TAKING MATTERS INTO YOUR OWN
HANDS
The Story of Floodplain Remapping in Springfield, Missouri
Todd Wagner, P.E., CFM, CSM
Principal Stormwater Engineer
twagner@springfieldmo.gov
&
Errin Kemper, P.E., CFM, CSM
Professional Engineer
ekemper@springfieldmo.gov
Stormwater Engineering Division
Dept of Public Works
City of Springfield, Missouri
www.Springfieldmo.gov/stormwater
FLOODING IN SPRINGFIELD
FLOOD INSURANCE STATISTICS
There are currently 1068 structures located in
the 100yr floodplain.
As of 2008, the NFIP has 200+ active flood
insurance policies in Springfield.
1993
2000
2000
2008
2008
THE REMAPPING PROCESS
TIMELINE OF REMAPPING
1968 – National Flood Insurance Program
established nationwide
 1978 – FEMA issues first Flood Insurance Rate
maps for Greene County
 1989 – City of Springfield enters NFIP (using
1978 maps)
 1995 – US Army Corps of Engineers (under
FEMA direction) produces updated flood maps
for Springfield.

PROPOSED 1995 MAPPING
TAKING MATTERS INTO OUR OWN HANDS
TIMELINE CONTINUED…

1999 – Met with FEMA. City receives permission
from FEMA to hire a consultant and resubmit flood
study

July 2000– 6-8” in 6hr.
 Reported
damages in
excess of $2M.
 At least 124 homes
damaged.

2001 – City submits revised mapping
2001-2005
New nationwide mapping contractor(s)
 The City’s review gets delayed
 City & County become a Cooperating Technical
Partner (CTP)
 In 2005, in an effort to complete the Greene
County maps, FEMA notifies the City that it
must submit new mapping or the previous
1996 study will have to be made effective

REMAPPING…PART 2
2005-2008
City works to convert previous submittal to new
mapping standards.
 All flood hazard information converted to GIS
format
 Redelineated several additional streams
 Worked with FEMA mapping contractor to
address review comments

PRELIMINARY MAPS ISSUED 2008
PUBLIC REVIEW
PUBLIC OUTREACH
•Press Conference
•5 mass mailings to all affected properties
•3 press releases
ELEVATION DATA COLLECTION
•
•
•
City identified over 800 Residential Structures impacted by the
new mapping
Two consulting firms were hired to collect all information needed
to complete an elevation certificate and LOMA. Cost: $115 per
home
Data was used to prioritize stormwater management decisions
FLOODPLAIN ORDINANCE

FEMA’s model ordinance with two exceptions:
 2-foot
freeboard
 Existing
floodplain storage areas will be
“grandfathered”
FINALLY…..ACCEPTANCE