Cooperating Technical State (CTS)
Statewide Mapping…
North Carolina’s Pioneering Effort
John Dorman, Program Director,
NC CTS Flood Mapping Program
Tim McCormick, P.E., FIP Program
Manager, Dewberry & Davis LLC
Background
NOTE - Six storms (Bertha,
HURRRICANE IRENE
Oct 16 -17
HURRRICAN FLOYD
HURRRICANE DENNIS
Sept 15 - 16
Aug 30 - Sept 4
Fran, Bonnie, Dennis, Floyd &
Irene) have impacted or made
land fall on the North Carolina
coast in the last five years
Why North Carolina
Undertook This Project

State’s vulnerability to hurricanes
and flooding
 14 federally declared disasters since 1989
 Hurricane Floyd damages = $3.5 billion
 4,117 uninsured/under-insured homes
destroyed as result of Hurricane Floyd
Why North Carolina Undertook
This Project (Continued)
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Hurricane Floyd revealed flood hazard data and
map limitations
Age of State’s FIRMs
 55% at least 10 years old
 75% at least 5 years old
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FEMA’s mapping budget is finite
 State receives only one updated flood study per
county per year
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Many counties and communities lack resources
to take on this responsibility
Accurate, up-to-date flood hazard data
information crucial to protect lives and property
State Strategies and Implementation
North Carolina’s Strategies
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Establishment of Unprecedented
Statewide floodplain mapping program
Designated Cooperating Technical State
by FEMA
Partnership with (FEMA) and 16 other
Federal Agencies
Develop program to collect accurate
elevation data and develop flood data to
produce FIRMs
Program Deliverables
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High-resolution topographic data and
accurate DEMs
Engineering basin studies
Base map data
Countywide digital FIRMs
State-of-the-art, dynamic IT
infrastructure
Real-time flood forecasting and
inundation mapping capability
Other Program Deliverables
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Findings and analysis of LIDAR capabilities
Recommend standard for LIDAR accuracy
Implementing NSDI approach
Tailoring and implementing new FEMA scoping
procedures
Testing telescoped post-preliminary procedures
Implementing new DFIRM standard
Developing Policy & Procedures Manual
Developing Higher Standards Guidebook for
community officials
Direct Benefits from Program
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USGS estimates b/c ratio of 3.5:1
Current, accurate data for sound siting and design
decisions
Use of updated data for floodplain management
will reduce long-term flood losses
Updated data will alert at-risk property owners of
the need for flood insurance
Faster, cheaper FIRM updates
More equitable flood insurance ratings
through NFIP
Other Benefits of Program
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Digital format allows for more efficient,
precise flood risk determinations
Digital format will provide more timely
updates for floodplain management
Digital format allows for use with GIS for
analysis and planning
Digital Information System allows for online
access 24 hours a day
DEMs will be useful for almost any
engineering or planning applications
Program Approach/
Implementation

Develop Statewide:
 Basin Plans through scoping process
 Digital Elevation Models (DEMs)
 Updated base maps (DOQs or better
local base)
 Updated flood data
 Countywide DFIRMs
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Digital distribution through State’s IT
Hard copy through FEMA’s MSC
 State/local relationship for data sharing
Program Approach/
Implementation (Continued)
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Phase I—Eastern 6 Basins initiated this year
 Preliminary FIRMs for White Oak,
Tar-Pamlico, and Lumber by Sept. 2001
 Preliminary FIRMs for Neuse, Cape Fear,
and Pasquotank counties by Sept. 2002
Phase II—5 Basins initiated in FY 01-02
 Chowan, Roanoke, Yadkin, New, Catawba
Phase III—Final 6 Basins initiated in FY 02-03
 Broad, Watauga, French Broad, Little
Tennessee, Savannah, Hiwassee
North Carolina River
Basins—by Phase
Phase I—blue
Phase II—gold
Phase III—green
Program Approach/
Implementation (Continued)

Design, develop, and implement dynamic IT
infrastructure to analyze, maintain, archive,
and disseminate flood maps and associated
data for North Carolina Flood Mapping
Program
 Present and distribute mapping data, associated
reports, and other Framework data layers to public
via Internet
 Final system design will be completed by
June 2001
 Operable system will be implemented by
September 30, 2001
Program Approach/
Implementation (Continued)
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Contracting approach for procuring engineering
and mapping services
 Qualifications-based selection
 Greenhorne & O’Mara Team
 Watershed Concepts Team
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Development of Mapping Activity Statements
Development of process to vet, resolve, and
document program issues and establish policies
Established Program website for public
 ncfloodmaps.com
Program Approach
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Negotiating product specifications that
meet State, FEMA, and client needs
Project management tools, such as:
 GIS-based Scoping database
 MS Project model
 Collaborative Web site
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Developing Policy & Procedures Manual
Developing Higher Standards Guidebook for
community officials
Program Funding
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In August 2000, North Carolina General
Assembly allocated funding for first six
river basins ($23 million)
Additional State funding from Partners
($2.75 million)
FEMA has contributed $6 million, as
well as in-kind professional services
North Carolina is also working with
other Federal partners to secure
additional funding
North Carolina CTS Flood Mapping Program
OSBPM
NC Center for
Geographic Information
and Analysis
NC
Geodetic Survey
NC Division of
Emergency
Management
Federal Emergency
Management Agency
John Dorman,
Program Director/Chair
Project
Manager
Mapping
Coordination
Contractor
Dewberry &
Davis LLC
CTS
Committee
Program
Manager
State Floodplain
Mapping
Contractor
Greenhorne &
O’Mara, Inc.
State Floodplain
Mapping
Contractor
Watershed
Concepts, Inc.
Program Schedule
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By end of State FY 2005 = Produce
DEMs, updated flood data, and
digital FIRMs for remaining 11
river basins
Enter “maintenance” phase in
FY 2002 - 2003 for first 3 river
basins
Agreements/Tasking Process
Agreements versus
Delivery Orders
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Agreements:
 Negotiated and signed by CTS Partners
 Include overall MOA, funding agreements, and
Mapping Activity Statements
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Delivery Orders (DOs):
 State contracting with private A/E firm(s)
 DOs are mechanisms to complete work agreed
to by CTS Partners under the Mapping Activity
Statements
Hierarchy of Agreements
Memorandum of Agreement
Funding
Agreement
No. 1
Mapping
Activity
Statement
A
MAS
B
Funding
Agreement
No. X
MAS
C
MAS
D
MAS
E
MAS
F
MAS
MAS
MAS
Memorandum of Agreement
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Establishes formal overall partnership
between State and Federal and local
Partners
State, FEMA, and other Federal Partners
will collaborate on flood hazard
identification and post flood disaster
hazard verification activities
Establishes CTS Committee
Signed by State and all Partners
(9/15/00)
Funding Agreements
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Written under “umbrella” of overall
Memorandum of Agreement
Summarizes available funding sources
and amounts for specific mapping
activities
Ties funding to specific Mapping
Activity Statements
Signed by all partners contributing
funding to the relevant activities
Mapping Activity Statement
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State and Partners developing
Mapping Activity Statements for
specific activities
References overarching Funding
Agreement
Signed by State and all Partners
contributing products, services,
funding, and/or technical support
to the activity
Mapping Activity Statement
(Continued)
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Also Specifies:
 Scope
 FEMA Technical
 Period of
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Performance
Standards
Schedule
Products
Certification
requirements
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Assistance and
Resources
QA/QC Process
Subcontractors
Reporting
Point of Contact
Mapping Activity Statements
Currently Being Developed
A
Project Scoping for Six Eastern River Basins*
B
Information Management System
C
Digital Base Map for Six Eastern River Basins*
D
Digital Elevation Data Development for Six
Eastern River Basins*
E
Updated Flood Hazard Data and Digital FIRM
Production for Six Eastern River Basins*
*Future Mapping Activity Statements will be developed
for the remaining Basins in the State
Mapping Activity Statements
Currently Being Developed (Continued)
F
Technology and Data Standards
G
Real-Time Flood Forecasting and Inundation
Mapping
H
Inter-Agency Coordination
** Post-Flood Hazard Verification (Template)
**Will be used to execute separate MASs for specific
flooding disasters
Project Components
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Scoping
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Map Production
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Community Review
Scoping
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Research/inventory all available
elevation, flood hazard, and digital
base map data
Assess existing flood hazard data
on effective FIRMs
Determine appropriate technical
method for developing up-to-date
flood hazard data and establishing
priority level
Scoping (Continued)
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Conduct outreach activities to
determine needs for updated
FIRMs
Identify data that need to be
developed or acquired
Determine proposed scales,
paneling scheme, and format for
digital FIRM production
Map Production
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Updated engineering analyses and
floodplain mapping
State has contracted with privatesector firm(s) to conduct this work
Work will include:
 Conducting flood hazard analyses
and producing updated digital FIRMs
 Designing and implementing the IT
Infrastructure
Community Review
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Preliminary countywide digital
FIRMs issued to each county and
its communities for review and
comment
County meetings to present maps
and provide opportunity for
comment
Statutory 90-day appeal period
CTS Committee Overview
Purpose and Role
of CTS Committee
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Strategic planning for program direction
and associated activities
Provide input and feedback regarding
policies, data, and products
Facilitate multi-level government
coordination
Provide technical and programmatic
expertise and advice
Review and concur on Mapping Activity
Statement Agreements
CTS Committee Member
Organizations
Federal Agencies:
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FEMA
USGS
NASA
USACE
EPA
NOAA
HUD
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NOAA
NWS
SBA
EDA
DOT
USDA
CTS Committee Member
Organizations (Continued)
State Agencies:
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OSBPM
NCDEM
NCGS
CGIA
Land Records
Management
Div.
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DENR
NCDOT
NC Office of
Information
Technology
Dept. of
Insurance
CTS Committee Member
Organizations (Continued)
Other State Organizations:
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General Assembly
GICC/Statewide Mapping Advisory
Committee
League of Municipalities
Association of County
Commissioners
North Carolina State University
CTS Committee Member
Organizations (Continued)
Local Government Agencies:
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Greensboro
Asheville
Lenoir County
Wake County
New Hanover County
Charlotte/Mecklenberg County
CTS Committee Member
Organizations (Continued)
Technical Advisors:
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NC Floodplain Managers Association
Professional Engineers of NC
NC Society of Surveyors
ASPRS, NC Chapter
URISA, NC Chapter
NC Citizens for Business and Industry
FGDC
Open GIS Consortium
Structure of CTS Committee
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Chaired by John Dorman, OSBPM
Executive Committee
 Day-to-day oversight of program
 Membership includes CGIA, NCGS,
NCDEM, and FEMA
 Will refer items to the overall CTS
Committee
CTS Committee
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Technical Working Groups
 Higher Standards
 Real-time Flood Forecasting
 Post-Flood Verification
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Meet on monthly basis in Raleigh
Cooperating Technical State (CTS)
Statewide Mapping…
North Carolina’s Pioneering Effort
QUESTIONS
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