FLOOD STUDY
Union County, NJ
FEMA REGION II
August 24, 2011
2:00pm
Agenda
 Introductions
 National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)
 FEMA Strategic Plan & Risk Mapping, Assessment, and
Planning (Risk MAP) Goals
 Risk MAP Program Overview
 Meeting Objectives
 Current Status of Union County Flood Study
 Risk Assessment
 Community Engagement
 Questions
2
Introductions
 Local – Union County (Host) & Communities
 State – New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
(NJDEP)
Senior Engineer: Kunal Patel
GIS 3: Chris Gould, CFM
Principal Engineer: Tom Slowinski
 FEMA Region II
Risk Analysis Branch Chief: Scott Duell
Risk Analysis Risk Assessment Lead/Senior Engineer: Alan Springett
Risk Analysis Branch Senior Planner: Cathleen Carlisle
Communications and Outreach Lead: William McDonnell
Study Project Manager: Paul Weberg, PE
Floodplain Management and Insurance Lead: Kim Rizzo
Regional Support Center Outreach Lead: Crystal Smith, CFM
3
The National Flood Insurance
Program (NFIP)
 The National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 created the
Federal Insurance Administration to:
• Identify flood-prone areas within the U.S.
• Establish flood-risk zones within those areas
• Provides flood insurance only IF the community participates
in NFIP
• Participating communities agree to adopt and enforce
ordinances that meet or exceed FEMA’s requirement
• The program goal is to reduce the risk of flooding losses
4
“The Three-Legged Stool”
 The NFIP balances three related
program areas
1. Flood Hazard Identification
(Mapping)
2. Floodplain Management
(Regulations such as building codes
And zoning)
3. Flood Insurance
(Provision of Flood Insurance for
Property owners in participating
Communities)
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Floodplain Management
 Prevent increases in flood losses
• Regulations, zoning ordinances & building codes
 Reduce the flood risk to existing development
• Disaster preparedness
• Flood Insurance
• Emergency Plans
• Structural Measures (dams, reservoirs, dikes, levees &
floodwalls)
 Preserve and restore natural floodplains
• Floodplain, wetland, coastal barrier resources regulations
• Development/Redevelopment policies
6
Union County – NFIP Policies, Claims,
Repetitive Losses, CRS
7
Community Rating System (CRS)
 The National Flood Insurance Program's (NFIP)
Community Rating System (CRS) is a voluntary incentive
program that recognizes and encourages community
floodplain management activities that exceed minimum
NFIP requirements
 As a result, flood insurance premium rates are discounted
to reflect the reduced flood risk resulting from community
actions meeting the three goals of the CRS:
• Reduce flood losses;
• Facilitate accurate insurance rating; and
• Promote awareness of flood insurance
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Premium Discount
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Class Points
4,500 +
4,000 - 4499
3,500 - 3999
3,000 - 3499
2,500 - 2999
2,000 – 2499
1,500 - 1999
1,000 - 1499
500 – 999
0 - 499
SFHA
Non-SFHA
45%
10%
40%
10%
35%
10%
30%
10%
25%
10%
20%
10%
15%
5%
10%
5%
5%
5%
0
0
FEMA Strategic Plan & Risk MAP Goals
 FEMA Strategic Plan Goals 2008-2013
o Lead an integrated approach that strengthens the Nation’s ability to address
o
o
o
o
disasters, emergencies, and terrorist events
Deliver easily accessible and coordinated assistance for all programs
Provide reliable information at the right time for all users
FEMA invests in people and people invest in FEMA to ensure mission
success
Build public trust and confidence through performance and stewardship
 FEMA Risk MAP Goals
• Collaboration with Federal, State and local stakeholders to achieve goals under Risk
MAP:
o Address gaps in flood hazard data
o Public Awareness/Outreach
o Hazard Mitigation Planning
o Enhanced Digital Platform
o Alignment and Synergies
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Guiding Principles
 Engage communities early and often
 Agree upon and document project outcomes and
responsibilities
 Coordinate with other programs operating within
the same community
 Leverage associations to provide a third-party
perspective
 Use local media and language that people
understand
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Risk MAP Program Overview
12
Risk MAP Vision
 Through collaboration with
State, Tribal, and local entities,
Risk MAP will deliver quality
data that increases public
awareness and leads to action
that reduces risk to life and
property.
 Risk MAP will focus on
products and services beyond
the traditional Flood Insurance
Rate Map (FIRM).
 FEMA will work with officials to
help use flood risk data and
tools to effectively
communicate risk to citizens
and enable communities to
enhance their corresponding
mitigation plans.
13
FEMA’s FY10 Flood Mapping Progress
Report and Production Plan
 With FY2009 and FY2010 Congressional appropriations
for Flood Hazard Mapping, FEMA is conducting flood
map update projects:
• Improve engineering and mapping for high flood risk
areas affected by coastal flooding, levees, and other
riverine flood hazards
• Leverage established Cooperating Technical Partner
(CTP) relationships and resources
 To learn more, see the FEMA’s FY10 Flood Mapping
Progress Report and Production Plan on www.fema.gov
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Recent Activities
 Introduction to Risk MAP - Face to Face
July, 2011
◦ Cape May, Atlantic, Ocean, Monmouth
August, 2011
◦ Middlesex, Union, Hudson, Essex
 Initial meetings conducted – via Webinar:
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
2010
April - Morris
June – Bergen, Somerset
July - Essex
August – Monmouth, Union
September - Cape May
October – Passaic,
Middlesex
November – Atlantic
December – Ocean
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2011
° February –
Cumberland, Salem
° June – Cumberland,
Union
° July - Cape May,
Atlantic, Ocean,
Monmouth
Meeting Objectives
 Engage Union County and communities and promote
local residents to reduce their vulnerability to risk
 Provide information to local officials to help them
communicate flood risk to residents and businesses
 Provide an update on the current status of Union
County’s Flood Study
 Encourage partnerships and collaborations to leverage
and advance risk management and mitigation measures
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Union County Flood Study Overview
 Project Team
• Local Officials
• New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
(Cooperating Technical Partner)
• FEMA
 Risk Assessment, Mapping, and Planning Partners
(RAMPP), a joint venture of Dewberry, URS, and ESP
 Regional Support Center (RSC)
 Regional Program Management Lead
17
Union County Flood Study Scope
 Incorporation of approximately 4 miles of detailed analysis for
the Elizabeth River
 Restudy of all coastal hazard zones
 Incorporation of NJFHA boundary to the DFIRM maps and
Flood Insurance Report (FIS) profiles for the Elizabeth River
 All the coastal and riverine analysis will be produced in the
FEMA Countywide format in the North American Vertical
Datum of 1988 (NAVD88)
 NAVD 88 = NGVD 29 – 1.1 feet
Datum Conversion for Union County
Elevation in
Elevation in
NGVD 29
NAVD 88
897.1’
NGVD 29
895.1’
NGVD 29
18
896’
NAVD 88
894’
NAVD 88
Milestones

Coastal Surge Study complete: October, 2011

Coastal Overland wave analysis complete: January, 2012

Coastal and Riverine Analysis complete: Mid 2012

Preliminary Flood Study: June 2012
19
Union County Flood Study Update On the Current Status

Acquisition of the effective countywide mapping data has
been completed

Field survey for the approximately 4 miles of detailed
analysis for Elizabeth River has been completed. Hydrology
and Hydraulics processes are under way.
•
Coastal storm surge analysis is underway. Preliminary
transect layout, field survey and obstruction carding have
been completed.

Awaiting response from communities to the letters sent out
in November, 2009 and January, 2010 regarding data
request
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Union County Flood Study Paneling Scheme
•Restudy of all coastal hazard zones and Elizabeth River
21
Local Communities –
Data Gathering



Local technical data availability?
 Bridge replacements; new storm water management
systems; new H&H studies; new aerial photography
and/or topographic information, etc.
Contacted each community letting them know about field surveys
taking place in their communities back in November, 2009 and data
request in January, 2010

Only response received from City of Linden

Is this an accurate representation of your communities?
Levee impacted areas?

FEMA is exploring more precise approaches for identifying flood
hazards in areas impacted by levees
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Coastal Storm Surge and Overland Wave
Hazard Analysis
Overview – Gulf & Atlantic
6. MAPPING
5. RUNUP
4. WAVES
3. EROSION
2. SETUP
1. SURGE
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Union County – Transect Layout
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Coastal Study Technical Panel

The intent of the technical panel is to engage subject matter experts in coastal engineering
analysis process

Meetings were held on:



4/14/2011
5/10/2011
Members:



Academics and Other Interested Parties:

Stevens Institute of Technology

Richard Stockton College of NJ

City University of New York – Hunter College

Cousteau Institute under Rutgers University

Columbia University

Barnegat Bay Partnership
State and Local Government:

New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

New York City

Northeast States Emergency Consortium
Other Federal Agencies:

USACE

NOAA

USGS
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Risk MAP
Risk Assessment Tools & Resources
 HAZUS-MH: Estimating potential losses from
earthquakes, floods, and hurricanes
 New Version 2.0 includes coastal storm surge modeling
 For more information and to download the HAZUS-MH
software:
http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/hazus/index.shtm
 National Tool: Evaluating appropriate long-term
mitigation measures

For more information and to download the National Tool
software:
http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/floodplain/data_tool.shtm
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Risk MAP
Mitigation Planning
 Hazard Mitigation Plans:
• Guides your decisions on mitigation activities for all hazards you
face
• Are an important resource for responding to disasters
• Facilitates access to federal assistance for mitigation
 We reviewed your mitigation plans and found that:
• Union County: 2011 Mitigation Plan:
 County Approved
27
Union County, NJ
Mitigation Plan Update
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Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA)
 HMA grant programs provide funding for eligible
mitigation activities that reduce disaster losses and
protect lives and property from future disaster
damages
 Communities with approved hazard mitigation plans
can apply for Federal Assistance
 Federal Assistance applications through New Jersey
OEM (Bob Little)
29
Risk Communications
 Federal/State/Local goals:
• To create safer communities and reduce risk to lives and
property
• To effectively communicate risk and increase public
awareness, leading citizens to make informed decisions
regarding their risk
 Key factors contributing to successful achievement of these
goals are:
• Community engagement and exchange of flood risk
information
• Effective collaboration through partnerships
• Strategic communications plan development
30
Risk Communications
 Acknowledgement of the challenges in the complex,
multi-disciplinary, multi-dimensional, and evolving
processes of risk communications
• Conflicting priorities and messages
• Difficulty in translating scientific information
• Disagreements on what constitutes risk
 FEMA created a list of supporting, customizable tools and
templates and is currently developing those materials in
order of need as identified by FEMA Regions
• Region II is waiting on FEMA HQ’s development and
outcomes
• Region II is initiating its own risk communications strategy
31
*
* - OFA = Other Federal
Agencies
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Risk Communications
NJ Coastal Outreach Strategy
 The overarching goal of the New Jersey Coastal Outreach
Strategy is to globally increase awareness of, and engagement in,
the remapping of NJ coastal counties.
 Key themes:
• Flood risks have changed in many coastal communities since the date on
their effective FIRM panels
• When completed, the storm surge study will contain valid, defensible results
• Mitigation Planning involves learning about the hazards that can impact a
community, setting clear goals to reduce their vulnerability to the identified
hazards, and putting in place long-term hazard mitigation strategies
• Coordinated, sustained mitigation activities are the best way to ensure your
community will be physically, socially, and economically resilient to future
natural hazard impacts
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Risk Communication Strategy
Resources
 Region III Coastal Website:
• www.R3Coastal.com
 Region IV Coastal Website:
• http://www.southeastcoastalmaps.com
 Region VI Coastal Website:
• http://www.txchart.com
 Region II Coastal Website:
• To be announced
34
Example FEMA Region II
Risk MAP Activities Schedule

Current: August, 2011
• Risk MAP Introduction

October, 2011
• Mitigation Planning

December, 2011
• National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) & Community Rating System
(CRS)

February, 2012
• Technical Details of the Study

April, 2012
• Risk Assessment

June, 2012
• Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA)

August, 2012
• Risk Communication
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Resources
 FEMA: www.fema.gov
 Floodsmart, the official site of the National Flood Insurance Program
(NFIP): www.floodsmart.gov
 Risk Assessment, Mapping and Planning Partners: www.RAMPP-team.com
 NFIP Reform: www.fema.gov/business/nfip/nfip_reform.shtm
 HAZUS-MH software: http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/hazus/index.shtm
 National Tool software:
http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/floodplain/data_tool.shtm
 Hazus User Groups: http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/hazus/hz_users.shtm#4
 New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection - NFIP Coordinator
 New Jersey State Office of Emergency Management
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Questions & Feedback
 Please complete your survey. Your feedback is very important to us.
 This presentation & hand-outs will be posted at: www.RAMPP-TEAM.com
Contact Information

NJDEP
John Moyle / Joseph Ruggeri / John Scordato / Tom Slowinski / Chris Gould / Kunal Patel
NJDEP, Bureau of Dam Safety & Flood Control
Phone: 609-292-2296
NJDEP website: www.nj.gov/dep/floodcontrol

FEMA
Risk Analysis Branch Chief: Scott Duell / 212-680-3630 / Scott.Duell@dhs.gov
Risk Analysis Risk Assessment Lead/Senior Engineer: Alan Springett / 212-680-8557/ Alan.Springett@dhs.gov
Communications and Outreach: William McDonnell / 212-680-3636 / William.McDonnell@dhs.gov
Study Project Manager: Paul Weberg / 212-680-3638 / Paul.Weberg@dhs.gov
Flood Insurance & Management: Kim Rizzo/ 212-680-3637 / Kim.Rizzo@dhs.gov
Mitigation Planning: Cathleen Carlisle / 212-680-8529 / Cathleen.Carlisle@dhs.gov
HAZUS & GIS: Brian Shumon / 212-680-3631 / Brian.Shumon@dhs.gov
Regional Support Center Coordinator: Andrew Martin / 646-216-3677 / Amartin@dewberry.com
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