ELLIS COUNTY, TX FLOODPLAIN STUDY

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ELLIS COUNTY, TX FLOODPLAIN STUDY

• County Courthouse Offices
• Waxahachie, TX
• April 27, 2007 at 130PM

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Scoping Meeting Agenda

• Sign-in Sheet
• Introduction
• Map Modernization Studies
• Map Production Process
• Map Adoption Process
• Roles FEMA Contractors

• Levee Certification
• Outreach / Public Awareness
• Scoping Meeting Summary
• DISCUSSION ----- Community Needs

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Map Mod Studies
4
Map Modernization Program
Flood Mapping Project Phases
Preliminary DFIRM
Post Preliminary Processing
Project Scoping
Community Coordination Mapping
Needs Assessment
Topographic Data Acquisition
DFIRM Production
Time frames given are approximate and will vary
from study to study
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Map Mod Roles - FEMA Contractors

• FEMA Headquarters
• Set National Policy
• Budget Requests
• LOMR Approval Signature
• Congressional Liaison
• FEMA Region VI
• Administrate Policy
• Manage IDIQ Contract Task Orders
• Manage RMC Task Order
• Outreach Public Awareness

• National Service Provider - NSP
• Support FEMA Headquarters
• Procedure Memos
• GS
• Mapping Information Platform (MIP)
• LOMR Processing
• Library Data Storage
• Regional Management Center - RMC
• Support Region VI
• Issue Resolution (Engineering/GIS/Mapping)
• Receipt of Study Data
• Quality Assurance Audit
• Coordinate Project Management
• Post Preliminary Processing
• MIP Training and Data Entry
• Outreach and Public Awareness

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Study Contractor Task Orders

• Scoping Task Order
• Scoping Meeting
• Base Map Ortho vs. Vector
• Proposed Panel Scheme
• Scoping Meeting Report
• GIS Shape File Showing DFIRM Mapping Needs for
  the County
• DFIRM and Flood Insurance Study Task Order
• Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map
• Update Flood Insurance Study Text
• Address mapping needs up to limit of budget
• Update Community on study negotiated scope
• Update Community on progress of study

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Halff Associates, Inc. Study Contractor

• Walter Skipwith, PE
• wskipwith_at_halff.com
• Jessica Baker, EIT, CFM
• jbaker_at_halff.com
• Halff Associates, Inc.
• 8616 Northwest Plaza Dr.
• Dallas, Texas 75225
• [phone] Office
• [phone] Fax

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What and Why Are We Scoping?

• Information Search
• Coordination / Outreach
• Assess Community Mapping Needs

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Map Modernization 1834 Style (Pre-FIRM)
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Map Modernization 2007 Style DFIRM Product
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Overall Scoping Study
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Scoping Activities
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Pertinent Data on Ellis County

• Area 952 Sq. Mi.
• Density 135 Persons/Sq. Mi.

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Pertinent Data on Ellis County

• 36 Existing FIRMs (Printed)
• Scales 1500, 1000, and 2000
• Average Panel Age 8 Years
• Flood Insurance Policies in Place 606
• LOMCs 45
• Claims 397 (7,794,740)

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Ellis County Re-Study

• Scoping
• 191 miles of Detail Study (Zone AE)
• 908 miles of Approximate Study (Zone A)
• 32 Proposed FIRMs

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The Study Process

• Information Search
• Base Map and Terrain Data Acquisition
• Field Survey
• Hydrology
• Hydraulics
• Mapping
• Reporting (TSDN)
• Coordination /Outreach

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Base Mapping

• Local Provided Planimetrics
• USDA National Agricultural Imagery Program (NAIP)
• USGS Contours Supplemented with Local Data

Local High Resolution Data
USGS 7.5 Minute Quads
USGS DOQQ
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Terrain Information

• Terrain Map Sources
• Local Data
• USGS Contour Maps 30 M DEMs
• LiDAR
• Formats
• Digital (GIS Shapefiles, AutoCAD Files)
• Hardcopy

USGS 7.5 Minute Quads
Local High Resolution Data
USGS 30M DEM
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DATUM NAVD 88 / NAD 83

• The majority of existing FIRM panels vertical
  datums
• National Geodetic Vertical Datum (NGVD) 29
• Local Datum
• New DFIRM Panel datums will be standardized to
• Vertical - North America Vertical Datum of 1988
  (NAVD 88)
• Horizontal North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83)

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Possible Mapping Products Available

• New Detailed Study
• Enhanced Approximate Study
• Redelineation of Existing Detailed Study
• Approximate Study (Zone A Refinement)
• Digital Conversion

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New Detailed Study

• Field Survey
• New Topo/Orthophoto
• Detailed Hydrologic and Hydraulic Modeling
• Floodway Computations
• Flood Profiles
• Calibrated to Historical Events
• Most Expensive Type of Study

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Sample of Detail Study Stream

• Cross-Sections
• BFEs
• Floodways

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Enhanced Approximate Study

• Limited Detailed Study
• No (or) Limited Structure Surveys
• No (or) Limited Floodways
• No (or) Limited Profiles
• Advantages
• Cost is Much Less Than Detailed Study
• More Streams Can Be Studied

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Redelineation Streams

• Applies to Existing Detailed Study Streams (Zone
  AE)
• Vertical Datum Update from 1929 to 1988
• Flood Boundaries Mapped to the Best Available
  Topography

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Zone AE Redelineation
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Approximate Study

• Zone A Refinement
• Automated HH Procedures
• Boundaries Mapped to Best Available Topography

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Sample of Existing Zone A
100-yr Boundary
Stream Centerline
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Zone A Refinement
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Digital Conversion

• Utilize the Existing Flood Zone Information
• Advantages Low Cost Solution
• Disadvantages Boundaries may not agree with the
  best available topographic data

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Floodplain Mapping
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DFIRM Database
Digital FIRM
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DFIRM Vector vs. Ortho Based
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DFIRM Vector vs. Ortho Based
Vector Based
Ortho Based
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Ellis County Effective FIRM Panel Layout
36 Effective Panels
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Ellis County Proposed DFIRM Panel Layout
32 Proposed Panels
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Technical Support Data Notebooks (TSDNs)

• Notebooks
• Scoping Report
• Topographic Data
• Base Map
• Hydrology
• Hydraulics
• DFIRM
• Final
• Complete Documentation of the Project
• Contacts
• Meeting Minutes
• Data
• Analyses Assumptions
• Other Information as needed

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FIS Report

• Countywide Flood Insurance Study
• Text
• Profiles
• Data Tables

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Halff FEMA Re-Study Website Hotline
www.halff-femastudy.com Hotline 1(877) HALFF-TX
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Levees Protection with Risk

• Levees are designed to provide specific level of
  protection
• They can be overtopped or fail in larger flood
  events
• They require regular maintenance and periodic
  upgrades to retain their level of protection
• FEMA urges people to understand their flooding
  risk involving levees

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Levee Ownership

• FEMA does not own, operate, maintain or certify
  any levees
• FEMA can accredit a levee certification provided
  by others
• The levee owner can certify the design,
  construction, operation and maintenance of a
  levee
• Community is benefiting from the levee

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FEMA Requirements

• FEMAs certification requirements for Levee
  Design, Construction, Operation and Maintenance
  to gain FEMA Accreditation.
• A. Certification Standard is 44 CFR 65.10
• Certification checklist is based on requirements
  from 44 CFR 65.10.
• Revised date is October 1, 1999.
• B. Procedure Memorandum No. 34 (PM
  34)-Certifcation Documents are available to
  submit within 30 days.
• Interim Guidance for Studies Including Levees
• August 22, 2005
• C. Procedure Memorandum No. 43 (PM 43)-Need time
  to gather certification documents-24 months
  allowed.
• Guidelines for Identifying Provisionally
  Accredited Levees
• September 25, 2006
• Revised March 16, 2007

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44 CFR 65.10 Highlights

• To be certifiable, the levee system must be owned
  and operated by a public entity
• The levee owner has the ultimate responsibility
  of certifying the levee
• Design and Construction requirements
• Freeboard, Foundation, etc.
• Operation and Maintenance requirements
• OM manual, maintenance records, etc.
• Federal Agency (USACE) who constructed levee can
  provide certification
• Levee must be certified/re-certified every time
  the map is changed

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44 CFR 65.10
44
PM 34 Highlights

• Interim guidance to establish certification
  process (flowchart)
• Specifies that levee systems that are mapped by
  FEMA are designed, constructed, operated and
  maintained to standards (44 CFR 65.10)
• Requires obtaining verification that
  certification requirements are and continue to be
  met
• Requires that necessary certifications are
  provided by the responsible party

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PM 34
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PM 43 Highlights

• Created to prevent levee issues from holding up
  DFIRMs
• Allows 2 years to compile certification
  documentation
• Not allowed for any levee that requires any
  construction work to be done for certification
• Public versus Privately owned levees (PAL
  Scenario)
• PAL Agreement

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PM 43 and Guidance 25
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Levee Checklist
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FEMA Accreditation of Certification

• If adequate certification is provided and
  accepted, FEMA will accredit the levee as
  providing protection
• If levee certification is not provided, the area
  will be mapped with the levee NOT providing
  protection

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Post Preliminary andMap Adoption Process

• Presentation of Preliminary DFIRM to Community
  (also known as CCO Meeting)
• 90-Day Appeal Period
• Appeal Resolution
• Letter of Final Determination (LFD)

• 6 Month Compliance (Map Adoption) Period
• Final adoption and/or revision of Floodplain
  Management Ordinance
• Effective DFIRM

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Ordinance Assistance

• Primary Resource TFMA
• FEMA Region VI
• Sample Model Ordinances
• Ordinance Checklist
• Suggestions for Higher Standards
• Application to join NFIP

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Outreach

• We all do Outreach
• In our field of expertise.

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Outreach

• Technical Community Study Contractor
  communicates with community through scoping
  meetings, information meetings, periodic written
  status reports, web sites, etc.
• State NFIP Coordinators State Associations
  Lenders Insurance Agents via FEMA Region 6
  through meetings, correspondence, conferences,
  special announcements, etc.
• Public Officials via FEMA Region 6 communicates
  directly with community officials providing
  assistance in ordinance development and map
  adoption.
• General Public via FEMA Region 6 Public
  Awareness providing information and materials for
  distribution to alert the public of new study
  efforts, issuance and availability of Preliminary
  DFIRMs, appeals process, and community map
  adoption.

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FEMA Public Awareness

• Provide Public Awareness materials
• Assist in keeping the public informed
• Assist in obtaining publications regarding Map
  Modernization
• Designated Point of Contact will be provided
  information and/or materials as needed or
  requested

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Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)

• Community Partner MOA
• Says that you know the study is occurring and
  will cooperate with FEMA
• This document is similar to the resolution that
  was originally signed by the community upon entry
  into the NFIP.

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Scoping Meeting Summary

• Completed Sign-In Sheet
• Answered questions regarding Study Process
• Identified available data pertinent to the study
• Decided Base Map Type
• Decided Paneling Scheme for Countywide Study

• Obtained Priorities from Communities
• Obtained Point of Contact for Public Awareness
  materials
• Distributed Memorandum of Agreement between FEMA
  and Communities

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Community Needs Discussion

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• Thank you for your time and input

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Contacts

• FEMA
• Lynn Hilburn COTR
• howard.l.hilburn_at_dhs.gov
• Ph [phone]
• Shari Brand Public Outreach Coordinator
• shari.brand_at_dhs.gov
• Ph [phone]
• Dale Hoff Compliance Specialist
• Dale Hoff_at_dhs.gov
• Ph [phone]

State NFIP Coordinator Mike Howard
mhoward_at_tnrcc.state.tx.us Ph (512)
239-6155 Study Contractor Walter
Skipwith wskipwith_at_halff.com Ph (214)
346-6220 Jessica Baker jbaker_at_halff.com Ph
[phone] RMC Contact Steve Altman
saltman _at_mbakercorp.com Ph [phone]