US Army Engineer Research and Development Center COASTAL OUTREACH ADVISORY TEAM Kick-off Meeting November 19, 2010 FEMA Region III Coastal Mapping Project

US Army Engineer Research and Development Center

COASTAL OUTREACH ADVISORY TEAM

Kick-off MeetingNovember 19, 2010

FEMA Region III Coastal Mapping Project


Today’s Agenda

Map Modernization to Risk MAPRegion III Coastal StudyPreliminary DFIRM schedulesOutreach Coastal Outreach Advisory Team (COAT)Questions/Discussion


Map Mod to Risk MAPNationwide, 5-year, $1 billion program Updated FEMA’s Flood Insurance Rate Maps

(FIRMs): 70 percent were over 15 years oldProduced seamless digital flood data on a

countywide basisReduced map production timeReduced cost/time for future updates


New digital FIRMs more accurately represent current flood risk

Countywide DFIRMS – easier to use and update

Map Mod to Risk MAP


Risk Mapping, Assessment and Planning, or Risk MAP: 2010-2014

Builds on Map Mod successesWill deliver quality data that

increases public awareness and leads to action that reduces risk to life and property.

Watershed approachCoastal re-mappingStronger communication

support

Map Mod to Risk MAP


Why a Region III Coastal Study ProjectCoastal flood risk information is out-of-dateNew Coastal Guidelines need to be

implemented Update base data such as topographic

dataset and aerial imagery to high resolution products and seamless Digital Elevation Model (DEM)

Use newer proven coastal hazard methodologies developed during the FEMA Mississippi Coastal Restudy


Why a Region III Coastal Study ProjectTake advantage of higher performance

numerical modelingTake advantage of improvement in GIS

technologies to allow for more accurate FIRMs


Where Will the Study Occur?

All of Region III coastal counties/cities (Atlantic Ocean Chesapeake Bay, Delaware Bay and their tributaries)


Coastal Study ProcessTERRAIN PROCESSING

STORM SURGE ANALYSIS

STARTING WAVE CONDITION ANALYSIS

FIELD RECONNAISSANCE

FRONTAL DUNE DELINEATION

STORM-INDUCED EROSION

OVERLAND WAVE HEIGHT & RUNUP ANALYSIS

FLOODPLAIN BOUNDARY & FLOOD HAZARD ZONE MAPPING


Base Flood Elevation on FIRM includes 4 components:1. Storm surge stillwater elevation (SWEL)2. Amount of wave setup3. Wave height above storm surge (stillwater)

elevation4. Wave runup above storm surge elevation

(where present)

Basic Elements of a Coastal Floodplain Study


Region III Storm Surge ModelingCurrent stillwater elevations

(SWELs) on FIRMs date back 25-35 years

SWELs will be updated for 50 coastal counties covering approx. 2280 miles of shoreline

State-of-the art modeling setup by using ADCIRC soft coupled with the 2D wave model SWAN


Region III Storm Surge Modeling (cont’d)

Obtain updated 10%, 2%, 1% and 0.2% annual chance stillwater elevations, wave setup and wave conditions for nearshore open-coast and back-bay shorelines

Model results validatedBeing performed by USACE;

due Spring 2011


Coastal Hazard Analyses ComponentsTransect layoutField Reconnaissance

(land use, obstructions, shoreline conditions, structures)

Starting wave conditions (wave height and period) from 2D wave modeling


Coastal Hazard Analyses ComponentsErosion analysisDevelopment of a

seamless Digital Elevation Model

Overland wave height computation (using WHAFIS)

Wave Runup


Elements of a Coastal Floodplain


Something New – LiMWALimit of Moderate Wave Action

FEMA Procedure Memorandum No. 50, 2008

At present, not a regulatory requirement

No Federal Insurance requirements tied to LiMWA

CRS benefit for communities requiring VE Zone construction standards in areas defined by LiMWA or areas subject to waves greater then 1.5 ft


Region III Coastal Study Timeline

Surge Study Results•Spring 2011

Coastal Hazard Analysis Results•Summer 2011-Fall 2012

Preliminary DFIRMs• Winter 2011 – Spring 2013

Public Comment Period•Winter 2011– Spring 2013

Letter of Final Determination•Fall 2012– Winter 2013

New Effective Coastal DFIRMs•Spring 2013 – Summer 2014


OUTREACH


Outreach is Critical Goal: Maximize public and private sector

awareness of and engagement in the flood study process

Increase public awareness and understanding of risk and vulnerability to floods plus options for minimizing their risk;

Keep citizens, public officials and stakeholders informed;

Increase engagement of county and city elected officials;

Foster stakeholder awareness Provide communities with outreach tools


Multiple SourcesOutreach must be constant and consistent to allInternal (“In-Reach”)

Elected OfficialsCity/County Managers & staff

StakeholdersLocal industry; Interest GroupsChamber, Civic organizations

MediaLocal newspaper, radio

PublicOpen House, Library Local Government TV & websiteHomeowner Association Meetings


Coastal Study Outreach SupportCoastal Outreach StrategyWebsite – www.r3coastal.com Outreach factsheetsOutreach meetings

Initial outreach (scoping) meetings for each county/city

Regional technical storm surge study meetings

Flood study review meetings for some counties/cities

Final community meetings for each county/city

Open houses for some counties/citiesStakeholder Meetings – COAT


Coastal Outreach Advisory TeamYour Role is Important

Share local data or new information

Relate study information and status to other stakeholders

Provide input on outreach methods, target groups, etc.

Identify potential contentious issues

Provide input on coastal study methodology


Coastal Outreach Advisory TeamMeeting Frequency & Content

Every other month or as neededOne hour in lengthTypical Agenda

Study status and outreach update Request updates (e.g., outreach, new studies, issues)

from team members Share any new outreach material; ask for feedback Discuss any changes to methodology of coastal analysis;

ask for feedback Identify other possible members that should be invited


New Coastal Study Results Mean…• More accurate picture of our coastal flood risks • Better, more comprehensive planning for economic development, mitigation & emergency response

• Better tools to manage flood risks, land-use, water resources, disaster recovery & other responsibilities more effectively

• Safer building practices based on current risk information

• More informed financial decisions by residents and business owners who understand their flood risk and apply their knowledge to financially protect their home or business


Questions/Discussion

Documents

US Army Engineer Research and Development Center COASTAL OUTREACH ADVISORY TEAM Kick-off Meeting November 19, 2010 FEMA Region III Coastal Mapping Project