Emergency Management Cycle

Planning Regulatory Requirement Per 44 CFR (a) (1) - For all disasters declared on or after November 1, 2004, all states, local governments, and tribes must have a FEMA approved Hazard Mitigation plan in order to become eligible for all types of FEMA funding.

State and Parish Plan Update Cycle A State is required to update its FEMA approved State Hazard Mitigation Plan every three (3) years. A Parish Hazard Mitigation Plan every five(5) years for continued eligibility of the following grant programs:  Hazard Mitigation Grant Program  Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant Program  Flood Mitigation Assistance Program  Severe Repetitive Loss Program  Repetitive Flood Claims Programs  Public Assistance (beyond Parts A & B)

Status of LA Mitigation Plans  Louisiana Standard State Mitigation Plan: - approved: April 6, expires: April 5, 2014  Local Hazard Mitigation Plans:

What is a “Hazard Mitigation Plan”?  Hazard Mitigation Plan: A plan to reduce a community’s risk and exposure to disasters. …which is different from an…  Emergency Operations Plan (EOP): A plan to guide a community’s response to an emergency or disaster.  A Hazard Mitigation Plan is typically written before hazard events occur (pre-disaster).  Hazard mitigation projects can be implemented either before or after a disaster (pre-disaster or post-disaster).

Benefits of Mitigation Planning  Mitigation Plans form the foundation for a community’s long-term strategy to reduce disaster losses and break the cycle of disaster damage, reconstruction, and repeated damage.  Ongoing planning process is as important as the plan itself because it creates a framework for risk-based decision making. Prevent loss of life. Protect existing development. Strengthen first responder safety. Ease recovery after disaster strikes. Encourage smart development practices. Increase business continuity and economic stability.

The Four-Step Planning Process

Contents of the Mitigation Plan 1.Planning process 2.Hazard Identification 3.Risk Assessment 4.Capability Assessment 5.Mitigation Strategy 6.Plan implementation and maintenance process.

Post-Disaster Risk Assessment  What did you see? TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS!  Capture high water marks.  Oral history matters.  Share with the local Hazard Mitigation Planning Team.  Document and archive.  Engage with State Hazard Mitigation Office.

FEMA HMA Grant Projects

Implementing Your Plan - Resources

The Importance of Mitigation Projects Mitigation projects have the potential to:  Reduce costs for NFIP flood insurance and other forms of insurance.  NFIP flood insurance rates are based on lowest floor elevation in relation to the base flood elevation.

Biggert Waters National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Reform Act of 2012  Ensure the NFIP’s survival so that homeowners will NOT have to take their chances in a virtually non-existent private market for flood insurance.  Bring certainty to half-a-million real estate transactions in 21,000 communities nationwide where flood insurance is required for a federally related mortgage.  Maintain comprehensive coverage and program access for all properties, including second and vacation homes.  Establish a formula for NFIP and wind insurers to pay where property damage cannot be attributed to wind or water, settling to long-standing dispute and avoiding further lawsuits.  Eliminate subsidized insurance rates on properties with repeated flood losses and claims.

Biggert Waters National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Reform Act of 2012  The federal government will no longer subsidize premium rates in areas with certain levels of risk.  The new rates individuals will begin to see will reflect the full flood risk of the insured structure.

Case Study Isaac High Water Mark = 8.25 BFE = AE 12’ FFE After Mitigation = 15.1 Completed Elevation Project Flood Insurance / Year BFE + 3 = $300 BFE + 0 = $900 BFE - 1 = $3,500 BFE - 3 = $9000