1. Rediscovering Water Resources and Responsibilities NAFSMA Annual Meeting- Opening Session
Roy Wright, Deputy Associate Administrator for Mitigation
Monday, December 9, 2013

2. Resilience is a National Priority
“Resilience is the ability to anticipate, prepare for, and adapt to changing conditions and withstand, respond to, and recover rapidly from disruptions.”
Executive Order- Preparing the United States for the Impacts of Climate Change (November 1, 2013)
FEMA Administrator’s Intent
FY FY 2019
Priority 4: Enable Disaster Risk Reduction Nationally
FEMA will work to enable and facilitate greater disaster risk reduction at all levels nationally, thereby enhancing our resilience to disasters.
We will provide analysis, tools, and information that support choices that guide individuals, communities, and national decisions towards reducing disaster risk.
FEMA will foster and support adaptation in the face of a changing climate through our programs and our interactions with our partners.
We will work to make best available data on projected hazard impacts- both current and future- widely accessible to communities.
And where we can act directly, we will leverage our mitigation and insurance programs to maximize opportunities to further reduce the Nation’s current and future exposure to disaster risk.
Catalytic/facilitative role that plays out…..

3. Hurricane Sandy: Using best available data to drive rebuilding
Federal, State, and local collaboration to inform recovery and rebuilding
FEMA provided best available data
Partnered with NOAA and USACE on Sea Level Rise tools to consider future risks
State and local leaders used the science and other resources to meet their needs
NJ rebuilding standards
NYC resiliency planning
Let’s look at how the federal government worked with our state and local partners in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.
Prior to Sandy, FEMA was already performing a restudy of the New Jersey and New York coastlines, with anticipated products to be delivered in mid-2013
As the recovery from Sandy began, the flood maps that were still in effect for much of NJ and NY did not reflect the best available data
FEMA provided the best available data (Advisory Base Flood Elevations), based on the partially completed flood study, to inform post-disaster recovery and rebuilding
Became federal standard for rebuilding projects (which you will see memorialized in the Sandy Task Force Rebuilding Strategy)
Federal partnership (FEMA, USACE, NOAA) to provide Sea Level Rise tools to inform communities about future risk
States and local governments used the data and information from the federal government to meet their own needs.
NJ adopted the best available data as a requirement for rebuilding. The State requires best available data +1 ft. freeboard; Some NJ communities chose to take that even further, and are requiring 3ft. freeboard to achieve increased protection from future events.
NYC built upon the scientific data to inform their own resiliency planning

4. Best Available Data to Rebuild Homes and Infrastructure
Informs homeowner decisions as they make repairs or rebuild
Elevating to new requirements can yield significant savings on flood insurance premiums
Leverage recovery resources to incorporate mitigation into rebuilding of infrastructure
Federal flood risk reduction standard for federally-funded Sandy-related rebuilding projects
Best Available data drives rebuilding
Residential (BW 12)
Infrastructure – Passaic WW; broader/future considerations of infrastructure resilience
HMGP and PA ( mitigation)
Residential
After Hurricane Sandy, the State of New Jersey adopted a statewide rebuilding standard to encourage smarter, safer rebuilding. The state requirement is best available data + 1 foot freeboard.
Some communities have taken it a step further, requiring plus2 or plus 3 feet. As a result of the new more stringent building codes, this fall several NJ communities achieved a higher CRS class rating.
The best available data helps to inform citizens as they make decisions about how and where to rebuild.
Elevating to new requirements can yield significant savings on flood insurance premiums (tie into BW12)
Infrastructure-
PENDING INFO FROM GRANTS SHOP ON PASSAIC PROJECT (406 MITIGATION)
Tie into EPA
Future conditions
Leverage all recovery resources (including FEMA Public Assistance, FEMA Hazard Mitigation, and other federal funds (CDBG etc) to incorporate mitigation into the repair and rebuilding of infrastructure.
Promoting the inclusion of mitigation measures into FEMA public assistance projects is a key focus area for the regions during recovery operations.
Best Available Data + Informed Citizens + Smart land use and building codes = more resilient communities

5. Building Resilience Based on Future Conditions
NFIP Climate Change Report
Combined Riverine and Coastal: By 2100 the weighted national average size of SFHAs may increase by about 40% to 45%
By 2100, population within riverine and coastal SFHAs will increase by approximately %
Total number of NFIP policyholders is estimated to increase approximately % cumulatively through 2100
The President’s Climate Change Action Plan
Directs federal agencies to “update their flood-risk reduction standard.”
The flood risk reduction standard should provide a minimum level of risk reduction against flood hazards and rely on the best available, actionable science.
NFIP Climate Change Report
President’s Climate Action Plan (June 2013)
Federal Flood Risk Reduction Strategy
New directives in mitigation planning and how to address climate change
Riverine: By 2100 the 1% annual chance (100-yr) floodplain depth, and lateral size of riverine SFHAs, is projected to increase, on average, by about 45% across the Nation.
About 30% of these increases in floodplain area and flood depth may be attributable to normal population growth, while the remaining portion (70%) represents the influence of climate change.
Coastal: By 2100 coastal SFHAs may increase anywhere from 0% to 55% (depending on type and scale of shore protection measures).
Combined Riverine and Coastal: By 2100 the weighted national average size of SFHAs may increase by about 40% to 45%.
By 2100, population within riverine and coastal SFHAs will increase by approximately %.
Total number of policyholders participating in the NFIP is estimated to increase approximately % cumulatively through the year 2100
The Average Premium Per Policy will increase by about 10-70% in today’s dollars, because of the increase in flooding caused by climate change.

6. Building Resiliency Across the Nation
So let’s look at some examples of how other communities and states are working to build resiliency.
There are innovative and exciting efforts underway across the US.
I’d like to highlight a few that I think are good examples and may provide some ideas for other communities as we work collectively to increase resiliency.
ADDED IN SACRAMENTO HIGH WATER MARK
New Jersey- After Hurricane Sandy, the State of New Jersey adopted a statewide rebuilding standard to encourage smarter, safer rebuilding. The state requirement is best available data + 1 foot freeboard.
Some communities have taken it a step further, requiring plus2 or plus 3 feet.
(2 ft: Long Branch, Ocean City, Boroughs of Longport, Avalon, South River, Oceanport, Sea Bright, and Point Pleasant. The Borough of Monmouth Beach requires 3ft of freeboard)
The NJ communities that adopted the ABFEs or new maps after Sandy will now be getting additional CRS credit for that action, which reduces the flood insurance premiums for their citizens.
North Carolina- Sea Level Rise Impact Study
The study evaluates the potential changes in coastal flooding hazards and resultant economic, societal, and environmental consequences on a system-wide basis, considering built and living systems.
Using hazard assessment products, the study will identify impacts of sea level rise on the built environment.
Direct losses to structures
Critical Infrastructure/Key Resources
Indirect Losses
Transportation Impacts
Future Land Use and Development
Emergency Services/Healthcare
Societal (lost wages and displacement days)
Agriculture
Schools
Socially Vulnerable Population
Using this information, the study will identify and evaluate flood impact management strategies to reduce NC’s vulnerability to changes in sea level and storm frequency and intensity.
Tailored decision metrics will be used to rank and recommend mitigation and adaptation policy to the NC state legislature and FEMA. 
Hillsborough County (Tampa), Florida- This is really a great example of a community that has put all the pieces together, integrating their resiliency and mitigation efforts into the community’s daily operations and plans.
Florida requires coastal communities to prepare Post-Disaster Redevelopment Plans and policies to reduce the vulnerability of private and public property and individuals to natural disasters. Plans are based on studies, surveys, and data and consistent with coastal resource plans.
Hillsborough county is the economic hub of the Tampa Bay metropolitan region, and was selected as a pilot community as Florida developed its guidance for Post-Disaster Redevelopment Planning in 2010.
County is in a vulnerable location on Tampa Bay, but fortunate in that they hadn’t been hit by a hurricane for over 50 years.
Example of putting all the pieces together: science, economic, and social
Extensive leadership and public engagement throughout: local officials and elected leaders, but also public engagement
Identified Priority Redevelopment Areas, including
Vulnerable Priority Redevelopment Areas, which will be prioritized for pre-and post-disaster mitigation investments
Sustainable Priority Redevelopment Areas, which meet specific resilience criteria and can be sustainably redeveloped to a higher intensity and are a focus of future land use plans for the county.
Coastal Mississippi
Nearly $300 Million in HMGP funds provided to MS as a result of Katrina. In addition, the State and communities leveraged other other post-disaster grant funds (including CDBG, NFIP ICC) to incorporate mitigation into their rebuilding.
FEMA conducted a Losses Avoided Study conducted after Hurricane Isaac in 2012, which affected the same MS coastal counties as Katrina. Study found that the post-Katrina hazard mitigation efforts yielded significant benefits during Isaac, just 7 years later.
Losses Avoided Study looked at 100 acquisitions, elevations, and generator projects implemented after Katrina These 100 projects had a total cost of $4.5 Million.
The projects displayed a losses avoided of $5.6 Million, for a 125% losses avoided ratio in just 7 years.
26 HMGP Acquisitions- displayed a 78.6% losses avoided ratio in just over 3 years
27 NFIP ICC acquisitions/elevations displayed a 257% losses avoided ratio
24 CDBG funded elevation grants displayed a 138% losses avoided ratio
23 HMGP-funded generators displayed a 123% losses avoided ratio
Money was saved—for the the community and the nation because of the hazard mitigation projects.
Bay St. Louis, MS- Economic and Social impacts of mitigation
Bay St. Louis sits directly on Mississippi sound, about 60 miles east of New Orleans, and is the county seat of Hancock County, MS—considered to be ground zero for Katrina. Katrina significantly damaged the housing stock in Bay St. Louis, and displaced many of its citizens
While the city’s population had been steadily increasing, In 2006 (year following Katrina), they estimated a 22% loss in population from its 2000 census. By 2010 census, population had significantly rebounded (12% increase from 2000). Projecting that their population will continue to grow significantly over the next 20 years.
Tax base has returned and has grown, properties are elevated and better protected for future storms; Businesses are returning and new ones are opening
City also used HMGP, in combination with other grant funds—like HUD CDBG, to protect other facilities, like their fire station, which can serve as a shelter for the city’s first responders in future storms.
Pierce County, WA
Last year, Pierce County achieved a Class 2 rating in the Community Rating System (CRS) (one 3 communities have a class 2 rating; only 1 community has class 1)
Economic benefit---lower flood insurance premiums (those in SFHA receive a 40% reduction in their flood insurance premiums)
The county estimates that the savings to their residents in the flood hazard area due to their CRS class rating is $341,000 a year.
Aggressive outreach to citizens- annual flood bulletins to citizens, flood buyout program
They’ve even created a video—available on You Tube-- re: its buyout efforts
Sacramento/Roseville California- High Water Mark Campaign
The “Know Your Line: Be Flood Aware” High Water Mark initiative, created by FEMA and seven partner Federal agencies, helps communities remind residents of major local floods and encourage residents to prepare for the next one.
Participating communities post High Water Mark signs in prominent places, hold a high profile launch event to unveil the signs, and conduct ongoing education to build local awareness of flood risk and motivate people to take action.
The cities of Sacramento and Roseville were the 5th pilot of the High Water Mark Campaign, and successfully held a launch event last month.
Many Local, State, Federal, and Congressional representatives attended the event, including:
Council member Darrell Fong: City of Sacramento
California’s 6th Congressional District: Congresswoman Doris Matsui
Federal Emergency Management Agency: Nancy Ward, FEMA Region IX Regional Administrator
US Army Corps of Engineers: Tambour Eller, USACE Sacramento District Deputy for Programs and Project Management
California Department of Water Resources: Keith Swanson Division of Flood Management Chief
Central Valley Flood Protection Board: Bill Edgar, President
City of Roseville: Vice Mayor Carol Garcia
Representatives from our FEMA Region 9 office will be talking to you more about the High Water Mark Campaign during this conference.