NEWS UPDATES

 

2013 Annual KAMM Conference

BACK TO BASICS

August 26 – 29, 2013, General Butler State Resort Park, Carrollton, KY.

Join KAMM:  Link Here.

General Conference Info:  click here.

Pre-Conference Activities Information and Schedule:  click here.

Register for the Conference:  To register, click here.

Lodging:  For information on Lodging,  click here.

Be a Sponsor:  Click here.

 

Don’t forget to renew your KAMM Membership for 2013.   Membership is based on the calendar year.  You can join KAMM for $25 as an individual or $10 as a student.  To register for KAMM Membership, click on the “Join KAMM” tab or Link Here.  KAMM members receive a conference discount.  Are you already a KAMM member?  Not sure if you are a 2013 KAMM member, check here for KAMM membership as of 04 30 13.

See other KAMM conference opportunities below!

 

Sponsor and Exhibitor Invitation

Show Support of KAMM

Click the KAMM Conference Sponsorship invitation for information.  Or go directly to the Sponsor Registration.  We invite you to show your support of KAMM and increase your visibility through being a Sponsor and/or Exhibitor at the 2013 KAMM Conference. 

The 2013 Annual KAMM Conference will provide a forum for professionals involved in floodplain, emergency management and mitigation to meet and share their knowledge and experience.  The statewide appeal of this conference provides a unique opportunity for the private sector to promote their business to a large and geographically dispersed audience.  KAMM conference attendance continues to grow, we expect over 150 members to attend the two and a half day conference.  Display hours will be scheduled daily so KAMM conference attendees have a chance to visit the exhibits and to permit exhibitor involvement in conference activities.

 

Want to be a Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM)?

Monday, August 26, we will offer CFM Prep Training and the CFM Exam.  For more information, click CFM Training and Exam Information.

 

Governor Beshaer Declares State of Emergency in 12 Counties

April 26, 2013 – Governor Steve Beshear has declared a state of emergency for a dozen counties after severe storms swept through Kentucky beginning April 15, causing widespread damage.  The affected counties are Bell, Clay, Crittenden, Harlan, Jackson, Knox, Laurel, Lee, Leslie, Owsley, Rockcastle and Whitley.

 

KYEM Applicant Agent Certification Registration

Thursday, June 6 through Sunday, June 9. 

The Kentucky Emergency Management Recovery Branch is proud to announce the implementation of the first Applicant Agent Certification Program in the United States.  This certification will enable your designated Applicant Agent to maximize federal disaster-related funding associated with the FEMA Public Assistance Program.

Click here for more information 

 

Announcing KSA Annual Conference

August 13-15, 2013,  Bowling Green, KY.

KSA’a Annual Conference provides a great opportunity for networking with representatives from over 50 Kentucky communities, engineers, scientists and service/product vendors.  To learn more about KSA, visit www.kystormwater.org.

 

2013 CRS Coordinator’s Manual Ready for Download

The 2013 CRS Coordinator’s Manual has been approved by OMB and is available for download at CRSresources.org.  For more information, link to the NFIP CRS Update March 2013.

 

Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 New information 

Read the BW12_Sec_205-207_Fact_Sheet.

In 2012, the U.S. Congress passed the Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 which calls on the FEMA, and other agencies, to make a number of changes to the way the NFIP is run. As the law is implemented, some of these changes have already occurred, and others will be implemented in the coming months. Key provisions of the legislation will require the NFIP to raise rates to reflect true flood risk, make the program more financially stable, and change how Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) updates impact policyholders. The changes will mean premium rate increases for some – but not all — policyholders over time.

Read more about the BW-12 on KAMM’s Regional Meeting tab.  also read more about the Flood Bill Signed Into Law.  Read the entire B-W-12 Law here.

 

Kentucky Watches, Warnings or Advisories  - Weather Alerts

Follow the weather alerts in Kentucky, link here.

 

Resolve to be Ready in Kentucky, Commit to Emergency Preparedness in 2013!

Resolve to be Ready in 2013 is a nationwide effort to increase awareness and encourage individuals, families, businesses and communities to take action and prepare for emergencies in the new year.   By making a resolution to take a few simple steps in advance, people can minimize the impact of an emergency on their families, homes and businesses.  To take the pledge, visit www.ready.gov/resolve or www.listo.gov, which includes free information, checklists and guidelines about how to put together a kit and make a plan.

 

NEW RELEASES

 

National Planning Frameworks: How We Work Together to Build, Sustain, and Deliver Capabilities to Ensure a Secure and Resilient Nation

May 6, 2013, Release Number:

HQ-13-42
WASHINGTON — The Federal Government and its partners today released three of five National Planning Frameworks. These National Planning Frameworks, document the roles and responsibilities of the whole community in all facets of national preparedness. The benefit of this unified effort is  a more informed, shared understanding of risks, needs, and capabilities across the whole community; and, in the end, a more secure and resilient nation.  The Frameworks outline how the whole community can take steps to collectively achieve the National Preparedness Goal.  The whole community—individuals and families, including those with access and functional needs; businesses and nonprofits; schools; media; and all levels of government—is encouraged to read and use each Framework.

Read more on KAMM’s Mitigation Resource page.

 

FEMA announces the availability of three new mitigation planning publications

 

Local Mitigation Planning Handbook:  The Local Mitigation Planning Handbook is the official guide for local governments to develop, update and implement local mitigation plans. While the requirements have not changed, the Handbook provides guidance to local governments on developing or updating hazard mitigation plans to meet the requirements under the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Title 44 – Emergency Management and Assistance §201.6, Local Mitigation Plans for FEMA approval and eligibility to apply for FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance grant programs.  It also offers practical approaches, tools, worksheets and local mitigation planning examples for how communities can engage in effective planning to reduce long-term risk from natural hazards and disasters. The Handbook complements and liberally references the Local Mitigation Plan Review Guide (October 1, 2011), which is the official guidance for Federal and State officials responsible for reviewing local mitigation plans in a fair and consistent manner.

Integrating Hazard Mitigation Into Local Planning:  Integrating Hazard Mitigation Into Local Planning is a publication that highlights case studies and tools for community officials providing practical guidance on how to incorporate risk reduction strategies into existing local plans, policies, codes, and programs that guide community development or redevelopment patterns. It includes recommended steps and tools to assist with local integration efforts, along with ideas for overcoming possible impediments, and presents a series of case studies to demonstrate successful integration in practice. The document also includes several pull-out fact sheets to provide succinct guidance on specific integration topics.  This resource is intended for those who are engaged in any type of local planning, but primarily community planners and emergency managers who are involved with hazard mitigation planning and implementation. This guide was produced with extensive outreach to relevant subject matter experts and the involvement of stakeholder representatives from local communities, State and Federal agencies, academic institutions, private sector companies, and non-profit organizations.

 Mitigation Ideas:  Mitigation Ideas provides a range of potential mitigation actions for reducing risk to natural hazards and disasters. Ideas for mitigation actions are presented for the following natural hazards: drought, earthquake, erosion, extreme temperatures, flood, hail, landslide, lightning, sea level rise, severe wind, severe winter weather, storm surge, subsidence, tornado, tsunami, and wildfire.

For more information of FEMA’s Mitigation Planning Program, please visit http://www.fema.gov/multi-hazard-mitigation-planning

For more information about FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Assistance grants, please visit http://www.fema.gov/hazard-mitigation-assistance.

FEMA Releases New Elevation Certificate

Link to the Elevation Certificate F-053_ElevCertif_29Nov12_

Or link for the fillable form Fillable F-053_ElevCertif_29Nov12

Or you can go to FEMA’s website at:   http://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=1383.

 

Request a Change in Your Property’s Flood Zone Designation Online!

New Online Letter of Map Change (LOMC) Application Fact Sheet

On December 17, 2012, FEMA launched the Online Letter of Map Change (LOMC) – a new way to submit a request to change a property’s flood zone designation. The new Online LOMC application allows anyone to electronically submit required documents and property information when they are requesting FEMA remove their property from a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA).  Link below to the:

Applicants can use this new website instead of the MT-1 or MT-EZ paper forms.  All home or property owners, their designated representatives, or professional surveyors and engineers, can use this online tool to conveniently submit required documents, property information, and payment information all in one place.  The new Online LOMC offers many advantages over paper forms:

•                    Applicants may save information online and finish applying at their convenience
•                    Clear and intuitive interface makes applying user-friendly
•                    Eliminates time associated with the paper-based submission
•                    Frequent applicants can manage multiple LOMC requests online
•                    More efficient communications with LOMC processing staff
•                    Applicants can check their application status in real-time

Request all LOMC types via the Online LOMC.  Visit www.fema.gov/online-lomc to learn more!

 

FEMA announces newest publications / resources

  • Environmental and Historic Preservation (EHP) At-A-Glance:   http://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=5904  This document provides provides information on how to incorporate environmental and historic preservation considerations into your Hazard Mitigation Assistance application and project.
  • FEMA Updates Benefit Cost Analysis Software:  FEMA has released version 4.8 of its Benefit Cost Analysis software, which is used to evaluate hazard mitigation projects to assist in federal funding decisions. The program is composed of methodologies and software for major natural hazards, including floods and hurricane winds.   The updated toolkit and updated training materials are available on the Benefit Cost Analysis website at http://www.fema.gov/benefit-cost-analysis.
  • Engineering Principles and Practices for Retrofitting Flood-Prone Residential Structures.  The third edition of Engineering Principles and Practices for Retrofitting Flood-Prone Residential Structures (FEMA P 259) is now available from the FEMA Publications Warehouse! To read more about the document and for other information, see the article here: [Full Article].
  • The Stafford Act constitutes the statutory authority for most Federal disaster response activities especially as they pertain to FEMA and FEMA programs. FEMA, through its Office of Chief Counsel, has produced an updated electronic version of the Stafford Act. Link here to download the Stafford Act, stafford_act_booklet_04 22 13.   Some highlights and new features:  Contains all changes to the Stafford Act since 2007, including the Sandy Recovery Improvement Act (SRIA) of 2013.  The document is optimized for portable tablet devices:
      • From the Table of Contents, you can click on the statute name or number and you’ll jump to the statutory text
      • From any page with the statutory text, you have two navigation options (in addition to simply scrolling as usual)Click on the words “Stafford Act” at the top, you’ll return to the Table of Contents page.
      • Click on the words “Stafford Act” at the top, you’ll return to the Table of Contents page.
      • Click on the Title # at the top, you’ll be returned to the start of that Title in the document (i.e., if you’re in Section 408, click “Title IV” and you’ll jump back to Section 401).
  • Living With Dams: Know Your Risks is a booklet designed to help answer questions about dams: what purposes they serve, associated risks, guidance for those living near dams, and where to find further information.  You can also download it from the FEMA Library:      http://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=6246It provides a general overview of dams and dam safety and answers the following questions:
    •  Why should I care about dams?
    • What are the risks associated with dams?
    • Could I be affected by a dam? What is the dam failure flood inundation area?
    • Once I determine that my property is in a dam break inundation area, what’s next?

 

follow the links…

NOAA and EPA Release Report from Roundtable on Smart Growth and Hazard Mitigation 

NOAA and EPA have released “Achieving Hazard-Resilient Coastal & Waterfront Smart Growth: Coastal and Waterfront Smart Growth and Hazard Mitigation Roundtable Report” (26 pp.). The report presents an overview of a 2011 meeting where experts on smart growth, hazard mitigation, climate change adaptation, and coastal management shared ideas on how coastal and waterfront communities could improve quality of life, use land and other resources efficiently, and create environmentally and economically sustainable neighborhoods while minimizing flood risks. The report provides ideas for further research, development of tools and services, and approaches that federal agencies, state partners, academics, organizations, and practitioners working on these issues could consider to improve integration of smart growth and hazard mitigation strategies along the coast.

 

EPA Releases Video: “EPA Scientists at Work: Managing Sewer Overflows with Green Infrastructure”

EPA scientists are currently studying green infrastructure to determine the most effective and efficient practices for water treatment, management and transport. Water infrastructure may be considered “gray” or “green.” Gray infrastructure refers to traditional practices for stormwater management and wastewater treatment. Green infrastructure refers to sustainable pollution reducing practices that also provide other ecosystem services such as reduced greenhouse gas emissions or increased flood control. Examples of green infrastructure include grass and forest buffers, use of porous materials for paving, as well as small-scale practices like rain gardens.

 

National Research Council Announces Website on Climate Modeling 101

The National Research Council’s Board on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate has launched Climate Modeling 101, a website designed to help the public learn more about the basics of climate modeling–how models work and why they are important. The earth’s climate system is complicated and incorporates thousands of factors that interact in space and time around the globe and over many generations. For several decades, scientists have used the world’s most advanced computers to both simulate climate and predict future climate. Many industries increasingly rely on information from these models to guide decision making. The website features short videos and animations that explain everything from the difference between climate and weather to how climate models are built and verified.

 

 

 

 

KAMM mailing address: KAMM, PO Box 1016, Frankfort, KY 40602-1016.

 

Have questions, contact us at kentuckymitigation@gmail.com.  Don’t forget to join the KAMM group on LinkedIn or follow us on Twitter.

 

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