1. Colorado Hazard Mapping Program
(Insert Meeting Details)

2. Introduction -Initiated Colorado Hazard Mapping Program (CHAMP)
-Studied flood affected streams in Northeast CO
1. Help protect life, health, and safety
2. Promote resilient communities
State identified communities needed support identifying new risk
2013 floods changed risk

3. Why is this important? Updated Risk Information
Flood events can have a devastating effect
Mapped flood risk is not static
Community Participates in National Flood Insurance Program
Building requirements
Insurance requirements
Image 1:

4. Outline Introduction to CHAMP and Flood Hazard Mapping
Roles and Methods
Results, Timeline and Resources \
Acknowledgements & Discussion

5. What is the NFIP? Voluntary Program
Allows homeowners to buy insurance based on Zones and be eligible for federal assistance
Federal Program
Overseen by FEMA and Partners
Managed by Communities
Enforced by lenders
Founded because insurance companies could not afford to subsidize large floods with multiple damaged homes.
Engineers determine risk
Used to determine requirements
Allows discount for less risk

6. What are Flood Insurance Rate Maps?
Show Flood Risk
1% Annual Chance Flood
0.2% Annual Chance Flood
Used to rate flood insurance
Available Online:
FEMA Map Service Center (MSC)
FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer (NFHL)
Flood maps, known officially as Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), show areas of high and moderate to low flood risk using flood risk boundaries. FIRMs are maintained by FEMA and partnering local governments. Communities and counties use the maps to set minimum building requirements for floodplains. Lenders and insurance agents use them to determine flood insurance requirements and rates.
A 1% annual chance flood (or base flood) has a 1% annual chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year. The 1% annual chance flood risk boundary identifies areas that are expected to be inundated by the 1% annual chance flood. The 1% annual chance flood risk boundary shown on a FIRM is also called a Special Flood Hazard Area, where the NFIP’s floodplain management regulations must be enforced by the community as a condition of participation in the Program.

7. Outline Introduction to CHAMP and Flood Hazard Mapping
Roles and Methods
Results, Timeline and Resources
Locals have access to current risk information to help make more informed decision resulting in more safer, more resilient communities.
Hazards change
Floodplain delineations are often outdated and incorrect
Maps regularly updated across the country by FEMA, States, Communities
The State of CO initiated CHAMP after the 2013 floods
Changes in flood characteristics
Community is active participant which means they are available for disaster assistance.  Have to manage certain aspects (Community)
Building requirement
Identification and communication of risk (changed or unchanged)
Effective outreach strategy will help ensure every effort to make the process fair and open as possible
Need community support in identifying impacted property owners
Informing property owners comes from the community
Impacts- know if residents are at risk for flood hazards, Flood Insurance Rate Maps that impact insurance rates (based on risk), regulation is related to the flood zone/floodway
Acknowledgements & Discussion

8. Roles CHAMP Community Officials State (CWCB) FEMA Private Stakeholders
Administer NFIP
Communicate Risk and Changes to it
Manage Construction
Flood Risk Adaptation
Enforcement of Regulations
Identification of changed risk
Leading & funding this study
Community Assistance
FEMA Partner
Including new study on FIRMs
Flood Risk Mapping
NFIP
Work with community officials to update information
Local Community:
Encourage community input to improve map accuracy
Early adoption to promote health & safety of residents

9. Study Extents
Discuss where study is being conducted

10. Do Results Depict Actual Flooding?
Not mapping 2013 flood
Used info from 2013 flood to inform new study
Actual floods can see different results every time
Dam breaks
Bridge and culvert clogging
Debris
Models are based on conditions from topographic data and survey
High level what goes into the different studies (Zone A, AE, AO, Floodway)
Datasets and accuracy used (survey and topography)
High level of Hydraulic & Hydrology models/methods

11. Study Details Results are mapped to fore ease of use
Terrain
Survey
Hydrology
Hydraulics
Floodplains
How much water?  Determined from
rainfall, infiltration
Not mapping 2013 flood hydrology
[2013 Q vs. 100yr Q if available]
Info from 2013 flood and others used along
with historic rainfall, gage data, and land
cover info
Date Completed: XXX
Date Approved: XXX
Results are mapped to fore ease of use
Description of results
Zone A
Zone AE
Cross Section
Base Flood Elevation (BFE)
Floodway
Enhanced models (Zone AE)
Surface info not in topo data (i.e. culverts and bridges, submerged channel)
Base models (Zone A) – No Survey
Date Collected: XXX
Date Approved: XXX
Where water goes
Used inputs to calculate water surface elevations (WSEL)
1D Models: Uses cross sections at specific interval
2D Models: Uses grid at specific interval
Date Completed: XXX
Date Approved: XXX
Virtual Land Surface created from light detection and ranging (LiDAR)
Represents a fixed point in time
Date Collected: XXX
Date Approved: XXX
Overview
2013 Q vs 100yr Q (recurrence estimate)

12. Floodways Implications of Floodway vs. Floodplain
Implications of a floodway vs floodplain
Implications of Floodway vs. Floodplain

13. So… Am I at risk of flooding? BUT Line on a map
Best engineering data and judgment used
Scientific process allows for changes
New information
Changed information
BUT
You may still be at risk of flooding

14. Can results be changed? Technical data Mechanism
Survey or topographic data
New analysis
Mechanism
Appeals on preliminary maps
Letter of Map Revision (LOMR) later
Letter of Map Amendment later
Will need elevation certificate

15. Outline Introduction to CHAMP and Flood Hazard Mapping
Roles and Methods
Results, Timeline and Resources
Locals have access to current risk information to help make more informed decision resulting in more safer, more resilient communities.
Hazards change
Floodplain delineations are often outdated and incorrect
Maps regularly updated across the country by FEMA, States, Communities
The State of CO initiated CHAMP after the 2013 floods
Changes in flood characteristics
Community is active participant which means they are available for disaster assistance.  Have to manage certain aspects (Community)
Building requirement
Identification and communication of risk (changed or unchanged)
Effective outreach strategy will help ensure every effort to make the process fair and open as possible
Need community support in identifying impacted property owners
Informing property owners comes from the community
Impacts- know if residents are at risk for flood hazards, Flood Insurance Rate Maps that impact insurance rates (based on risk), regulation is related to the flood zone/floodway
Acknowledgements & Discussion

16. What is the Confidence of Results?
Survey accuracy – Within 5 95% confidence level.
Topographic data accuracy – Within 95% confidence level
Hydrology accuracy –
Varies based on input data (precipitation, etc.) and model
1%+ recurrence interval
Hydraulic accuracy – Product of input data
Reviews
Multiple engineers
Community leaders
FEMA contractors
When conducting this type of study, we typically get questions regarding the accuracy of the data used. As described earlier, there are two different data sets that we use to model the ground.
Survey has the highest accuracy and is typically within 5 centimeters. This is very costly data to produce and time consuming. It is obtained where necessary, but studies of this size would never be finished if all data collected was survey. Plus by the time survey was finished, things would have already changed upstream.
Therefore, lidar was collected everywhere else. For this study, the ground points are typically within 0.88 feet, and even better for the most part. This is very good accuracy for this type of data and study. Lidar is a good way to collect a large amount of ground data over a large area quickly and relatively cost effectively.
Hydrology can vary in accuracy depending on the available data and the type of study conducted for the stream. It is a statistical analysis, so there is always a small amount of uncertainty with the results. The best way to tell the accuracy of the hydrology in the area is to look at the 1%+ elevation calculated for that stream. It will be published on the profiles for the stream.
Hydraulics is typically based on equations that are accurate, but dependent on the input data. Models are based on a specific set of assumptions and data, so there is always opportunity that floods will behave differently. There are situations that cannot be predicted such as debris blockage.
Multiple reviews are initiated with these studies to make sure assumptions and processes used are in line with industry standards and utilize local knowledge to make sure results are appropriate. These are typically conducted by professionals knowledgeable in hydrology and hydraulics. For this study, up to two engineering peer reviews have been conducted and an independent review by a 3rd party professional has been conducted. Community leaders have also been given the chance to review the data and communicate any concerns or comments with the study. Finally, FEMA has a team of contractors review the data before accepting it for use on FIRMs.

17. Upcoming Project Milestones
Community Leader Reviews
Phase X: Spring 2017
FEMA Reviews
Phase X: Spring 2018
Preliminary FIRMs Released
Phase X: Late 2018
Appeal Period and Resolution
Phase X: Summer 2019
Effective FIRMs Released
Phase X: Winter 2019/2020
Review next steps
Appeal period
FEMA’s review of appeals
Effective date

18. Homeowner’s Insurance
Where flood risk changed
Requirements aren’t new
Risk just updated
Increased in some areas, decreased in others
FEMA requires for federally backed mortgages in Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs)
Zone A, AE, AH, AO
Required for federal assistance after floods.
New Zones go into effect with effective FIRMs, not before
Grandfather information
Banks can require anywhere
Contact and main resources later

19. Development Implications
Changes Since Last FIRM (CSLF)
Requirements aren’t new
Risk just updated
Increased in some areas, decreased in others
Community ordinance specifies what is required.
Different requirement in a floodway and a non-floodway.
Community may adopt as best available data
Use the most restrictive of old and new until final
Contact floodplain Administrator

20. Other Resources Contacts (Shown on last slide) Flood Smart
Local Floodplain Administrator
State Study Leads
NFIP Representative
FEMA Area Representative
Flood Smart
(888)
CWCB Flood Page - cwcb.state.co.us/water-management/flood/Pages/main.asp
Website (next)
Your local floodplain manager can be contacted for most questions related to flood insurance rate maps.
You can research the purchase of flood insurance through the NFIP’s FloodSmart.gov website, which has tools to help you determine policy coverage, estimate rates, and find an agent based on your address.
You can call FloodSmart toll free at for general questions about flooding and the NFIP.
Within FEMA Region VIII, please Contact Erin May, NFIP Regional Manager, for insurance questions at or by at
For Colorado, the CWCB Flood page also provides information on grants, local flood issues, and links to information on flood insurance at cwcb.state.co.us/water-management/flood/Pages/main.aspx.
For fact sheets related to flood insurance studies, see
Website (next)

21. Website - Interactive Maps

22. Website Resources
Flyers, FAQs, Fact Sheets, Links

23. Communication & Outreach
General study information fact sheet available
General NFIP/Insurance fact sheet available
This presentation available
Updates/highlights

24. Conclusion Please Review Information and ask questions
Data will be used for Flood Insurance Rate Maps
Floodplains are not “Effective” until FIRMs are released
Results show risk!
Updates/highlights

25. Break Out for Discussions
Thuy Patton
CWCB Floodplain Mapping Coordinator
Stephanie DiBetitto
CWCB Community Assistance Coordinator
David Sutley
FEMA PM
[Community FPM]
[Title]
[ ]
Erin May
NFIP Regional Manager
Independent breakout sessions to review draft maps
Erin May, NFIP Regional Manager, for insurance questions at or by at