The Story of Floodplain Remapping in Springfield, Missouri

Todd Wagner, P.E., CFM, CSM Principal Stormwater Engineer & Errin Kemper, P.E., CFM, CSM Professional Engineer Stormwater Engineering Division Dept of Public Works City of Springfield, Missouri

There are currently 1068 structures located in the 100yr floodplain. As of 2008, the NFIP has 200+ active flood insurance policies in Springfield.

 1968 – National Flood Insurance Program established nationwide  1978 – FEMA issues first Flood Insurance Rate maps for Greene County  1989 – City of Springfield enters NFIP (using 1978 maps)  1995 – US Army Corps of Engineers (under FEMA direction) produces updated flood maps for Springfield.

 1999 – Met with FEMA. City receives permission from FEMA to hire a consultant and resubmit flood study  2001 – City submits revised mapping  July 2000– 6-8” in 6hr.  Reported damages in excess of $2M.  At least 124 homes damaged.

 New nationwide mapping contractor(s)  The City’s review gets delayed  City & County become a Cooperating Technical Partner (CTP)  In 2005, in an effort to complete the Greene County maps, FEMA notifies the City that it must submit new mapping or the previous 1996 study will have to be made effective

 City works to convert previous submittal to new mapping standards.  All flood hazard information converted to GIS format  Redelineated several additional streams  Worked with FEMA mapping contractor to address review comments

Press Conference 5 mass mailings to all affected properties 3 press releases

City identified over 800 Residential Structures impacted by the new mapping Two consulting firms were hired to collect all information needed to complete an elevation certificate and LOMA. Cost: $115 per home Data was used to prioritize stormwater management decisions

 FEMA’s model ordinance with two exceptions:  2-foot freeboard  Existing floodplain storage areas will be “grandfathered”