PLANNING FOR FLOOD RESILIENCE

WHAT CAN YOUR COMMUNITY DO?

Michelle Robbins, AICP, Technical Director • AKRF, Inc.

Flooding and Resilience

What can municipalities do?

http://stormrecovery.ny.gov/nyrcr

What is Resilience?

The ability to plan for, withstand, and recover from severe events - without suffering permanent loss of functions, devastating damage, diminished productivity or decreased quality of life.

.

Existing & VulnerableRebuilt & Resilient

Flood Resilience

Our region is already experiencing the effects of more severe and more frequent flooding driven by uncontrollable natural events that have and will continue to occur and potentially worsen within our lifetimes.

Municipal officials, engineers, planners and staff are encouraged to proactively assist their communities to better understand and reduce the frequency of flooding by addressing the causes of flooding, flood risk, and emergency response and recovery.

http://stormrecovery.ny.gov/nyrcr

Why plan for future storm events?

To lessen their impact

To protect critical resources

To reduce the potential for injury and loss of life

To shorten the time to recovery.

http://stormrecovery.ny.gov/nyrcr

Objective: Flood Resilience

The goal of today is to provide communities with resources to address flooding and become more resilient:

Outline Steps

Provide Tools

Identify Resources

Present Examples

Plan and Prepare

Respond

Recover

Steps to Address Flooding

Plan and Prepare Better understand the process and patterns of flooding Educate ourselves and the public about flooding and how to be ready

for the next event Identify resiliency strategies and actions to limit the extent of flooding

Respond Develop emergency action plan to warn those in harms way and assist

those who become trapped Provide adequate emergency shelter for those displaced during an

event

Recover Assist displaced residents and owners of impacted businesses with

identifying resources and funding available to help with rebuilding or relocation

Quickly restore critical services Repair damage

Steps to Address Flooding

What Does Resilience Look Like?

Effective approaches for planning and preparing for flooding, responding to flooding, and recovering from flooding require action from multiple sectors (i.e., economic, social, environmental, and governmental) and include development of adaptation strategies and actions that range from Low-cost, community based approaches to

High-cost infrastructure improvements

http://stormrecovery.ny.gov/nyrcr

Review Available Reports Data and Establish Baseline Conditions

Identify Resources and Assets

Identify Vulnerability to Flooding

Characterize Flood Risk

Develop Resiliency Strategies and Actions

Implement Resiliency Strategies and Actions

How do you start?

http://www.inkcinct.com.au/web-pages/cartoons/past/2011/2011-036--eternal-optimist---floods-.jpg

Map and Document ReviewReview existing maps

» FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps» NOAA Inundation Maps » National Wetland Inventory Maps» NYSDEC Wetlands and Watercourses Maps» Local mapping of surface water resources

Review Available Reports

http://stormrecovery.ny.gov/nyrcrhttp://www.vandevertranch.org/stew_Map_FEMA_Flood_Ins_Rate.html

Map and Document Review (continued)Review local and regional

planning and guidance documents including» Comprehensive/Master Plan» Local Waterfront Revitalization Plan

for Hudson River Communities» Hazard Mitigation Plan» Emergency Operations/Action Plan

If gaps exist review relevant national studies

Review Available Reports (Continued)

http://www.villageofmillerton.com/pdf/AHMPFinal092210.pdf

http://www.scenichudson.org/sites/default/files/u2/revitalizing-hudson-riverfronts.pdf

Data CollectionCollect available data on past storm events

» Areas of Vulnerability (inundation and erosion)» Stream flow and staging» NOAA and Stream/River Data

Survey residents, emergency service personnel, municipal officials and staff» Identify areas of repeat flooding» Determine flooding extent

Determine if any flood stage and flow modeling has been done within the watershed(s) in the municipality» Have studies been completed by federal or state agencies» Was modelling required as part of a private or public project

Establish Baseline Conditions

Identify Resources and Assets

What is at risk? People, Property, Economy, Environment

What are your communities unique resources and key assets? Infrastructure Systems— transportation networks, water supply,

wastewater treatment, stormwater conveyance, waste management, utilities

Housing – single-family, multi-family, rental and that for socially vulnerable populations (elderly, low income, disabled)

Natural Resources — wetlands, streams, waterbodies, open space,

Cultural Resources — historic structures, parkland and recreational uses

Economic Resources – commercial and industrial uses, downtown areas, waterfronts, tourism

Health and Social Services and Community Resources — schools, emergency services, municipal facilities, hospitals, day care facilities, shelters, community centers, and those providing services to socially vulnerable populations

What resources and key assets are vulnerable to flooding? Evaluate Vulnerability (Exposure) by determining: Its position in the landscape What lies between it and the flooding source Its history of flooding, length and duration of past impacts

Use GIS data to assist with locating assets, flood zones, flood sources as well as existing and potential future flood prone areas

Identify Vulnerability to Flooding

http://stormrecovery.ny.gov/nyrcr

Characterize Flood Risk

Risks are characterized according to:

Designated and known flood areas/zones

» Extreme Risk = 10 year flood (Not generally mapped)

» High Risk = 100 year flood (FEMA mapped)

» Moderate Risk = 500 year flood (FEMA mapped)

» Other = outside flood zone

Characterize Flood Risk

Risks are characterized according to:

Background and local conditions Historic frequency and probability of occurrence Community value of asset/resource

» High

» Medium

» Low

» Based on a communities input on its ability to function and for how long without the asset in operational order

http://stormrecovery.ny.gov/nyrcr

Housing and Property Protection Land acquisition, home relocation, building elevation, rebuilding

barriers, flood-proofing, move mechanicals to upper floors, provision of insurance, and structural retrofits

Resident and Business Owner Education and Awareness Outreach and education projects, flood/hazard information centers,

technical assistance, financial assistance, programs on flood preparedness, response and recovery

Natural and Cultural Resource Protection Erosion and sediment control in streams, stream corridor protection,

vegetative management & stream bank buffer protection, wetland and buffer preservation, tree preservation (forests increase infiltration), shoreline protection, open space preservation, parkland as flood storage, stream channel restoration,

Develop Flood Resiliency Strategies and Actions

Emergency, Health and Social Services Flood risk recognition, flood/hazard warning systems, emergency

response & recovery plans, protection of critical facilities, health and safety maintenance, shelter facilities, training of emergency service providers, Emergency Operations Center, shelters, pumps, generators

Structural/Infrastructure Culvert and bridge assessment and upgrades, seawall replacement,

bulkhead and retaining wall removal/repair, stormwater conveyance systems, retrofitted buildings and elevated roadways, encasing/elevating utility boxes, hardening of critical municipal facilities, utility protection,

Community Planning Zoning updates, LWPR updates, Master Plan updates, Emergency

Operations/Action Plan, Hazard Mitigation Plan, Sustainability Plan, Conservation Easements, Deed Restrictions

Develop Flood Resiliency Strategies and Actions (Continued)

Municipal Tools: Implementing Flood Controls, Mitigation and Resiliency Strategies and Actions

Policy Documents Master Plan Hazard Mitigation Plan Local Waterfront Revitalization Plan (LWRP) Open Space Plan Sustainability Plan Watershed Protection Plan

Zoning Cluster development Natural resource and open space protections Tree preservation regulations (infiltration and stream bank stabilization)

Building Codes & Regulations Define method of and materials for construction Building protection practices

Master Plan

Update Master Plan

Promote Flood Resiliency Goals and Disaster Resistance Encourage Smart Growth Strategies that consider the relationship between

development patterns and flooding.

Require that development and infrastructure in identified sea level rise or flooding areas be designed to accommodate future modifications and extend design life

Identify and Map Areas of Flooding and Inundation - if along Hudson River identify and Map Sea Level Rise Impact Areas

Locate development footprints and construction impact zones within previously developed areas and outside flood zones where possible

A Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP) is a living document that communities use to reduce their vulnerability to hazards. HMPs form the foundation for a community's long-term strategy to reduce disaster losses and break the cycle of disaster damage, reconstruction and repeated damage. They create a framework for risk-based decision making to reduce damages to lives, property and the economy from future disasters.

Hazard Mitigation Plan

http://www.villageofmillerton.com/pdf/AHMPFinal092210.pdf

A Hazard Mitigation Plan is used to:

To identify and assess risks to the community

Identify actions to reduce risk and vulnerability to disaster losses and repeat damage from natural and non-natural hazards including flooding

To create more “disaster resistant” and flood resilient communities.

Hazard Mitigation Plan

http://stormrecovery.ny.gov/nyrcr

FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) grant programs are designed

to provide funding to protect life and property from future natural

disasters. 

Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) assists in implementing

long-term hazard mitigation measures following a major disaster. 

Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) provides funds for hazard mitigation

planning and projects on an annual basis.

Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) provides funds for projects to

reduce or eliminate risk of flood damage to buildings that are insured

under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) on an annual

basis.

Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP)

Communities must have an approved HMP to apply for and receive Federal Mitigation Grant Funding. Grant funding is available for projects to mitigate risk to both public and private property.

Hazard Mitigation Plan

An HMP is an eligibility requirement for

some funding sources including Hazard

Mitigation Grant, Pre-Disaster Mitigation

and Flood Mitigation Assistance

Two of FEMA’s mitigation grants programs,

HMGP and PDM, can provide your

community with funds to create and

implement a Mitigation Plan.

Source: http://www.fema.gov/hazard-mitigation-

assistance

http://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/33634?id=7851

Consider Zoning Code Revisions

Cluster Development to Preserve Natural Resources

Encourage Cluster Development

Consider Incentives for Cluster Development

Cluster to Preserve 100-year Flood Plain as Conservation Land

[Source: Subdivision Design in Flood Hazard Areas]

Consider Zoning Code Revisions

Natural Resource Protection/Watershed Management

Increase Stormwater Detention

Increase Stream and Stream Buffer Protection

Increase Wetland and Wetland Buffer Protection

Increase Steep Slope Protection

Stormwater infrastructure mapping

http://stormrecovery.ny.gov/nyrcrAKRF, Inc

Building Code Considerations

Update Building Codes to require specific building construction techniques and materials Building elevation Foundation design Anchoring system

Adopt stricter building codes to protect heating & electrical Bring utility boxes, hot water

heaters, etc. up from the basement or encase to protect from water

Base Flood Elevation

BASE FLOOD ELEVATION (BFE)—The elevation shown on the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) for high-risk flood zones (“A” and “V” zones) indicates the water surface elevation resulting from a flood that has a 1 percent chance of equaling or exceeding that level in any given year.

http://gopremierone.com/flood-zone-designations/

Freeboard

What is Freeboard?

Freeboard is elevating a building’s lowest floor above predicted flood elevations by a small additional height (generally 1-3 feet above National Flood Insurance Program [NFIP] minimum height requirements).

What Are the Benefits of Freeboard?

Increased protection from floods and storms.

Provides an added margin of safety to address the flood modeling and mapping uncertainties associated with FIRMs.

Source: http://www.dnr.state.md.us/CoastSmart/pdfs/Freeboard_factsheet.pdf

Building Code Considerations

Building Codes – Home Elevation

Freeboard

Flood Resiliency Actions

1. Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance

2. National Flood Insurance Program Community Rating System (CRS)

3. Public Outreach Efforts Public Survey Public Outreach Public Education

4. Formation of Stormwater Districts

5. Planning for Emergency Access

6. Flood Resilience and Municipal Planning

7. Stormwater Treatment Wetland

1. Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance

New development proposed in floodplainsISSUE

ACTIONS

OUTCOMES

1. Ordinance updated to be compliant with the latest FEMA base flood elevations (BFE) plus a minimum of 2 foot of freeboard.

2. Requirements for relocating building mechanicals to an upper floor to protect it from flooding were included.

3. Structures that are reconstructed within the original footprint and elevated to comply with a new BFE are exempt from having to obtain a height variance if structure exceeds allowable building height

Allows municipality to continue to participate in the Nation Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) while permitting existing property owners the opportunity to remain on their land and reduce their flood insurance rate.

New development more flood resilient. More stringent requirements could act as a deterrent to new

development proposed in the floodplain.

2. National Flood Insurance Program Community Rating System (CRS)

High cost of flood insurance.

Municipalities can help reduce residential flood insurance rates through participation in the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Community Rating System (CRS).

NFIP CRS is a voluntary incentive program that recognizes and encourages community floodplain management activities that exceed the minimum NFIP requirements.

Property owner flood insurance premium rates are discounted due to reduced flood risk resulting from the community actions meeting the three goals of the CRS: Reduce flood damage to insurable property; Strengthen and support the insurance aspects of the NFIP, and Encourage a comprehensive approach to floodplain management.

Village staff have begun to assemble reporting materials required by FEMA in support of participation in the CRS.

ISSUE

ACTIONS

OUTCOME

3. Public Outreach Efforts

Social Media has become a low cost, highly effective

communication tool for sharing risk information within

communities. Using programs such as Twitter, Facebook, and

YouTube, communities have the opportunity to reach a broader and

more diverse audience. Communities can also use their existing

websites to get the message out to residents and business owners

to “know their risk.” This information can be shared through a link

to this site or by downloading resources from our site.

Consider utilizing community meetings and newsletters, local

websites, community events, local stores, and public buildings

such as Chambers of Commerce and Libraries for distributing flood

risk information. Building understanding of the local flood risk in

your community can inspire citizens to take actions to reduce that

risk.

Public Survey

Understanding resident preparedness to flooding

On-line natural hazards preparedness citizen survey was developed and used to gauge household preparedness . The questionnaire asked 24 quantifiable questions about citizen perception of risk, knowledge of mitigation, and support of community programs. It also posed several demographic questions to help analyze trends.

Information was used to assess the residents level of knowledge of the tools and techniques available to assist in reducing risk and loss from flooding and to identify, locate and/or prepare targeted flood related information for distribution to residents on topics for which a strong knowledge base was lacking.

ISSUE

ACTIONS

OUTCOME

Public Outreach

Property owners are unaware of financial assistance programs to support repair, rebuild, buyout or are discouraged by the paperwork they must file and the time it takes to get enrolled.

All NFIP Repetitive Loss (RL) and Severe Repetitive Loss (SRL) property owners were mailed an announcement to attend a meeting about voluntarily participating in efforts to mitigate their properties. The meeting and presentation was attended by several dozen residents who were encouraged to submit a “Homeowner Interest Sign-Up Sheet and Voluntary Notice” stating their interest to participate.

Residents in attendance are now aware of available funding sources and several indicated their interest to participate. Coordination with interested residents is ongoing.

ISSUE

ACTION

OUTCOME

http://stormrecovery.ny.gov/nyrcr

Public Education

Residents and business owners are unfamiliar with the processes that lead to flooding and are unaware of how they can better protect themselves, their families, their employees and their property from flood waters.

Distribute flood related information and educational materials to all residents via community meetings and newsletters, local websites, social media, community events, local stores, and at public buildings such as libraries.

ISSUE

ACTION

OUTCOME

Building understanding of the local flood risk in your community and how best to prepare, respond and recover can inspire citizens to take actions to reduce that risk.

A good resource for materials tailored to Dutchess County is Cornell’s Estuary Watershed Resilience Project :

http://blogs.cornell.edu/estuaryresilience/resources/

4. Formation of Stormwater Districts

Lack of stormwater management facilities maintenance is contributing to flooding

Create Stormwater Districts to collect funds to be used toward stormwater maintenance and upgrades where needed.

The Town has started to develop stormwater districts and will begin the process of repairing and/or upgrading. Goal is to reduce the volume of water discharged directly into the natural surface water systems.

The Town is considering the use of some of the monies collected through these districts to fund/implement green infrastructure practices, thereby further reducing the stormwater volume discharged during storm events.

ISSUE

ACTIONS

OUTCOMES

5. Planning for Emergency Access

Bridges that are the sole access point to certain subdivisions are inundated during storm events.

Zoning change - Develop, adopt and enforce regulatory mechanisms (e.g. ordinances, amendments to town code and zoning) to reduce the risk from vulnerable, sub-standard private bridges, and the public safety risk of development in areas where access is limited to a single, vulnerable bridge. The mechanisms developed provide a definition of “bridge”, establish minimum design/construction standards for privately-owned bridges, and establish the requirements for secondary access to mitigate the safety of residents in areas served by public bridges.

http://www.pro17engineering.com/services/flood/

ISSUE

ACTION

OUTCOMEZoning code is updated and all new subdivisions will be built with two access points one of which is not accessed by a road with a high flood risk.

6. Flood Resilience and Municipal Planning

Flood resilience was not regularly being considered as part of Town planning efforts

Update the Town’s Master Plan to include flood resilience as part of a broader goal of incorporating other green and sustainable development practices.

Town made a long-term commitment to sustainability planning and is now integrating these practices into better position itself in the world of funding from outside sources. They became a Climate Smart Community and began to make land use planning decisions from a different perspective.

Applied for a Consolidated Funding Grant to update their Master Plan

The Town was awarded a grant for $175,000 and is now in the process of revising its Master Plan.

ISSUE

ACTIONS

OUTCOME

7. Stormwater Treatment Wetland

Frequent stormwater related flooding that damaged apartments and single family homes on Wappinger Lake.

Design and construct a stormwater treatment wetland to reduce local flooding and improve quality

http://renewage.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Renewage-article.pdf

ISSUE

ACTION

OUTCOME

An EPA-initiated Green Innovation Grant for $638,000 was awarded to the Village of Wappingers Falls to design and build a unique ecological wetland stormwater treatment system. The system has been installed.

See “Ecological Wetland Stormwater Treatment System Wappiners Falls, NY Case Study”

Some Funding Sources and Resources

FEMA - The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has

five grant programs to help communities reduce loss of life and

property: Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), Pre-Disaster

Mitigation (PDM), Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA), Repetitive

Flood Claims (RFC), and Severe Repetitive Loss (SRL).

NYS EFC - The Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC) offers

the Green Innovation Grant Program (GIGP) which provides money

for projects that “…utilize unique stormwater infrastructure design

and create cutting-edge green technologies”.

SU EFC - Syracuse University Environmental Finance Center offers

a variety of grant opportunities as well as the publication, Funding

Guide for Capital Projects in Sustainable Materials Management

and links to other resources.

NWF – National Wildlife Federation Conservation Funding has

offered grant money for habitat and natural resource restoration.

Some Resources to Explore

NYSDEC Climate Smart Communities How to develop a Local Climate Action Plan: Methods

and Assistance for Local Governments http://www.dec.ny.gov/energy/67493.html

Mid-Hudson Regional Sustainability Plan Initiatives for direct implementation relating to land-use, energy, agriculture & open space,

water http://www.co.orange.ny.us/content/124/1362/10101.aspx

USGBC Technical Guidance Manual for Sustainable Neighborhoods Incorporating LEED into traditional zoning code elements, site plan regulations &

neighborhood development http://www.usgbc.org/sites/default/files/Technical%20Guid.%20Man.%20for%20Sust.%20

Neighborhoods_2012_Part%20A_1f_web.pdf

FEMA NFIP CRS Program http://www.fema.gov/national-flood-insurance-program-community-rating-system

Cornell University Estuary Watershed Resilience Project Flood Preparedness and response: A Guide for Municipalities http://blogs.cornell.edu/estuaryresilience/resources/

Scenic Hudson, Adaptation Planning Resources http://www.scenichudson.org/slr/adaptation/adaptation-resources

International Economic Development Council RestoreYourEconomy.org - A Disaster Recovery Web Portal http://www.iedconline.org/web-pages/resources-publications/restoreyoureconomy.org/

After All… Frequent Flooding is Changing Where We Live, Work, and Play

Location Stony Point, NY, post-Sandy