MAINE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION MAINE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Protecting Maine’s Air, Land and Water MAINE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Protecting Maine’s Air, Land and Water Disaster Debris Management for a Changing Climate Nathan P. Robbins Climate Change Specialist Sustainability Division

MAINE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Planning Ahead for Municipal Disaster Debris Management Selecting appropriate site(s) for temporary management of disaster debris and having a plan in place before disaster strikes will help you manage large quantities of debris more safely, more efficiently, and in a more environmentally sound manner. ME DEP can provide pre-authorization of sites that meet standards

MAINE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Climate Perspective: Natural Disasters ice storms snow storms heavy rain hurricanes Risks (MEMA, ME Prepares) Possible:What could happen in a community? Past:What has happened in a community? Probable:What is likely to happen in a community? Types of Extreme Weather:

MAINE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Maine’s Climate Future University of Maine Climate Change Institute Temperature Changes Precipitation Changes Storm Frequency Warmer Winters Hotter Summers Less Snow Chance of Flooding What Could Happen?

MAINE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Precipitation Changes Annual Precipitation Present to 2054 = increase of 1% - 7% Long Term

MAINE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION What Has Happened? Historic flooding in Maine major rivers – Maine River Basin Report 2007

MAINE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Hurricanes Maine’s Hurricane History (since 1842) Not Named Category 2 at landfall just east of Portland 1944 – Not Named Category 1 at landfall near Isle au Haut 1954 – Hurricane Edna Category 1 at landfall near MDI 1969 – Hurricane Gerda Category 2 at landfall near Machiasport 1991 – Hurricane Bob Category 2 but weakened to a TS at landfall just off Southport

MAINE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION What is Likely to Happen? One of the most common natural hazards in ME is flooding (flash/urban/riverine/ice jams) -MEMA , winter spring flow is occurring days earlier -USGS 25% of National Flood Insurance Program claims are for properties OUTSIDE the mapped special flood hazard area -MFMP More Common Hazards (MEMA) Flood: Riverine, Flash or Urban Hazard Causes & Effects Environmental & Human Landscapes Impacts Economic Impacts Heavy Spring Rain Rising streams & rivers Ice jams & overbank flow Rapid snow melt Overflow of storm sewers Stormwater run-off Road Washout Bridge Damaged/Destroyed Businesses Damaged/Destroyed Homes Damaged/Destroyed Debris Management Infrastructure repair/rebuild Evacuation of Area ME Hazard Mitigation Plan

MAINE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 2” Rain Events Maine is wet, and getting even wetter! Current 1-year storm: 36% chance of a 100-year storm event every year by 2030! -Climate Central Maine’s Climate Future Report University of Maine 2” Rain Storms in 24 Hours 1880 – 2010 = Increase 0 – 2 events per year Short Term

MAINE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Know Your Risk have a plan in place before disaster strikes Map it!

MAINE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Base Flood = 1% Annual Chance = 100-year flood Engineers assign statistical probabilities to different magnitude floods. The flood that has a 1% chance of occurring in any given year is the base flood. It can happen multiple times in one year or not for a couple hundred years. Base Flood Elevation The elevation to which floodwater is anticipated to rise during the base flood is the Base Flood Elevation (BFE) Special Flood Hazard Area (often called “flood zones”) Areas covered by flood waters when flood rises to the BFE Terms to Review

MAINE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Where to Access Mapped Flood Hazard Areas? Red or Blue shaded – FEMA Map Service Center Orange shaded – Maine Flood Hazard Map for Q3 If coastal, in Cumberland or York County – reference SLOSH Maps

MAINE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Flood maps show the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), also known as the 100 year flood, the 1% annual chance flood, or the base flood. Lots of terms; one meaning. Flood zones – V zones (coastal SFHAs subject to wave action ≥ 3ft ), A zones (inland SFHAs), and B (now X) zones (areas subject to the 500-year flood, or.02% annual chance) Base Flood Elevation (BFE), where available What Do FIRMS Show?

MAINE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Coastal flood zone with velocity hazard (“V” for velocity). V zones are subject to 3’ or higher waves Flood zone with base flood elevation (“E” for elevation) The Most Common Flood Zones

MAINE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION The Most Common Flood Zones Zone A - Inland 1% annual chance – no BFE in FIS Zone X -.2 % annual chance (500-year) No BFE in FIS

MAINE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Google “FEMA FIRM” Or go to Type in the address How to Look Up a FIRM?

MAINE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Reality: the MSC can be slow or sometimes not available … give it a few minutes and try again. Try a different internet browser if problem persists Try A Different Browser…

MAINE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Select “View” Option On Left

MAINE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Use The Left-Hand Toolbar To Make A FIRMette

MAINE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Maine Floodplain Management Program

MAINE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Maine Flood Hazard Map – Q3 /NFHL

MAINE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Maine Coastal Hazards Maps

MAINE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Sea Lake and Overland Surges from Hurricanes (SLOSH) Maps

MAINE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Sue Baker, State NFIP Coordinator Jennifer Curtis, Mapping Coordinator Janet Parker, Planner II Questions About Properties, Maps, or Flood Zones? Contact Us!

MAINE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Contact: Nathan Robbins Climate Change Specialist – Maine DEP