KAMM
Ky Association of Mitigation Managers

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

 

Time to Renew KAMM Membership for 2020!

Membership is based on the calendar year.  $25 for membership!

Join KAMM – link here.

 

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Save the Date!

Announcing 2020 KAMM Conference

September 22 – 24 , 2020

September 21, 2020 – Preconference Workshops and Activities

Appalachian Wireless Arena, Pikeville

Link to the 2020 Conference page for more information.  

 

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2019 Fall KAMM Newsletter

Newsletter Topics:

• A Note from the KAMM Chair, Mike Greene
• 2019 KAMM Conference Recap
• KAMM’s 15th Anniversary!
• KAMM 2019 Mitigation Awards
• KAMM Community Fundraiser & Silent Auction
• A Noe at the Grill and Annual Cornhole Tournament
• Tuesday Night Fun at the Beach
• 2019 Conference – Regional Meetings
• KAMM Committees
• Publication, Program Updates and Releases
• 2019 NFIP Program Changes
• Thanks 2019 KAMM Conference Sponsors!

 

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Most Funded Hazard Mitigation Projects in 2019

In 2019, FEMA funded more than $1.16 billion in Hazard Mitigation Assistance grants.  This included these top five project types:

• Flood Control: $148 million was granted to flood-risk reduction projects such as dikes, levees, floodwalls and erosion projects that are cost-effective, feasible and designed to reduce risk. 
• Acquisitions: $132 million was granted to communities to acquire or buy properties from homeowners and demolish or relocate any structures on the property. 
• Utility and Infrastructure Protection: $112 million was granted to fund projects that reduce risk to existing utility systems, roads, and bridges such as seismic retrofits to strengthen buildings against earthquakes and burying utility lines to protect them from high-wind events such as hurricanes.
• Generators: $73 million was granted for the purchase and installation of generators for the protection of critical facilities.
• Safe Rooms/Wind Shelters: $67 million was granted for safe rooms that are designed and constructed either in community spaces such as schools or community buildings.  These rooms provide protection during extreme weather events such as tornadoes and hurricanes.  

By design, the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program helps communities implement hazard mitigation measures following a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration requested by the Governor or Tribal Executive. This grant program also enacts mitigation measures to reduce the risk of loss of life and property from future disasters.

 

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Public Notice Requirements –

State Floodplain Permits

December 1, 2019 

The Kentucky state floodplain regulations requires that while issuing a state floodplain permit, the applicant (i.e. the person or persons applying) are required to “…provide notice to all parties who may incur additional flood-related damages…” as part of the application process.  The Division of Water is making 2 changes to how public notices are handled, to ensure that due process is given to anyone interested in proposed floodplain projects.

Affidavits of Understanding

As of December 1, 2019, Affidavits of Understanding will no longer be eligible as an acceptable means of public notice for state floodplain permits.  All applicants will be required to submit a newspaper notice “…in the newspaper having greatest circulation in the area of the proposed construction” as required by 401 KAR 4:060, Section 3(4)(a)(2).  

The regulations say that “…the applicant may obtain and submit affidavits from all parties who reside, own property, or have other legitimate property interests in the affected areas.”  While affidavits are allowed by reg., the Division does not currently have the ability to make property determinations in the affected area.  The Division also has no way of knowing that the signatories on the submitted Affidavit of Understanding are the actual adjoining property owners, or that the submitted affidavits are from ALL of the affected parties.

Public Notice Waiver Requests

Section 3(4)(a)(3) of 401 KAR 4:060 allows the applicant to apply for a public notice waiver as part of their floodplain permit application.  As of December 1, 2019, ALL public notice waiver requests MUST be reviewed & approved through our Director’s office.  See below for a list of when a public notice waiver may be granted by the Division.  Applicants may still request public notice waivers for other projects not on this list; however, they will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the Director’s office.

Activities where a public notice waiver request may be valid:

• Development constructed by the US Army Corps of Engineers;
• Uses of open space as outlined in 44 CFR 80.19;
• Stream obstruction removal, such as the removal of woody debris from a bridge or culvert after a storm event, that is completed as described in the Watershed Friendly Stream Maintenance guidance & Stream Maintenance FAQ, and that does not result in materials being deposited in the floodplain for the base flood event.
• Normal property maintenance activities that are done by hand such as cuttings, plantings, and temporarily storing woody debris piles. Maintenance activities shall be completed and all materials removed from the base floodplain in not more than 15 days;
• Development of a below-grade swimming pool outside of the regulatory floodway;
• Development and placement of utility poles, open-frame towers, or monopole towers with below grade foundations;
• Development of below-grade utilities (e.g. water lines, pipelines, etc.);
• Placement of an open-style guardrail along an existing roadway;
• Geotechnical investigations, archeological investigations or installation of monitoring wells;
• Repairs or maintenance to an existing shallow and narrow man-made drainage-way, such as a ditch between two buildings or a swale. The man-made drainage-way cannot be mapped as having its own base floodplain.  (A portion of the man-made drainage-way may empty into a larger waterbody that has a mapped base floodplain.  For example, a ditch between two buildings that flows into a creek);
• Development of a fence that does not impede flow during a base flood event, as long as the fence is not constructed across a stream or wetland;
• Locating a recreational vehicle that is fully licensed and ready for highway use in the floodplain for the base flood event for less than 180 consecutive days;
• Removal of gravel or vein minerals from a stream by the Permittee for personal, noncommercial use that is completed as outlined in the Watershed Friendly Stream Maintenance guidance. Excavated materials shall not be placed along the banks of the stream or within the base floodplain.  Eligibility for coverage under this permit shall be limited to fifty (50) tons or less excavated in twelve (12) successive calendar months in accordance with KRS 350.245.  Eligibility for coverage shall not include removal of gravel or vein minerals that will be sold or transported on public roadways; or
• Development in a watershed less than one square mile (1 mi²), except for dams, structures impounding water, or residential or non-residential structures.
• Extensions of previously public noticed permit.

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Upcoming Training

 

2020 NFIP Adjuster Claims Presentation

Lexington, KY

April 20, 2020

8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Sign-in begins at 8:00 AM.

Adjusters seeking to renew NFIP Authorization or become authorized must attend an NFIP Adjuster Claims Presentation, then apply for authorization with the NFIP Bureau and Statistical Agent. The NFIP Presentation closely follows the 2018 Claims Manual.  It is designed to improve clarity of claims guidance to adjusters so that policyholders experience consistency and reliability of service.

The Presentation provides processes and best practices for handling claims from the notice of loss to final payment.

Renewing/Obtaining Flood Control Number – Adjusters seeking to maintain their active registered status must attend an NFIP Claims Presentation each calendar year.  This course is approved for 6 hours of CE credit.

NFIP standards and requirements for flood adjusters may be found in the Claims Manual.

Link here, to Register.

 

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Online Training 

 

URA the HUD Way – New Training Module Available

For all projects that receive federal funding for the acquisition, rehabilitation, or demolition of real property, Uniform Relocation Assistance (URA) provides important protections and assistance for people affected by those activities.

This training describes the URA minimum standards for all federally-funded projects that acquire property or displace persons from their homes, businesses, or farms.  Modules 1 and 2 are intended to provide a basic overview of the topics.  Modules 3 through 8 provide greater technical training on the topics.

Note: Not all modules are currently available but will be announced in the coming months.

• Not familiar with the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970, as amended (URA)?
• New to administering HUD funded projects?
• Want to improve your URA knowledge?

Available Modules

Module 1: URA Overview

This module provides a basic overview of URA requirements for HUD programs and projects.  It provides a brief history on the URA’s purpose and objectives, URA highlights, and helpful information for users to recognize when HUD funded projects may be subject to URA requirements.

*New* Module 7: Temporary Relocation

Temporary relocation due to acquisition, rehabilitation, or demolition for a federally-funded project is subject to the URA.

Module Goals:

• Identify HUD requirements for temporary relocation
• Differentiate between temporary relocation and permanent displacement
• Identify the Notice requirements
• Recognize the impact of temporary relocation on households and businesses
• Identify Agency’s responsibility for providing advisory services
• Describe eligible reimbursable expenses

Take the Training, link here.

 

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October 2019 NFIP Program Changes

New four-minute Online Video!

The National Flood Insurance Program continues to undergo change.  Some of the change is aimed at providing a better customer experience for policyholders while other changes continue the implementation of the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act and the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act. 

This new short video explains the key elements of changes to the NFIP that are effective October 1, 2019.

What You Will Learn:  The October Program Changes video details three NFIP program changes related to:

• National Producer Numbers
• Specific Rating Guidelines
• The Community Rating System Eligible Communities List

For an additional list of Online Training, link here.  

 

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2019 Publications, Program Updates and Releases

 

National Dam Safety Program releases the Dam Incident Planning Guide

November 21, 2019

FEMA’s National Dam Safety Program (NDSP) has released its newest publication – Emergency Operations Planning: Dam Incident Planning Guide.  The Dam Incident Planning Guide supports state, local, tribal, and territorial emergency managers in planning for dam incidents and failures by summarizing the concepts that a community should consider when creating dam incident-specific elements of local emergency operations plans.  This Guide builds on the Comprehensive Preparedness Guide (CPG) 101: Developing and Maintaining Emergency Operations Plans.  It also provides guidance for dam owners and operators on how to engage with emergency managers prior to an incident to ensure a well-coordinated response.

This Guide is intended to help community planners create a plan to respond to dam incidents that take place in, or affect, their communities.  Some communities will choose to address dam incidents in an annex to their emergency operations plan or comprehensive emergency management plan or as an appendix to other base planning products, or they will create a stand-alone dam incident plan.  A general template is included in Appendix A for a community dam incident plan that can be adapted to meet each community’s needs.

The NDSP offers a Dam Safety Collaborative Technical Assistance (CTA) program.  Through this program, emergency managers work collaboratively with neighboring communities, agencies, and the private sector to gain a detailed understanding of the risks they face from local and regional dams and how those risks can be addressed.  A key product of the CTA program is a completed dam incident plan or annex, which this guide has been produced to inform this process and help dam owners and operators to engage with emergency managers prior to an incident to ensure a well-coordinated response.

 

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FEMA Implements P-2055-

Post-disaster Building Safety Evaluation Guidance

November 27, 2019

DRRA section 1241 directs FEMA to develop guidance for building experts to use when they evaluate structures for safety and habitability after a disaster.  In November 2019, FEMA published the FEMA P-2055, Post-disaster Building Safety Evaluation Guidance as required by DRRA Section 1241: Post-disaster Building Safety Assessment.  The report is on the current state of practice for post-disaster building safety evaluation, including recommendations related to structural and nonstructural safety and habitability. 

FEMA P-2055 summarizes and references best practice guideline documents or provides interim recommendations for issues without best practice guidance.  It also identified recommended improvements and needs, including a primer for state, local, tribal, and territorial governments that have the authority to set standards or policy related to the implementation of post-disaster evaluations, to protect the design professionals who volunteer as evaluators, and legislation to create the authority to evaluate and post buildings, deputize evaluators, and restrict occupancy. 

The following incident types are covered in the Guide: earthquakes; hurricanes; floods; tornadoes; tsunamis; landslides and other land instabilities; volcanoes; snow, hail, and ice storms; fire; and explosions.  The Guide can be a reference for any post-incident evaluation process and is not limited by the scale or official declaration of a disaster.

 

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FEMA Releases Inaugural DRRA Implementation Report

October 30, 2019

FEMA released the first annual report on Agency implementation of the Disaster Recovery Reform Act of 2018 (DRRA).  This report provides an overview of the DRRA, highlights how FEMA’s strategic goals align to the act, and describes FEMA implementation efforts and achievements since 2018.

FEMA has already implemented more than half of the provisions identified in the law.  As a direct result of this implementation, FEMA expanded support for mitigation, to include provision of $86 million in funding for wildfire mitigation projects to protect nearly 2,500 more properties.

Additionally, FEMA increased the amount of assistance available to individuals following a disaster, providing more than $61 million in additional assistance to over 11,000 individuals, and more than $12 million in additional disaster unemployment assistance to applicants in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.  FEMA has also published guidance on the prioritization of assistance during power outages, the identification of evacuation routes, and the coordination of emergency response plans for hazardous materials.

The DRRA contains 56 provisions that require policy or regulation changes that amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to strengthen national capabilities to prepare for, mitigate against, and recover from major disasters. These reforms acknowledge the shared responsibility for disaster response and recovery, aim to reduce the complexity of FEMA, and build the nation’s capacity for the next catastrophic event.

For more information on DRRA, visit the FEMA Website.

 

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DRRA Section 1231 Fact Sheet: Acquisition of Property for Open Space and Policy Clarification

October 2019

Through its Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) grant programs, FEMA funds the voluntary acquisition of hazard-prone properties from private owners.  Property acquisition is not new for FEMA; however, DRRA Section 1231 contains new requirements for the project notification process and emphasizes a community’s responsibilities regarding acquired land.

The newly released DRRA Section 1231 Fact Sheet outlines these new requirements for state, tribal, territorial and local governments and supplements existing FEMA guidance on property acquisition projects per the DRRA.

FEMA also released a policy clarification on the Eligibility of Hazard Mitigation Assistance Applications with Pre-Award Demolitions.  This policy clarifies that when private individuals have demolished damaged structures using private funds or other non-federal funds prior to application for HMA funding, the properties will now be eligible for inclusion in HMA project applications if the demolition is not connected to the project.  The demolition costs cannot be included in the project application. 

 

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Reducing Flood Losses Through the International Codes: Coordinating Building Codes and Floodplain Management Regulations, 5th Edition

October 18, 2019

Developed by the International Code Council and FEMA, this guide helps state and local officials integrate the International Codes® (I-Codes®) into their current floodplain management regulatory processes related to structures, buildings, and other development to satisfy the requirements to participate in the NFIP.  FEMA considers the latest editions of the I-Codes to be the minimum standards for hazard resistance, including flood hazards, high winds, and earthquake hazards.

• Chapter 2 describes three approaches for coordinating the I-Codes and local floodplain management regulations and identifies several advantages and considerations when relying on the flood provisions of the codes.
• Chapter 3 explains several differences between the NFIP regulations and the I-Code requirements related to specific terminology and provisions. Many requirements in the codes exceed NFIP minimum requirements, and some provisions are more specific than the NFIP, especially in the International Building Code®, which references ASCE 24, Flood Resistant Design and Construction.
• Chapter 4 contains questions that states and communities should answer to know whether and how to modify existing floodplain management regulations to coordinate with building codes.
• Chapter 5 describes modifications that can be adopted to incorporate higher standards in State and local building codes that are based on the I-Codes to further increase building and community resilience to flood damage.
• Chapter 6 introduces the model code-coordinated ordinances prepared by FEMA. The model ordinances are available at: http://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/96224.

• Appendix A lists cited references and other resources that are useful for understanding and interpreting the requirements of the NFIP.
• Appendix B provides sample checklists for a plan review and inspection.

Link to Reducing Flood Losses through the International Codes

 

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Flood Insurance Rates Increase

October 2019

On Oct. 1, FEMA announced key changes for the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), to begin on April 1, 2020.  These changes include updated increases to conform 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).   

Beginning on April 1, 2020, renewal premiums will increase an average of 11.3 percent.  These amounts do not include the HFIAA Surcharge, or the Federal Policy Fee (FPF).  Nearly 80 percent of policyholders already pay a full-risk rate and will therefore not experience this rate increase.  The Severe Repetitive Loss Premium is increasing to 10 percent for all policies covering properties with that designation.

In addition, it was also announced that annual premium increases of 14.9 percent for preferred risk policies and 14.8 percent for newly mapped procedure policies will be effective on Jan. 1, 2021.

In addition to the rate increases, revisions to the NFIP Flood Insurance Manual, which is updated twice a year, took effect Oct. 1, 2019.  FEMA incorporated the NFIP program changes published in April 2019 into this edition.  The updated edition of the “Flood Insurance Manual” does not change flood insurance coverage or supersede the terms and conditions of the standard flood insurance policy.  The changes in effect include:

• An updated list of Community Rating System eligible communities (Table 3).
• An updated list of resources and contact information for technical assistance.
• Several updates or changes to various Letters of Map Revision.

The two bulletins announcing these October changes are available online.  Visit FEMA.gov to review the NFIP Flood Insurance Manual.

 

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Guidelines for Wind Vulnerability Assessments of Existing Critical Facilities

October 2019

FEMA’s Building Science Branch Releases Guidelines for Wind Vulnerability Assessments of Existing Critical Facilities, a manual for design professionals.

Hurricanes Irma and Maria in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as other recent storms including Hurricane Michael in Florida, resulted in extensive wind damage to critical facilities.  FEMA Building Science, Region II, and DR-4339, in coordination with partners and subject matter experts, has developed FEMA P-2062: Guidelines for Wind Vulnerability Assessments of Existing Critical Facilities. The manual incorporates observations and lessons learned from recent and past hurricanes, current building code requirements, and other historic high wind events.

The purpose of this manual is to provide design professionals with guidelines for assessing the vulnerability of critical facilities to wind pressure, wind-borne debris, and wind-driven rain.  The guidelines apply to critical facilities both within and outside hurricane-prone regions as well as to critical facilities in tornado-prone regions.  

The results of an assessment can be used by building owners; design professionals; entities that award repair, reconstruction, or mitigation grants; as well as state, local, tribal, and territorial government agencies developing mitigation plans.

 

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New Three-Dimensional Roof Snowdrifts Design Guide

October 2019

Following a series of heavy snow and wind events in February of 2015, a FEMA team assessed four partial school building collapses in the Greater Boston area.  In all four cases, the partial collapses were due to roof snowdrift loading.

When following the current ASCE 7 minimum load requirements for three-dimensional snow drifts, the FEMA team observed and documented that in two cases 3-D drifts cannot be determined.  In this new design guide, FEMA provides guidance for determining 3-D roof snowdrift loads through design examples.   The procedures identified are consistent with the intersecting drift provisions expected in the 2022 edition of ASCE 7.  In the interim until the published revisions, these provisions are intended to serve as best practice guidance for design professionals.   

The Three-Dimensional Roof Snowdrifts Design Guide is available here.

 

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FEMA Announces National Mitigation Investment Strategy

August 13, 2019

FEMA, in close coordination with experts across governmental agencies, academia and non-governmental organizations, released the National Mitigation Investment Strategy.  The strategy is intended to improve the coordination and effectiveness of mitigation investments, defined as risk management actions taken to avoid, reduce or transfer risks from natural hazards.  The Investment Strategy’s overarching goal is to improve the coordination and effectiveness of “mitigation investments,” defined as risk management actions taken to avoid, reduce, or transfer risks from natural hazards, including severe weather.

This document provides a national, whole-community approach to investments in mitigation activities and risk management across federal, state, local, and tribal and territorial governments, as well as the private and non-profit sectors.  Recommendations proposed in the strategy will reduce loss of life and injures, damage to property, and negative impacts to the economy and the environment, and lead the whole community in building a more resilient future.

Below are recent examples of EPA’s continued dedication and investment in mitigation strategies across the country.

• Regional Resilience Technical Assistance – After helping three California regions take large-scale action for disaster resilience, EPA and FEMA partnered with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission/Association of Bay Area Governments to create a toolkit that helps regions plan for disasters by working across multiple jurisdictions and with non-governmental partners.  The Regional Resilience Toolkit provides a step-by-step process to help decision makers engage with partners and stakeholders, conduct vulnerability assessments, identify and prioritize strategies, fund projects, and evaluate results. 
• Integrating Water Quality and Nature-Based Approaches into Hazard Mitigation Plans – EPA’s Office of Water and Office of Community Revitalization are partnering with FEMA to help states and communities integrate hazard mitigation plans and water quality plans.  Project locations include: Commonwealth of Massachusetts; Albany, New York; Huntington, West Virginia; Ashland, Oregon; State of Kentucky; Lower Meramec Valley, Missouri; Denton, Texas; Phoenix/Maricopa County, Arizona; and Mystic River in Massachusetts.  Results, to date, demonstrate the benefits of using green infrastructure for multiple community goals including hazard mitigation, water quality, and floodplain management.  Several of the communities are already seeing reduced flood insurance rates based on adoption of stormwater policies that reduce risk. 
• Building Flood Resilience in Vermont – In 2011, Tropical Storm Irene caused significant flood damage to historic structures, homes and businesses in Vermont’s Mad River Valley.  In 2012 at Vermont’s request, EPA partnered with FEMA to identify state and local policy options to increase community flood resilience.  The state adopted several of the strategies that emerged from the workshop.  The project developed a Flood Resilience Checklist that communities can use to assess their preparedness for future flooding events. The state provided this checklist to several other Vermont communities through a follow up project, the Vermont Economic Resiliency Initiative, and the checklist is the basis for the Flood Resilience for Riverine and Coastal Communities tool offered by EPA’s Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities Program.

News Worthy of Repeating 

Mitigation Matters!  

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

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