1. MANAGING FLOOD RISK Protecting People and Property in the Floodplain
JONESBORO, ARKANSAS
JUNE 19, 2019
MANAGING FLOOD RISK Protecting People and Property in the Floodplain
Whit Montague, CFM
State NFIP Coordinator and State Climatologist

2. Flood Risk

3. Flood Risk Difficult to delineate floodplain
Does not incorporate significant changes since 1991
Does not communicate risk in a meaningful way

4. Better Communication: Flood Risk

5. Base Level Engineering

6. Better Communication

7. Better Communication

8. What is Base Level Engineering?
Non-regulatory engineering analysis to provide predicted areas of flood risk for possible future FIRMs
Engineering baseline that allows FEMA to assess its current flood maps
Flood risk data that provides a platform for broader risk communications

9. What is Base Level Engineering?
Engineering modeling that may be used and leveraged by local communities to review the effect of development in and around the floodplain.
Does NOT replace your current FIRMs

10. Why Base Level Engineering?

11. Better Data
Better Assessment

12. What do you get? Engineering Models (1D or 2D)
10-yr, 25-yr, 50-yr, 100-yr, 500-yr
Estimated Flood Map
Estimated Depth Grid
Estimated WSE Grid

13. Informed Decision Making

14. Informed Decision Making

17. LOWER ST FRANCIS

18. It’s Perfect…Right? In Arkansas…
Data developed using semi-automated procedures
Hydrology is simplified but still detailed
Can always be refined
Hydraulics has some structure data in it
Road Embankments
No actual structure data (e.g., no culverts, bridges, etc)
It’s Perfect…Right?

19. Development in the SFHA
buildings or other structures
mining
dredging
filling
grading
paving
excavation
drilling operations
storage of equipment or materials
59.1. Definition:
ANY man-made change to improved or unimproved real estate
Development in the SFHA

20. Development in the SFHA
59.1. Definition:
ANY man-made change to improved or unimproved real estate
Development in the SFHA

21. Development in the SFHA
59.1. Definition:
ANY man-made change to improved or unimproved real estate

22. Development in the SFHA
59.1. Definition:
ANY man-made change to improved or unimproved real estate
Development in the SFHA

23. Higher Standards What can be done locally to mitigate future losses?
How do higher standards help with mitigation?

24. Higher Standards What can be done locally to mitigate future losses?
How do higher standards help with mitigation?
Higher Standards

25. Causes and Future Forecast
Why was the flooding so extensive?
What does this mean for the future?
What are we expecting this year?

26. Causes and Future Forecast
Why was the flooding so extensive?
What does this mean for the future?
What are we expecting this year?
Causes and Future Forecast

27. Questions?

28. ANRC Resources Whit Montague, CFM
State NFIP Coordinator and State Climatologist
ANRC Resources

29. Social Media Whit Montague, CFM
State NFIP Coordinator and State Climatologist
Social Media