CRS in Georgia How Does it Work? Why Participate? Community Rating System Thomas Tkacs, P.E. August 28, 2014

Community Rating System Introduction How to join CRS Letter of interest Designate CRS coordinator Statement community will comply with verification efforts. FEMA must authorize ISO/CRS specialist Schedule verification meeting Quick Check >= 500 points I will present an overview, identify some valuable guidance documents and information sources. I will then quickly run through the activities. My objective is to give you a feel for the program size and the level of detail and documentation required. I will then quickly go through run through the calculation for points from one activity. The speakers that follow speakers will discuss strategies to address specific CRS activities. How many activities are there? (18) I will describe the program in general terms and I will then pick one activity and do the documentation required in order to harvest the points. Most importantly I identify data sources that will assist you to manage this process. Speakers later today will discuss the administrative challenge. Other speakers will address open space and higher standards. These are interesting becouse they have the potential for one activity to generate points in multiple activities.

CRS Setting FEMA in financial hole Terminate subsides Increased insurance cost To mitigate higher policy costs, communities can join the Community Rating System (CRS) FEMA is tens of billions of $$$$ in the red. In response Congress passed legislation that terminated subsidies to 20% of the current policy holders. This action, to remove subsidies would increase insurance cost.

CRS CRS encourages communities to implement actions that reduce flood risk. Reduced risk reduces the cost of the insurance coverage. Reduced insurance premiums for policy holders. CRS encourages communities to implement actions that reduce flood risk. Reduced risk reduces the cost of insurance. Reduced insurance cost results in reduced insurance premiums. Actions such as elevate, flood proof & education. Cost reductions can be as much as 30-40%

CRS Larger effort than you realize. Easy to underestimate scope, schedule and cost. Develop plan to compile and execute plan. Identify activities that have already been completed. It is important to Id activities that are already under way. Sue will discuss Best Practices and the administrative challenge in the next presentation.

CRS Scope 18 Activity Series 109 Activities Impact criteria. Can be several impact criteria for a given activity. Point adjustments, for partial CRS credit. All steps, processes, calculations and products must be documented. If not skillfully managed the CRS application effort will morph into a management nightmare.

CRS Support & Guidance www.CRSResources.org CRS Quick Check Activity checklists and documentation check lists Activity Check Documentation Lists Activity elements This is the most important slide. If you get nothing else be sure to take this with you. Distribute handouts Everything you need is on CRSresources.org. If you need anything, look here first. Quick Chec is a spreadsheet that facilitates a rapid screen of alternatives. Handout

Home page

CRS Webinars Title Date Intro to CRS 07/15/14, 10/21/14, & 12/16/14 07/15/14, 10/21/14, & 12/16/14 Preparing for Verification Visit 11/18/14 Preparing Annual ReCert. 08/19/14 & 09/16/14 Natural Floodplain Functions 08/20/14 Drainage System Maintenance 07/16/14 & 09/17/14 Developing Outreach Projects Flood Warning and Response 11/19/14 Developing Plans for Public Info. Coverage Improvement Plan Using FloodSmart tools Details for the webinars are on www.CRSresources.org

CRS Points and Cost Reduction Class Points Reduction % (SFHA) % Reduction Out of SFHA 1 >4,500 45 10 2 4,000 to 4,499 40 3 3,500 To 3,999 35 4 3,000 to 3,499 30 5 2,500 to 2,999 25 6 2,000 to 2,499 20 7 1,500 to 1,999 15 8 1,000 to 1,499 9 500 to 999 0 to 499 A 45% reduction in the cost of flood insurance is possible. The planner compiling this data must be aware of the cost:benefit. Properties outside of a SFHA have a maximum 10% cost reduction.

CRS Notes Preferred Risk Properties – No discounts. Minus-rated policies may not be eligible for CRS premium discounts. Premium discounts are subject to change. Define preferred risk – outside of the SFHA Define minus-rated policies. – The FFE is below the BFE. The coverage is subsidized. FEMA is moving to risk based assessments. Next I will briefly describe the 18 activity series. As I do this I will point out the activities for each activity series.

310 Elevation Elevation Certificate certified after CRS application date (311.d) Post-FIRM building Pre-FIRM building Computer format EC’s on commercial website

320 Map Information Service Basic FIRM LIMWA floodway Other flood problems Flood depth data Special flood hazards Historic flood info Natural floodplain functions Seven activities Source FIS Define Limway

330 Outreach Projects Outreach projects (OP) Outreach project to FP properties Outreach projects Additional outreach projects Flood response preparations (FRP) Program for Public Information(PPI) Stakeholder delivery (STK) Seven activities. PIP – very important. PIP must include all outreach efforts. Many other activities and elements refer to a PIP. If the action is not included on PIP the community is losing points. PIP must include all outreach efforts. If outreach task is not included in PIP, then the activity does not quanlfy for points.

340 Hazard Disclosure Real estate agents disclosure Other disclosure required Real estate brochure Disclose other hazards RE brochure targeted at real estate agents. Four active (non-mandatory) disclosures qualify for CRS point

350 Floodplain Direction Flood protection library Locally pertinent documents Website Cover outreach project topics Elevation certificate Warning/safety information Real Time streamgage info EC’s on website available for download Library: 10 items. Not all available from FEMA

360 Flood Protection Assistance Site specific hazards Contractor names Contractor management Advice after a site visit Financial assistance advice Training Does your community make site visits? Do you offer advice to the property owner ?

370 Flood Insurance Promotion Flood insurance assessment Coverage plan Plan implementation Technical assistance

410 Floodplain Mapping New Study State review bonus Leverage for non-FEMA cost share (multiplier) Higher study standards Floodway standard Special hazard points to be added in later Sign the CTP CTP bonus for NS credit 802 points Higher study standards H&H upstream past 1 sq. to 100 ac

420 Open Space Preservation Preserved open space Deed restriction on OSP parcel Natural functions open space Special hazards open space Land development criteria/open space incentives Low density zoning Natural shoreline protection 2,020 points This is potentially a large source of points. There is a potential to earn points in multiple activity areas

430 Higher Regulatory Standards Freeboard Foundation protection Cumulative substantial improvements Lower substantial improvements Protect critical facilities Prohibit fill/compensatory storage Natural/beneficial functions regulations Enclosure Limitations 2,042 points The greater the freeboard the greater the risk reduction and the lower the policy cost. Freeboard is an efficient way to reduce risk.

430 con’t Other higher standards Other higher standards/prohibit buildings Other higher standards/prohibit storage Special hazards regulations State mandated standards Building code No hazardous chemicals in SFHA. List of 16 chemicals

430 con’t Staff training Building Dept- IAS accredited Conduct 3 detailed inspections Re-inspections Offsite record storage Manufactured home park regulations Coastal A-Zone regulations Freeboard in X Zones/Local drainage protection Define IAS More higher standards

440 Flood Data Maintenance Additional map data (GIS) Benchmark maintenance Erosion data maintenance FIRM Maintenance 222 points

450 Stormwater Management SWM regulations Size of development regulated Design storm/manage sw volume Public maintenance regulation Storage basin maintenance LID Watershed master plan Erosion and sediment control WQ regulations Again management plans are encouraged and rewarded

520 Acquisition and Relocation Five elements Can only earn credit under one element Credit criteria specific to each element Impact adjustment - none Potentially many points. Can earn points under several activities.

530 Flood Protection Elements (3) Floodplain Project Technique used Floodplain Improvement Protected buildings Credit Calculation Option 1 simpler but max 160 points Option 2 Max 1,900 points Must count structures

540 Drainage System Maintenance Channel debris removal Problem site maintenance Capital improvements program Stream dumping regulations Storage basin maintenance Erosion protection maintenance

610 Flood Warning and Response Flood threat recognition system Emergency warning dissemination Flood response operations plan Critical facilities planning StormReady community TsunamiReady community

620 Levees Maintenance Failure recognition system Failure warning Failure operations plan Failure critical facilities

630 Dams State dam safety program Failure recognition system Failure warning Failure operations plan Failure critical facilities GA has dam safety program. Every applicant gets points.

710 Community Growth Adjustment US Census growth rate Community/county growth adjustment

330 Outreach Elements (4) Outreach projects Flood response preparations Program for public information Stakeholfder delivery

Sample Credit Calculations 330 Outreach (Max 350 points) Two types of projects Distributed every year Distributed if event, prepared in advance

Outreach credits Message quantity and content Nature of project Quantity of Delivery

OP and FRP points increase by 40% if included in PPI OP points increase by 30% if stakeholder delivery

Messages