A Publication
for Members
THE INSIDER
September
2007
The Association of State Floodplain Managers
2809 Fish Hatchery Rd., Madison, WI 53713 www.floods.org
608-274-0123 Fax: 608-274-0696 memberhelp@floods.org
Executive Director’s Report
Larry Larson, P.E., CFM
In This Issue
Click on any of the following links, or simply
scroll down for entire newsletter.
Effective risk communication to the public, the media
and decision makers---this is an area where most of us in
the flood risk management profession have done a poor job
in the past. We too often get caught in the details of the
process, such as, “the 100 year flood won’t happen again”,
or “how can I get out of paying flood insurance?” or other
such issues. Bogged down in those details, we often forget
to explain or educate about the real issues, such as the fact
that all properties are at risk - some just more than others.
It is also important to educate property owners and
community and state officials that they play a key role in
reducing human suffering and damages from flooding.
Executive Director’s Report
ASFPM Members in the News
 Al Goodman
 Harold Holmes
 Paul Osman
New South Carolina Quick Guide
News from CSO
2007 Nick Winter Memorial Scholarship
Awarded
Hurricane Katrina and Insurance
MOD Team Support Gulf Coast Recovery
Efforts
New Vertical Datum Fact Sheet
EMI Course Offering
Washington Legislative Report
CFM Corner
News from Chapters
Floodplain Management Training Calendar
Job Corner
People who build or buy structures in known flood hazard
areas should not be considered “victims”. Flood hazard
areas will flood, levees will fail---these are truths people
must understand. Furthermore community officials who
allow development in known flood hazard areas must
understand that their decisions will lead to people and
property being at risk. State legislators who weaken flood
hazard regulations or land use rules that reduce flood risk are contributing to the next disaster, and in the
end, those disaster costs are picked up by the taxpayers, not those who made money from developing
flood risk areas.
Your ASFPM Vice-Chair Greg Main suggested states, chapters, or even individual ASFPM members can
play a key role in communicating flood risk, causes, and options to the many community citizens and
decision makers. Greg suggested one way to do that would be to draft a letter to the editor and have it
ready to send when significant flooding occurs in your area. Then tailor the letter to the specific event
and send it to local media, asking them to publish it either as a letter to the editor or an op-ed. Papers will
usually limit letters to the editor to a couple hundred words, whereas an op-ed can often be 500-600
words.
I wrote an op-ed letter to a Wisconsin paper in light of the recent significant flooding we have
experienced here (Madison had its wettest month on record in August—over 15 inches of rain, and some
areas had 12 inches in 24 hours). The point I tried to make is that these are predictable events, which we
can prepare for and mitigate to reduce the flood impacts.
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1
That op-ed letter is posted on our web site at www.Floods.org/PDF/LAL_OpEd__Flood_Risk_082907.pdf.
Any of you, whether in a state agency, ASFPM Chapter, or an ASFPM member could take this letter and
modify it to fit your state circumstances. When flooding in your area happens, adjust it slightly and send
it to your local or state papers. In this way you can do your part to communicate what flood risk means,
and how it can be managed to reduce human suffering, damages and taxpayer costs for disasters.
Return to Table of Contents
ASFPM Members in the News
During the course of August there were several ASFPM Members in the news regarding flooding issues
around the country. The following is a brief description of three of those articles and links to where you
can find the full articles.
Al Goodman, ASFPM Chair, submitted an Op-Ed piece which was printed in the Mississippi ClarionLedger on August 13, 2007. The piece was written regarding the mitigation of flood damages in
Mississippi. Al’s article provides a great example of what Larry Larson was talking about in his
Executive Director’s report in this issue of the Insider of how an individual member can communicate
flood risk to his/her community.
We should all do our part to mitigate flood damages in Miss.
By Al Goodman
Special to The Clarion-Ledger
It is my role to work with the public, private, state and federal sectors to mitigate flood
damages within Mississippi.
Many people don't realize that the entire state is actually a mapped flood zone. Every acre
is zoned according to its flood risk: low, moderate and high, with only the high-risk zones
requiring flood insurance if a federally backed loan is involved.
Our state has 5.2 million acres of high-risk flood zones, not counting the areas protected
by certified levees. Mississippi has approximately 665 miles of major levees.
All levees are constructed to provide a specific level of protection, such as the so-called
100-year or 500-year flood. The 500-year flood level plus the additional freeboard height
is considered a minimum protection standard for levees protecting urban areas.
If a flood occurs that exceeds that design, the levee will be overtopped or otherwise fail
from saturation, leakage, etc. When this happens, the results are catastrophic.
And since our state can be impacted by earthquakes, residents protected by levees must
understand their risk, no matter how remote.
Although the probability of a levee failure is low, the consequence to public safety and
property loss is high…
You can read the remainder of Al’s article on the Clarion-Ledger website at:
http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070813/OPINION/708130314
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2
Harold Holmes, ASFPM District 3 Chapter Director, was interviewed for an article that also appeared in
the Mississippi Clarion-Ledger on August 13, 2007. This is an article regarding the adoption of new
building codes in Pearl River County where Harold is the Director of Planning and Development.
Pearl River County’s building code thorough
By Susan Lakes
Hattiesburg American
Building codes. Code enforcement. Permits. Fees.
Those words might bring up images of government intrusion to some people, but not to
Harold Holmes. Holmes directs planning and development for Pearl River County, which
adopted building codes for residential and commercial construction about a year ago.
The code enforcement process is working to serve and protect the public, officials say.
"Insurance companies and lien holders want to know the house won't burn down or blow
away in the next storm," Holmes said.
Last April, Pearl River County followed a state mandate for six Mississippi coastal
counties and implemented the building code system. But Holmes and county officials
didn't need much of a state nudge to put the system into place.
"We had just about finished up (putting codes into place) when Katrina hit," he said. The
state mandate plus some hazard mitigation grant money put building code requirements
into place in Pearl River County last August.
"It guarantees to the people that their house or residential structure meets minimum
standards," Holmes said.
His office - code inspectors and certified permit holders - seeks to protect and save
money for customers.
"As we go along, it will help reduce insurance costs," said Kirk Pichon from the planning
office. Pichon oversees a staff of inspectors and support staff, including the first two
certified permit technicians in Mississippi…
You can read the remainder of this article on the Clarion-Ledger website at:
http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070813/NEWS/708130340
Paul Osman, ASFPM Flood Insurance Committee Co-Chair, was interviewed for an article published in
the St. Louis Post-Dispatch on August 16, 2007. The article is in response to an announcement by FEMA
and the Army Corps of Engineers regarding the state of the levees in the St. Louis and surrounding areas.
Corps lacks money to repair levees, it warns
By Angie Leventis
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
08/16/2007
ALTON — About 150,000 Metro East residents depend on levees with poor seepage
control or deteriorating infrastructure, officials from the St. Louis District of the Army
Corps of Engineers and the Federal Emergency Management Agency said at a meeting
on levees on Wednesday.
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3
The most precarious spots stretch across more than 75,000 acres, from Wood River to
south of Belleville.
Less than 3 percent of residents in these areas have flood insurance, said Paul A. Osman,
flood-plain programs manager for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. He
encouraged anyone living near a levee to purchase insurance now. FEMA is now
updating its flood-plain maps to reflect the aging levees. Some areas might become more
expensive to insure after the new maps come out.
"They're living with a false sense of security," Osman said of some living behind old
levees…
You can read the remainder of this article on the St. Louis Today website at:
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/illinoisnews/story/E0B3F89016E588AF862573390013
EB2A?OpenDocument
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New South Carolina Quick Guide
The State of South Carolina has a new quick
guide dealing with Riverine Floodplains,
Development, and Maps. The purpose of this
quick guide is to help people understand the
basics about the watersheds and floodplains that
are found along all of South Carolina’s rivers,
streams, and creeks. It describes the methods
used to develop and maintain flood maps, and the
factors that are considered when development is
proposed in a riverine floodplain. (Coastal
floodplains are not covered by this guide).
You can view a copy of the new quick guide
online at: http://www.dnr.sc.gov/water/flood/quickguide.html. Also available is the South Carolina
Quick Guide for Floodplain Management, which is a primer on floodplains and the NFIP. More than 12
states have similar guides to help inform citizens, elected officials, and real estate and insurance
professionals.
The State of South Carolina ordered the new guide through ASFPM, which worked with RCQuinn
Consulting, Inc. If your state is interested in producing a quick guide please contact George Riedel at the
Executive Office at george@floods.org or call (608) 274-0123.
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The Insider September 2007
4
News from CSO
The following is information from the August 31, 2007 issue of The CSO Weekly Report
States seek to stop reallocation of funds from Clean Water Act
State officials want Congress to stop the EPA from promulgating a rule which would allow the agency to
charge for clean water permit processing and/or withhold funds from states which don't conduct statistical
assessments of their waters. The Association of State and Interstate Water Pollution Control
Administrators asked the House and Senate appropriations committee to adopt language in the fiscal year
2008 EPA/ Department of the Interior spending bill which would prevent the reallocation of funds from
Section 106 of the Clean Water Act.
And in a related item:
EPA seeks all state participation in statistical water quality assessments
At the Association of State and Interstate Water Pollution Control Administrators meeting the EPA
announced that starting in fiscal year 2009 it will withhold monitoring funds from states that refuse to
perform statistically based water quality assessments. States failing to conduct statistical assessments
would have their share of the $18.5 million allocated for a national water quality monitoring program
withheld and redistributed to those participating states.
NOAA issues draft report on climate change adaptation options
NOAA issued a draft report reviewing how management options should be adapted to respond to climate
change effects ( 72 Fed. Reg. 46,610). The report U.S. Climate Change Science Program Synthesis and
Assessment Product 4.4: Preliminary Review of Adaptation Options for Climate-Sensitive Ecosystems
and Resources reviews information on the state of knowledge of adaptation options for "key
representative ecosystems" and resources that may be sensitive to climate variability. In a second draft
report NOAA looks at the effects of weather and climate extremes in North America, Hawaii, the
Caribbean, and the U.S. Pacific Islands. Comments on this draft report must be received by October 5,
2007. The complete document can be found at: http://www.climatescience.gov/Library/
EPA issues technical document to guide watershed-based permit use
On August, 23 the EPA issued the Watershed-based National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
(NPDES) Permitting Technical Guidance, which aims to help state and federal authorities issue NPDES
permits as part of a watershed planning and management approach. Components of this document include
instructions on: modification of single discharge permits; synchronization of permit re-issuance; and
development of a multi-source watershed permit. The technical guidance builds on EPA's 2003 policy
guidance and was produced in response to recommendations by the National Advisory Council for
Environmental Policy and Technology that EPA to more actively promote a watershed approach to
managing water resources. The technical document can be found at:
http://www.epa.gov/npdes/watersheds
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The Insider September 2007
5
2007 Nick Winter Memorial Scholarship Awarded
Each year the Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM) and the ASFPM Foundation grant a
$2,000 scholarship for one academic year to a full-time college junior or senior currently enrolled in an
undergraduate program related to floodplain / stormwater management, or a student enrolled in a graduate
program in a field related to floodplain / stormwater management.
We are pleased to announce that the recipient of this award has been selected for the 2007 - 2008
academic year. The Nick Winter Memorial Scholarship Application Review Committee selected Aaron
D. Wallace, CFM, from Kentucky, a student at Western Kentucky University, as recipient of the Nick
Winter Memorial Scholarship. We congratulate Mr. Wallace on this award and wishes him all the best in
his studies!
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Hurricane Katrina and Insurance
The National Wetlands Newsletter recently published an article entitled, “Recovery Following Hurricane
Katrina: Will Litigation and Uncertainty Today Make for an Improved Tomorrow?” by Edward A.
Thomas, Esq. This article deals with Hurricane Katrina and the unprecedented number of lawsuits filed
following the Hurricane. The article provides a background to all of those lawsuits and discusses the
reasons for, and the policy implications of, that litigation.
You can find a link to the article on our website at:
http://www.Floods.org/PDF/ET_Katrina_Insurance_082907.pdf
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MOD Team Support Gulf Coast Recovery Efforts
Many of you may already be familiar with the MOD Team Times, a monthly newsletter distributed for
MOD Team members. The August edition of the newsletter featured an article outlining how the MOD
team is supporting the recovery efforts in the Gulf Coast following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The
article provides a summary of the mapping projects currently going on in Louisiana and Mississippi and
describes how the MOD team is supporting those efforts. The article is very informative regarding map
mod issues in those states and we encourage you to read the article in it’s entirety on our website at:
www.Floods.org/PDF/MTT_Aug07_Gulf_Coast_Article.pdf
The MOD Team Times is published by Michael Baker Corporation, leader of the Mapping on Demand (MOD) team,
FEMA’s National Service Provider for Flood Map Modernization (Map Mod). The MOD Team Times is a monthly
newsletter designed to keep mapping partners informed of FEMA’s progress on the Map Mod effort. If you would
like to be added to the newsletter’s distribution list, please e-mail Benjamin.Accurti@mapmodteam.com.
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New Vertical Datum Fact Sheet
FEMA’s Map Mod team has recently released a new fact sheet regarding vertical datum. The Federal
Government officially adopted a new vertical datum: the North American Vertical Datum of 1988
(NAVD88), in place of the previous national vertical datum, NGVD29. The new datum will be used
when the Map Mod team is updating flood maps. To find out more about vertical datum and how this
change may affect you, please see the fact sheet online at:
http://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=2918.
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EMI Course Offering
Please see the following information regarding a course being given at EMI later this month. If you are
interested in attending there is still time to register!
Course: E279 RETROFITTING FLOODPRONE RESIDENTAL BUILDINGS
Dates: September 24-27, 2007
Course Information: As Americans recover from the latest series of major flood disasters, design
professionals and government officials are increasingly called upon to provide technical assistance to reduce
or eliminate future flood damage. This recently updated 4-day course provides participants the opportunity
to learn current engineering principles and practices for retrofitting flood-prone residential buildings.
Subjects covered include the concepts of floodproofing, regulatory framework, controlling parameters,
design practices, and benefit, cost, and technical feasibility analysis. Participants will complete a design
exercise on a real-life case study. The course also includes a written communication.
Course Length: Course starts Monday at 8:30 a.m. and ends Thursday at 5:00 p.m. Buses depart from
the NETC campus Friday at 9:30 a.m.
Audience: This course is intended for engineers, architects, and building code officials. Floodplain
management, hazard mitigation, planning, zoning and public works officials with engineering, architectural,
or building science knowledge may also apply.
Location: The National Emergency Training Center in Emmitsburg, Maryland.
Continuing Education Units (CEU’s): The Emergency Management Institute (EMI) awards 2.9 CEU’s
for successful completion of this course.
To Apply: Please submit a FEMA Form 75-5, General Admission Application with student signature and
supervisor or sponsoring office signature through the State emergency management training office. FEMA
regional employees should submit their applications to the Regional Training Manager.
For further information on enrollment, please contact the NETC Admissions Office, (301) 447-1035, or fax
your request to (301) 447-1658. For additional information on the course, please refer to the course web
site at: http://training.fema.gov/emiweb/EMICourses or contact the course manager, Joe Bills at (301)
447-1356 or by email at joseph.bills@dhs.gov.
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The Insider September 2007
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Washington Legislative Report
Meredith R. Inderfurth, Washington Liaison
Rebecca C. Quinn, Legislative Officer
Back from the August Recess
After a month-long August Congressional Recess, the Congress returned to town today. It is expected
that the agenda for September will be very full with appropriations bills for FY 2008 and Iraq war
associated legislation taking center stage. There will be pressure, as well, to act on many other bills that
are already part way through the legislative process and on Conference reports that represent almost
completed legislation.
Expected in September
Appropriations
The House of Representatives has passed all 12 regular appropriations bills for Fiscal Year 2008. In a
somewhat frenetic run up to the August recess, the House passed the two bills it had not yet acted on:
Agriculture on August 2nd and Defense on August 5th.
The Senate has only passed the Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill. Staff level
preliminary Conference discussions took place during the recess and it is likely that a House-Senate
Conference Committee will meet in September so that a Conference Report can be brought before both
Houses and the bill can, hopefully, be signed by the President before the new fiscal year begins on
October 1st. There has been “behind the scenes” stalling activity keeping the appropriations bills from the
Senate floor, so it is difficult to predict how quickly Senate consideration of these bills will proceed.
All of the appropriations bills and their associated Committee Reports can be viewed by going to
http://thomas.loc.gov. Click on Appropriations on the home page and a status list of the bills will appear.
You can individually click on the bill and report numbers to read the text.
Flood Insurance
Expect the flood insurance reform bill, H.R. 3121, to be considered on the House floor in September.
The bill was reported out of committee on July 26th including a measure that had been introduced by Rep.
Gene Taylor (D-MS) to provide for a new, optional wind & flood policy under the NFIP. The bill also
includes a 5 year reauthorization of the NFIP. Floor amendments are very likely to be offered. Expect
the Committee Report on the bill to be filed early in September.
The Senate Banking Committee has not yet produced a flood insurance reform bill during this Congress.
Despite rumors that it would do so in July, it did not. It will be interesting to see if the Banking
Committee develops its own bill or waits to act on the House bill when it makes its way to the Senate.
There are many provisions in the House bill, notably new, optional coverages, that have not been looked
upon favorably by the Senate Committee. On the other hand, there were provisions in the reform bill
reported out by the Senate Banking Committee in the last Congress that were not looked upon favorably
by the House. Those included significant premium increases in a number of categories and creation of a
Catastrophe Reserve of $10 billion to be funded from premiums. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) has revised
and largely improved his bill to provide for a continuing program of flood map modernization. That
measure, S. 1938, was introduced on August 2nd.
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Water Resources Development Act
At long last, the House-Senate Conference Committee on WRDA (H.R. 1495) filed its report. The report
was accepted on the House floor on August 1st, but was not brought up on the Senate floor prior to the
August recess. Expect Senate consideration of the Conference Report on WRDA in September. The
White House has threatened to veto the bill.
Farm Bill
After long development and some House floor difficulties, the 2007 Farm Bill did pass the House on July
27th. Expect the Senate Agriculture Committee to begin its mark-up of its Farm Bill during the second
week of September.
Homeowners’ Insurance
Two Subcommittees of the House Financial Services Committee (Housing; Capital Markets and
Insurance) will hold a hearing on September 6th on legislation called the “Homeowners Defense Act”,
H.R. 3355. According to the Committee, the bill would establish “a consortium for state-sponsored
insurance funds to voluntarily pool their catastrophe risk with one another, and then transfer that risk to
the private markets through the use of catastrophe bonds and reinsurance contracts. …. The legislation
further provides for loans that could be extended to any state facing a significant financial shortfall after a
natural catastrophe.”
The August issue of “News & Views” contains a more extensive discussion of legislative status just prior
to the August Congressional Recess. That information remains current since the Congress has not been
in session.
Any legislation referred to can be viewed by going to: http://thomas.loc.gov and typing in the bill number.
Return to Table of Contents
CFM® Corner
Email for certification questions is cfm@floods.org. This section will appear in each issue of the Insider.
For suggestions on specific topics or questions to be covered, please send an email to Anita at this
address in the ASFPM Office.
A copy of the letter below was recently sent via email to all CFMs regarding a change made to the
Charter by the Certification Board of Regents and the ASFPM Board. If you did not receive a copy of
letter or have questions about the new policy, please contact Anita Larson at cfm@floods.org.
_________________________________
To All CFMs:
Recently the ASFPM Certification Board of Regents (CBOR) recommended a revision to the Charter for
the Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM) Program to the ASFPM Board of Directors dealing with
decertification of a CFM for non-renewal.
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Currently when a CFM is decertified for not renewing or not obtaining the required number of CECs
there is no waiting period to re-take the CFM exam. The CFM could immediately take the CFM exam
and if she/he passes, they again would be a CFM.
CBOR began to see an increase in CFMs failing to obtain the required CECs and then immediately retaking the CFM exam in order to maintain their CFM status. CBOR felt this action was in direct conflict
of the primary goal of the ASFPM CFM Program: “to help reduce the nation’s flood losses and protect
and enhance the natural resources and functions of its floodplains by improving the knowledge and
abilities of floodplain managers”. This goal is achieved over time when CFMs obtain continuing
education credits, which is a condition for recertification. CBOR felt it was critical to modify program
requirements in order to achieve these important goals.
Therefore, CBOR recommended to the ASFPM Board of Directors a change to the Charter to
require a CFM who is decertified for non-renewal to wait 12 months from the date of
decertification before being allowed to take the CFM exam again. The ASFPM Board of Directors
approved this Charter revision on August 21, 2007. This Charter revision will be implemented at
the next renewal date of January 31, 2008.
As a CFM, we urge you to plan ahead so you will have the necessary CECs when your renewal is due.
Unless you have the required CECs and renew your certification, you will not be able to use the CFM
during the one year waiting period (or more) until you can re-take and pass the exam. If you have any
questions or need additional clarification, please contact Anita Larson at cfm@floods.org or myself at
dcalhoun@mbakercorp.com.
Sincerely,
Diane Calhoun, CFM
President, Certification Board of Regents
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News from Chapters
Chapter Chairs or Chapter newsletter editors are encouraged to email Anita at cfm@floods.org with
articles or information happening in your Chapter.
Fall is a very busy time for the Chapters to have Conferences. Chapter Conferences are a great way to
work on local issues and network with other people from your state. They are also a great opportunity to
earn CEC’s!
Please check out the calendar below, or see the calendar on our website at
http://www.floods.org/Conferences,%20Calendar/calendar.asp to find out when the Chapter nearest you
is having a Conference.
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The Insider September 2007
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Floodplain Management Training Calendar
Below are just several of the upcoming conferences & training opportunities, for a full listing, visit our online
calendar at http://www.floods.org/Conferences,%20Calendar/calendar.asp .
September 11 - 14,
2007
September 12 – 14,
2007
September 16 - 19,
2007
September 24 -25,
2007
September 24 – 26,
2007
October 17 – 19, 2007
October 17 – 19, 2007
October 18 – 19, 2007
October 18 - 19, 2007
October 21 – 24, 2007
October 24 - 25, 2007
November 7 – 9, 2007
November 7 – 9 , 2007
November 14 - 15,
2007
November 14 -16, 2007
February 26 -29, 2008
May 18 – 23, 2008
ASFPM Arid Regions
Conference,
Breckenridge, CO
INAFSM 2007 Conference,
Pokagon State Park
OFMA Annual Conference,
Tulsa, OK
NYSFSWMA 2007 Annual
Conference,
Elmira, NY
AFMA Fall Conference,
Eureka Springs, AR
AFMM/Alabama Fall
Conference,
Pearl River Resort,
Choctaw, MS
NMFMA Fall Conference,
Farmington, NM
NJAFM 3rd Annual
Conference, Somerset, NJ
UFSMA Annual Floodplain
Conference, Midway, UT
TFMA Fall Technical
Conference, Lubbock, TX
MAFSM Annual Conference,
Linthicum Heights, MD
WAFSCM 2007 Annual
Conference, Appleton, WI
AZFMA Fall Conference,
South Rim of the Grand
Canyon, AZ
MnAFPM 2007 Annual
Conference,
St. Cloud, MN
NCAFPM Fall Floodplain
Institute, Asheville, NC
48th Floodplain Management
Authorities Conference,
Wollongong, Australia
ASFPM 32nd National
Conference
Reno, NV
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The Insider September 2007
11
Kevin Houck, P.E., CFM
Indiana Association for Floodplain and
Stormwater Management
Oklahoma Floodplain Managers Association
New York State Floodplain and Stormwater
Managers Association
Arkansas Floodplain Management Association
Association of Floodplain Managers of
Mississippi
New Mexico Floodplain Management
Association
New Jersey Association for Floodplain
Management
Utah Floodplain & Stormwater Management
Association
Texas Floodplain Management Association
Maryland Association of Floodplain and
Stormwater Managers
Wisconsin Association for Floodplain,
Stormwater and Coastal Management
Arizona Floodplain Management Association
Minnesota Association of Floodplain Managers
North Carolina Association of Floodplain
Managers
View Website
www.floods.org
memberhelp@floods.org
Job Corner
Below are just a few of job openings currently posted on our website. To view all of the listings, visit our online job
corner at http://www.floods.org/StatePOCs/jobs.asp .
CSO
Executive Director
As many of you have probably heard by now, Kacky Andrews is headed to New Zealand at the end of the
year on a marine policy fellowship. Coastal States Organization (CSO), therefore, is seeking an Executive
Director (ED) for a small, 501(c) 4, not-for-profit organization based in Washington, DC representing the
interests of the Governors of the nation's 35 coastal states and territories on issues relating to coastal and
ocean programs and policies. Candidates should be able to effectively develop a strategic vision and a
consensus among the diverse interests of the states and territories, and advocate for CSO's legislative,
regulatory, and policy goals. Candidates should have proven leadership and organizational ability, and a
personal management style to supervise and motivate a small staff of professionals and contractors,
coordinate multiple tasks and meet deadlines. Experience in governmental affairs, advocacy and
advanced degree or equivalent experience in law, natural or coastal resource policy, and familiarity with
state resources management issues preferred. The ED is responsible for sound fiscal and financial
management, fundraising and grants management. Competitive salary based on experience and full
benefits package.
For a more complete position description, see the following website: www.coastalstates.org. Send cover
letter, resume, and salary requirements by September 21st to CSO Executive Director Search - fax: 202508-3843; email: kandrews@coastalstates.org.
SC Dept. of Natural Resources
State Planner III
Description of Duties: See Class Specification – HB 60
Other Specific Duties: Manages and coordinates the flood mitigation assistance program (FMA) to
ensure proper mitigation, preparedness, guidance and support within the state. Provides technical
assistance and specialized information including floodplan management, mitigation techniques,
engineering, planning, policy development and review, environmental plan review, research,
demonstrations and interpretation of complex flood data. Serves as the point on contact for flood hazard
mitigation activities to include the development and delivery of mitigation training programs and
development and review of local mitigation plans. Assists in the conduct of community assistance visits
and development of repetitive loss strategies.
State of SC Minimum Training & Experience Requirements:
As associate degree in urban technology, engineering technology, health planning or a related field and as
a professional planner.
Additional Requirements:
A master’s degree in community or regional planning, business administration or a related field and one
(1) year of planning experience; or a bachelor’s degree and three (3) years of responsible
planning/research experience.
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Preferred Qualifications:
Successfully complete the Certified Floodplain Manager Program. The employee will participate in ongoing NFIP-related national, state, and local level training programs and meetins as required by the
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Thorough knowledge of the principles, practices,
laws, regulations and objectives of the National Flood Insurance Program, FEMA’s mitigation programs,
knowledge of the principles and techniques of flood migitagion planning; advanced skills in the area of
communication; analyze complex mitigation project and budget proposals; and the ability to work well
with county and municipal governments in effectively providing local officials with regulatory
information and technical assistance.
For further information on this position please contact:
DNR OHR
P.O. Box 167, 1000 Assembly St.
Columbia, SC 29202
Phone (803)734-4400
To apply for this position submit a State application to the contact or email jobs@dnr.sc.gov. Please
reference DNR-20070107 as the position number on the application.
Natural Hazards Center – University of Colorado, Boulder
Program Manager
The Natural Hazards Center at the University of Colorado seeks applications for the position of Center
Program Manager. Since 1976, the Natural Hazards Center has served as the nation's clearinghouse for
knowledge on the societal aspects of hazards, disasters, and risk.
The Program Manager will report to the Center director, and in cooperation with the director, will oversee
the development and operations of Center programs. In particular, the Program Manager will perform the
following duties:
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Providing assistance to the director with respect to writing grant proposals and engaging in other
fundraising activities
Planning and coordinating the Center's annual July workshop
Communicating and coordinating with the Center's national advisory committee, funding
agencies, and the broader hazards loss-reduction community
Managing the Center's budget
Supervising staff activities in various areas, including (but not limited to) the Center's
publications, Web site, library and information services, and Quick Response Research program
Coordinating with professional staff who oversee the Center's research activities
Managing day-to-day Center operations
Representing the Center at meetings, conferences, and other events
Required Qualifications:
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A minimum of a Master's degree in a discipline related to hazards research and applications
Knowledge of and experience with hazard-related policies, programs, research, and knowledge
transfer activities
Experience in project and budget management
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Experience in staff supervision
Willingness to travel
Demonstrated success in proposal writing and fundraising is highly desirable
For more information about the Natural Hazards Center, go to www.colorado.edu/hazards/.
Please send a letter of application for the position, a CV or resume, a sample of written work, and the
names and contact information for three references to Kathleen Tierney, Natural Hazards Center Director,
at tierneyk@colorado.edu. Review of candidates will begin on September 10, 2007, and will continue
until a successful candidate has been identified.
Salary for this position is commensurate with experience. The University of Colorado at Boulder is
committed to diversity and equality in education and employment.
Pima County
Hydrologist
Pima County Government, Flood Plain Management Division of the Regional Flood Control District in
Tucson, AZ is recruiting a Hydrologist (Code 2381). This recruitment is for multiple positions and is
Open Until Filled.
Minimum Qualifications: A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a major in
Hydrology, Hydrogeology, Geology or Watershed Management or a Bachelor’s degree in Civil
Engineering with a minor in Hydrology/Hydraulics, Hydrogeology or Watershed Management and one
year of professional experience in conduct of hydrology studies. OR Four years of professional
experience in the conduct of hydrological studies.
Preferred Qualifications: Customer service experience in a regulatory program.; Knowledge of FEMA
floodplain management regulations; Familiarity with Geographic Information Systems; Familiarity with
Riparian Regulatory programs.
Resumes are accepted ONLY as a supplement to the Official Pima County Application. Please visit
www.pima.gov/hr to download an application and instructions on the procedure to follow when applying.
Faxed applications and resumes will be accepted at 520-620-1487. (Please call 520-740-8028 to verify
receipt.) Pima County offers excellent medical and dental benefits, Arizona State Retirement System and
generous vacation and sick leave. EOE
AMEC Earth & Environmental
Water Resources Engineer
Location: Denver (Lakewood), CO
Ideal candidates will have a BS degree in civil engineering (MS degree in hydraulics is a plus), Colorado
PE license, and 5-10 years of drainage/floodplain experience (specific DFIRM experience is a plus)
Responsibilities:
Responsibilities will include task/project management, technical analysis and modeling, supervision of
technicians and engineers, public speaking and presentations, client development/marketing, technical
and non-technical writing, and proposal writing.
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Knowledge & Qualifications:
The successful applicant will have experience in the following areas:
*Technical writing and communication Skills
*Knowledge of USACE and FEMA floodplain management regulations and procedures
*Surface water modeling with HEC-1, HEC-HMS, HEC-2, HEC-RAS, and SWMM.
*Municipal and federal stormwater management, master planning, construction and regulation
*Drainage and flood control improvements design and analysis
*Experience using ArcInfo and/or ArcView is a plus
*Experience with FEMA DFIRM projects is a plus (using Map Mod DFIRM Tools, pre-scoping and
scoping, base map production, detailed and limited detailed studies, DFIRM conversions, and postprocessing)
Qualified candidates please submit resumes to Christie.Hardin@amec.com.
AMEC is committed to the principle of equal opportunity in employment.
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