KAMM
Ky Association of Mitigation Managers

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

 

Renew KAMM Membership for 2020!

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

Join KAMM – link here.

 

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KAMM Spring Newsletter!

In this edition …

• A Note from the Chair
• Announcing 2020 KAMM Conference
• KAMM Call for Abstracts
• 2020 Regional Training Meetings
• KAMM’s Community Grant Opportunity
• Public Notice Requirements –State Floodplain Permits
• FEMA Accepts Comments on Building Code and Floodplain Management Administration and Enforcement Policy
• Publication, Program Updates and Releases
• Training Opportunities
• National Weather Service celebrates its 150th Birthday
• ASFPM Foundation Releases Report on Urban Flooding
• KAMM Conference Sponsors

Link to the KAMM Newsletter Spring 2020 Final

 

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Save the Date!

Announcing 2020 KAMM Conference

Mitigation Reaches New Heights: KAMM in the Mountains 2020

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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2020 KAMM Conference Call for Abstracts

September 22 – 24, 2020 Annual Conference

September 21, 2020 – Preconference Workshops and Activities

Appalachian Wireless Arena, Pikeville

Mitigation Reaches New Heights: KAMM in the Mountains 2020

We invite KAMM friends to take part in this year’s annual conference and preconference activities by submitting an abstract for the conference program.  If you are a local, regional, or federal official, an agency, a consultant, a KAMM member, or anyone else with an interest in mitigation, we invite you to be a part of our conference program. 

Link to 2020 KAMM Conference Call for Abstracts

The deadline for submissions is April 20, 2020. 

 

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NFIP Technical Bulletins 1 & 5

March 23, 2020

The NFIP Technical Bulletins provide guidance for complying with the NFIP’s building performance requirements and are designed to help state and local officials interpret the NFIP Regulations.  They are also a useful resource and reference for homeowners, insurance agents, building professionals and designers.

FEMA is updating the NFIP Technical Bulletins to improve their usability, credibility, and content while presenting them in a streamlined format.  Technical Bulletins 1 & 5 were last updated more than 10 years ago.  These updated editions incorporate the latest relevant codes and standards and state-of-the-art guidance and best practices.  They were developed with significant stakeholder input to help local officials meet or exceed relevant NFIP requirements.

Technical Bulletin 1, Requirements for Flood Openings in Foundation Walls and Walls of Enclosures (TB 1)

TB1 explains the NFIP requirements for flood openings in exterior walls and walls of enclosures below elevated buildings.  Flood openings equalize flood forces by allowing the entry and exit of floodwaters.  This Technical Bulletin describes two options for satisfying the requirements, referred to as engineered openings and non-engineered openings.  In addition to illustrating enclosures that require openings and those that do not, TB 1 covers the requirements and guidance for installation of openings.  Updates include:

• New tables comparing NFIP opening requirements with related building code requirements;
• Guidance on unusual configurations such as sloping sites, multiple enclosed areas, large enclosed areas, and sites with shallow flooding;
• New guidance on above-grade enclosed areas and two-level enclosures;
• Expanded discussion on completing the FEMA Elevation Certificate (EC) and documentation for certification of engineered openings.

Technical Bulletin 5, Free-of-Obstruction Requirements (TB 5)

TB5 describes methods for avoiding potential building and site obstructions that could divert or obstruct floodwater and waves below elevated buildings which could impose additional flood loads on foundation systems or adjacent buildings. Updates include:

• New tables comparing NFIP free of obstruction requirements with related building code requirements;
• New guidance on enclosed areas below elevated buildings, including louvers/lattice, above-grade enclosures, and two-level enclosures;
• Revised guidance of below-base flood elevation building elements including mechanical, electrical and plumbing equipment, ducts, tanks and fixtures and others;
• Revised guidance of site development practices such as accessory storage structures, the use of fill and others.

For more information on FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program’s Technical Bulletins, visit: https://www.fema.gov/nfip-technical-bulletins

 

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Updated NFIP Elevation Certificate and Instructions

February 21, 2020

Link to the Updated Elevation Certificate.

 

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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.

Read More, link here.  

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Upcoming Training

 

Kentucky Office of Energy Policy – Webinar Announcement

Energy Assurance and Resilience Toolkit Project

Kick-off Webinar – April 3 at 10 am EDT

Community and emergency planners and all local and regional government officials interested in advanced energy planning, resilience, and emergency response coordination are encouraged to participate in a new education opportunity – the Energy Assurance and Resilience Toolkit Project.

The project, developed by the Kentucky Office of Energy Policy and the Electricity Infrastructure Security Council (EIS), includes the development of an energy data toolkit—the foundation for energy planning and program development.  The project includes a series of five educational webinars and opportunities to interact with state and national energy security experts.  There is no charge attend.  The project is funded by a grant awarded through Kentucky’s State Energy Program.

Registration is open for the first webinar, April 3 at 10 a.m. EDT.  The webinar will introduce project goals, milestones, and engage participants in future program development.

Register Here.

For more information, contact Amanda.LeMaster@ky.gov

 

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2020 NWS Spotter Training

Although SKYWARN® spotters provide essential information for all types of weather hazards, the focus is reporting on severe local thunderstorms.  In an average year, the United States experiences more than 10,000 severe thunderstorms, 5,000 floods and more than 1,000 tornadoes.

Training is free and typically lasts about 2 hours. You’ll learn:

• Basics of thunderstorm development
• Fundamentals of storm structure
• Identifying potential severe weather features
• Information to report
• How to report information
• Basic severe weather safety

Learn more about the NWS SKYWARN Storm Spotter Program. 

Locate a NWS Louisville Spotter Training near you.

 

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Online Training

Link to online training opportunities.

 

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Publications, Program Updates and Releases

 

FEMA P-530, Earthquake Safety at Home

March 2, 2020

Half of all Americans live in areas subject to earthquake risk, and most Americans will travel to seismically active regions in their lifetime.  FEMA is fostering awareness of earthquake risks in the United States through the newly developed FEMA P-530, Earthquake Safety at Home. Get your copy today for free by click here.

This publication is intended to show readers why earthquakes matter where they live, and how they can “Prepare, Protect, Survive, Respond, Recover and Repair” from an earthquake.  This publication will help readers become familiar with why and where earthquakes might occur.  It discusses wide-ranging steps that readers can take to adequately prepare and protect themselves, their family, and their belongings.  These include: developing family response plans, assembling earthquake disaster supplies, securing heavy objects and furniture, retrofitting a home, and more.

During and immediately after an earthquake, guidelines for action can help keep victims safe.  The Respond section of this publication includes a post-earthquake Home Safety Checklist that can assist users in checking the safety of their home before reoccupying it.  This publication also provides recommendations for post-earthquake recovery and repair that can help individuals and families resume regular activities as quickly as possible.

 

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Flood Insurance Rates Increase Take Effect April 1, 2020 

April 1, 2020, and January 1, 2021, Program Changes

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

Link to the April 1, 2020, and January 1, 2021, Program Changes Announcement. 

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.

Visit FEMA.gov to review the NFIP Flood Insurance Manual.

 

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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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