October 3, 2014 Fort Bend County, TX FBFMA – 5 th Annual Symposium on Flood Risk Reduction Fort Bend County Levees: Preparing for Emergency Actions

FBFMA – 5 th Annual Symposium on Flood Risk Reduction – October 3, Levees in the United States….

FBFMA – 5 th Annual Symposium on Flood Risk Reduction – October 3, 2014 The Magnitude of Levees in the U.S.  28% of all U.S. counties contain at least one levee  37% of the U.S. land area is behind levees  55% of the U.S. population live behind levees; or approximately 170 million people 3

FBFMA – 5 th Annual Symposium on Flood Risk Reduction – October 3, 2014 Levee Districts in Fort Bend County…. 4

FBFMA – 5 th Annual Symposium on Flood Risk Reduction – October 3, 2014 The Magnitude of Levees in Fort Bend  20 Levee Improvement Districts in Fort Bend County  Over 53 square miles of land in Fort Bend Levee Districts  21% of all land parcels in Fort Bend County are located in Levee Districts 5

FBFMA – 5 th Annual Symposium on Flood Risk Reduction – October 3, 2014 Some Statistics….  99  Miles of Levees  27  Miles of River Frontage Protected by Levees 6

FBFMA – 5 th Annual Symposium on Flood Risk Reduction – October 3, 2014 More Statistics….  $14 Billion  Value of Property in Levee Districts  25%  Amount of County’s Taxable Value in Levee Districts 7

FBFMA – 5 th Annual Symposium on Flood Risk Reduction – October 3, 2014 And More Statistics….  145,000  Population in Levee Districts  20%  Amount of County’s residents in Levee Districts 8

FBFMA – 5 th Annual Symposium on Flood Risk Reduction – October 3, 2014 Question  Why were Levee Improvement Districts established in Fort Bend County? 9

FBFMA – 5 th Annual Symposium on Flood Risk Reduction – October 3, 2014 Life Safety – Property Conservation 10

FBFMA – 5 th Annual Symposium on Flood Risk Reduction – October 3, 2014 Starting in 2012….  Judge Robert Hebert, and the entire Commissioners Court, challenged all stakeholders to enhance the County’s preparedness to respond to a levee emergency 11

FBFMA – 5 th Annual Symposium on Flood Risk Reduction – October 3, 2014 A series of projects undertaken….  Over the last two years, a variety of projects have been initiated to improve readiness for Fort Bend County levee emergencies 12

FBFMA – 5 th Annual Symposium on Flood Risk Reduction – October 3, 2014 Working together….  These efforts are a collaborative effort of the County, local cities, Levee Improvement Districts and the FBFMA  The goal is to make significant progress in areas that will mitigate flood risk in Fort Bend 13

FBFMA – 5 th Annual Symposium on Flood Risk Reduction – October 3, 2014 Project 1: LID Contact Database  FBC OEM has developed contact distribution lists for LID Board Members, LID Engineers, LID Operators, and LID Attorneys.  COMPLETE 14

FBFMA – 5 th Annual Symposium on Flood Risk Reduction – October 3, 2014 Project 2: New Gauge  Study by the FBC Drainage District, with input from LID Engineers and Operators, concluded that a new stream gauge needed on Brazos River at FM  Funding gathered from multiple parties to get the gauge installed.  95% COMPLETE 15

FBFMA – 5 th Annual Symposium on Flood Risk Reduction – October 3, 2014 Project 3: Internet Portal  Creation of a website to be portal for FBC River Levels and rainfall was developed to offer “one-stop” information.  COMPLETE 16

FBFMA – 5 th Annual Symposium on Flood Risk Reduction – October 3, 2014 Project 4: Emergency Action Plan Template  County staff created an EAP template for use by LIDs  Intent was for the template to be a “guide” that could be used by LIDs as they create their own individualized Emergency Action Plans  COMPLETE 17

FBFMA – 5 th Annual Symposium on Flood Risk Reduction – October 3, 2014 Project 5: LID Emergency Action Plans  Each LID worked to develop its own Emergency Action Plan.  All FBC LIDs created an Emergency Action Plan or updated the EAP they already had.  COMPLETE 18

FBFMA – 5 th Annual Symposium on Flood Risk Reduction – October 3, 2014 Project 6: Levee & Flood Fight Training  A workshop on Levee Issues was held in 2013 and approximately 25 individuals attended this workshop sponsored by FBFMA  A Flood Fight Training session was held in 2013, hosted by the FBC Drainage District; over 60 persons attended.  COMPLETE 19

FBFMA – 5 th Annual Symposium on Flood Risk Reduction – October 3, 2014 Project 7: Resource Issues  The County sponsored a Flood Fight Vendor Day in 2014 so LIDS could learn more about resources needed for emergency actions.  LIDs are reviewing individual resource needs; and some LIDs have been proactive and purchased state-of-the-art flood fight materials and equipment.  IN PROGRESS 20

FBFMA – 5 th Annual Symposium on Flood Risk Reduction – October 3, 2014 Project 8: Update County EOP  This project involved updating Annex K of the County’s Emergency Operations Plan  Information from LID EAPs used to develop a County- wide plan for levee emergencies  COMPLETE 21

FBFMA – 5 th Annual Symposium on Flood Risk Reduction – October 3, 2014 Project 9: Exercises  In 2013, a Tabletop Exercise was held to provide an initial test of LID Emergency Action Plans  A second Tabletop Exercise is being developed for 2015  IN PROGRESS 22

FBFMA – 5 th Annual Symposium on Flood Risk Reduction – October 3, 2014 Project 10: Levee Inspections  The FBC Drainage District has developed a program of periodic levee inspections  These inspections are done in a manner similar as the US Army Corps of Engineers’ Rehabilitation and Inspection Program  IN PROGRESS 23

FBFMA – 5 th Annual Symposium on Flood Risk Reduction – October 3, 2014 Project 11: Debris Management  The County has invited LIDs in the unincorporated area of the County to participate in the County’s Debris Management Plan.  The goal is to streamline debris removal operations, and ensure full federal reimbursement, following a disaster.  80% COMPLETE 24

FBFMA – 5 th Annual Symposium on Flood Risk Reduction – October 3, 2014 Project 12: Mutual Aid Agreement  In 2003, a Regional Mutual Aid Agreement was executed by the 13 counties in the Houston area.  The Agreement has been updated to better ensure reimbursement by FEMA after disasters and is now more comprehensive by providing an opportunity for all political subdivisions (including LIDs) in the Region to participate.  PLANNED

FBFMA – 5 th Annual Symposium on Flood Risk Reduction – October 3, 2014 Project 13: LID Readiness Program  FBC OEM would like to develop an annual program where each LID would complete certain preparedness tasks to ensure readiness for a levee emergency  This would be similar to the County’s MUD Readiness Program  PLANNED

FBFMA – 5 th Annual Symposium on Flood Risk Reduction – October 3, 2014 And Along The Way…. 27

FBFMA – 5 th Annual Symposium on Flood Risk Reduction – October 3, Thank You Questions ? Jeff D. Braun Emergency Management Coordinator Fort Bend County 307 Fort Street Richmond, TX Phone: