The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is partnering with the American Planning Association (APA) and the Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM) to offer a free quarterly webinar series to facilitate the sharing of ideas, challenges, best practices, and evolving methods and techniques in hazard mitigation planning. The webinars are intended to encourage peer-to-peer learning and exchange of information among federal, state, and local planners and plan implementers.

The webinars will primarily focus on mitigation planning for all hazards and also cover the connection between mitigation planning and recovery planning and preparedness.

Participants can earn one continuing education credit through APA and ASFPM.

Visit the APA website for more information and to learn about upcoming webinars.

The statutory 90-day appeal period is underway for many coastal New Jersey and New York communities that have received updated Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs). During the appeal period, anyone can submit information that shows the proposed flood hazards or other information on the preliminary FIRM or in the Flood Insurance Study (FIS) report is not correct. The dates of the 90-day appeal period vary by community—you can check the dates that apply for your community on the Appeal Period Start and End Dates page.

For more information about the appeal and comment process and how to submit feedback, refer to the Region II Appeal Period page.

The Preliminary Flood Map Feedback Portal was developed by the FEMA Region II office to support the statutory appeals process for preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) released for communities affected by the New York/New Jersey coastal flood study. It is intended to make the process for submitting and tracking appeals and comments easier for both community officials and members of the public. The Portal:

• allows community officials and members of the public to submit feedback, which will be categorized as either appeals or comments, on the preliminary FIRMs and Flood Insurance Study (FIS) reports online.
• allows community officials to provide input on submissions from the public prior to FEMA review per National Flood Insurance Program regulations.
• makes it easier for community officials to view and manage all submissions that affect their community.
• allows for all submitters to easily view and track the status of their requests.

The Portal includes learning resources, including step-by-step instructions for local community officials and members of the public. Before you get started, visit the Appeal Period page to learn when the appeal period starts and ends for your community and data requirements that may apply.

Please join FEMA and federal partners for a Listening Session in the New York City metropolitan area on the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard Implementation. The session provides the opportunity to listen, ask questions, and provide feedback on how federal agencies implement the Standard.

When: March 27, 2015 from 2 p.m. – 5 p.m. ET
Where: Jerome Greene Hall, Room 104, Columbia Law School, 435 West 116th Street (corner of Amsterdam Avenue), New York, NY 10027

FEMA, on behalf of the Mitigation Framework Leadership Group (MitFLG), published a draft version of Implementing Guidelines that remains open for comment. The MitFLG, a collection of federal agencies with programs and authorities designed to mitigate the impacts of disasters on communities, will accept written comments through the Federal Register process from those unable to attend the public meeting. 

Due to space constraints of the facilities, seating may be limited. To reserve a seat in advance, please provide a request via email at least three days in advance with the contact information of the participant (including name, mailing address, and e-mail address), and the meeting to be attended to FEMA-FFRMS@fema.dhs.gov and include the subject/attention line: Reservation Request for FFRMS. For anyone attending the meetings who is hearing or visually impaired, or who requires special assistance or accommodations, please also contact FEMA-FFRMS@fema.dhs.gov.

Background

On January 30, the President issued an Executive Order, “Establishing a Federal Flood Risk Management Standard and a Process for Further Soliciting and Considering Stakeholder Input.” Future federal investments in, and affecting floodplains, will be required to meet the level of resilience established in the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard. This includes projects where federal funds are used to build new structures and facilities, or to rebuild those that have been damaged. These projects make sure that buildings are constructed to withstand the impacts of flooding, improve the resilience of communities, and protect federal investments.

The Standard requires agencies to consider the best available, actionable science of both current and future risk when taxpayer dollars are used to build or rebuild in floodplains. On average, more people die annually from flooding than any other natural hazard. Further, the costs borne by the federal government are more than any other hazard. Water-related disasters account for approximately 85% of all disaster declarations.

The MitFLG will revise the draft Implementing Guidelines, based on input received through the Listening Sessions and comments, and provide recommendations to the Water Resources Council.

The Water Resources Council will, after considering the recommendations of the MitFLG, issue amended guidelines to federal agencies on the implementation of the Standard. Agencies will not issue or amend existing regulations or program procedures until the Water Resources Council issues amended guidelines that are informed by stakeholder input.

FEMA and the MitFLG look forward to your participation and input in the process as part of the work towards reducing flood risk, increasing resilience, cutting future economic losses, and potentially saving lives.