the Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM) annual conference, the KDOW and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (Georgia DNR) were chosen by their peers as the winner and honorable mention respectively for the 2nd Annual CTP Recognition Program.
KDOW the winner of the 2nd Annual CTP Recognition Program, is recognized for strengths in Communications and Outreach and Program Management activities. KDOW has enhanced traditional communications and outreach activities by embracing the use of technology (virtual reality, iPads, web tools, etc.) to communicate flood risks. KDOW developed the Kentucky Water Maps Portal as a singular source of water-based information for the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The flood risk portal provides access to current flood risk data, engineering models, and important backup information (HEC-RAS models, hydraulic reports, hydrologic reports) in a web-based mapping application.
For more information, visit: http://watermaps.ky.gov/.
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.
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.
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.
FEMA Releases Guide to Engaging Faith-Based and Community Organizations: Planning Considerations for Emergency Managers. June 18, 2018. FEMA and the DHS Center for Faith and Opportunity Initiatives released the guide on Engaging Faith-based and Community Organizations: Planning Considerations for Emergency Managers. Faith-based and community organizations offer a wide variety of human and material resources that can prove invaluable during and after an incident. This guide provides a methodology for emergency managers to engage with faith-based and community organizations in enhancing the resiliency of our nation. By identifying, engaging, and building partnerships with these groups, particularly those in racially, ethnically, economically, and religiously diverse communities, emergency managers can provide training and technical assistance to strengthen their skills, connect them with existing partners, and then integrate them into emergency management plans and exercises before an event occurs thus increasing response and recovery capability. This document also provides lists of resources available to help build relationships between emergency management and faith-based and community organizations. Download Engaging Faith-based and Community Organizations: Planning Considerations for Emergency Managers, visit https://www.fema.gov/plan.
Letter of Map Amendment – Out As Shown. Revised 2018. If you, or a citizen in your community, has a federally backed loan for a structure, the lender can require you to carry flood insurance at any time, regardless of which flood zone your home is in. This can and does occasionally happen. Often times however, there was either an error with the homes floodplain determination, or the company the bank hired to do the determinations for them were very conservative with their assessments. In these instances, the property owner can take steps to have FEMA verify their home is outside the floodplain and can request that the flood insurance requirement be waived by their lender.
Link to an updated set of instructions to assist community members in applying for a LOMA Out As Shown Instructions – KY (LOMA-OAS).
This LOMA-OAS is a simple process, which only requires filling out a 2-page application and 1-2 additional supporting documents. Pass along these instructions to property owners to help them understand and complete this process. The instructions also include information on how to submit the LOMA-OAS application, how FEMA will respond, and what they next steps for the property owner are.
For more mitigation resources and other publications, go to KAMM’s Mitigation Resources page.
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Have questions, contact us at help@kymitigation.org.
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