Georgia Flood Risk Management - Beyond the Why and Getting to How

1www.GeorgiaDFIRM.com

August 28, 2014Flood Planning and Policy: Education /

Outreach WorkshopThe Armstrong Center; Savannah, Georgia

Tom Shillock, CFM

Georgia Floodplain Management

• State Floodplain Management Office–Liaison between FEMA and local communities participating in

the NFIP - Georgia DNR is CTP

–Provides guidance, technical assistance and training to NFIP communities

–Collaborates with other State agencies regarding activities and programs that impact floodplain management

–Supports FEMA’s flood mapping effort to update Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs)

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Why attend a Getting to How Environmental Conference?

• “We live in a time of unpredictable shocks and chronic stresses, from climate change to natural or manmade disasters, and helping local communities become more resilient to these disruptions is more important than ever”.

Etowah Watershed• Bartow, Floyd, Pickens,

Lumpkin, Dawson, Cobb, Paulding, Polk

Upper Chattahoochee• Habersham, Hall, Lumpkin, Towns, Union, White

2012 - 2013 Flood Risk Map Projects

GA Risk M.A.P. Program Status

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Upper & Middle Chattahoochee Watersheds – FY2009

Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Forsyth, Fulton, & Gwinnett Counties

Georgia Coastal Project – FY2010 Bryan, Camden, Charlton, Chatham,

Effingham, Glynn, Liberty, Long, & McIntosh Counties

Newton County, GA – FY2010

Discovery Projects – FY2010 Middle Chattahoochee - Lake Harding,

Upper Ocmulgee,

Middle Chattahoochee – Lake Harding & Upper Ocmulgee Risk MAP Projects – FY2011

Georgia Coastal Project

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Project Area 9 Coastal Counties Bryan, Camden, Charlton, Chatham, Effingham,

Glynn, Liberty, Long, & McIntosh Counties

Two Phase Project Phase I - Inland Flooding Areas Phase II - Coastal Flood Areas Separate Schedules

Many Partners FEMA, GA DNR, NOAA, CRC, Local Governments GA DNR Mapping Partners

CDM Smith Dewberry ATKINs

FEMA Mapping Partners Taylor Engineering

NFIP in Georgia

• 543 Communities Enrolled• 64 Thousand Policies in Force • $43 Million in Annual Premiums • $5.4 Million in Annual CRS Savings

Georgia CRS Classifications

CRS Class Number of Communities

• CLASS 10 2• CLASS 9 9• CLASS 8 18• CLASS 7 11• CLASS 6 7• CLASS 5 1• TOTAL 48

Benefits of the CRS

• Lower cost flood insurance rates are only one of the rewards a community receives from participating in the CRS.

• Citizens and property owners in CRS communities have increased opportunities to learn about risk, evaluate their individual vulnerabilities, and take action to reduce the risk to their homes and businesses.

• CRS floodplain management activities provide enhanced public safety, reduced damage to property and public infrastructure, and avoidance of economic disruption and loss.

• Communities can evaluate the effectiveness of their flood programs against a nationally recognized benchmark.

• The CRS is administered by FEMA and provides reduced flood insurance premium rates.

• The amount of premium reduction is tied to the effectiveness of a community's floodplain management program and other mitigation activities.

• Communities apply to participate in the CRS, are reviewed, receive an assessment of their floodplain management loss reduction program and then are assigned a CRS Class rating that determines premium discounts.

• Through the CRS, the cost of insurance is reduced for nearly all policyholders in communities that take action to reduce flood risk.

Today’s Paradigm• The NFIP is a voluntary Federal program enabling property owners in

participating communities to purchase insurance against flood losses in exchange for adopting and enforcing regulations that reduce future flood damages. A participating community’s floodplain management regulations, must meet or exceed the NFIP minimum requirements.

InsuranceFlood InsuranceRate Maps

Building codes and regulations

IncentivesCRS

NFIP