In February 2017, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Building Science Branch announced the release of the second edition of Protecting Building Utility Systems From Flood Damage (FEMA P-348).  Like its predecessor, the updated publication illustrates the design and construction of utility systems that comply with the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) requirements for new or substantially improved residential and non-residential structures located in the floodplain.

Geared to local officials, building owners, architects, engineers, builders, contractors, and property managers, the overall objective of this updated publication is to assist in making decisions which maximize flood resiliency during the repair, upgrade, reconstruction, or replacement of utility systems to achieve compliance with NFIP regulations and building codes. 

The guidebook has been updated to reflect the latest versions of the International Code Council codes and building standards.  The sections on specific mitigation measures have been expanded.  In addition, dozens of illustrations, photographs, schematics, graphics, and tables help building owners determine the best mitigation option for a particular building type and condition.  An appendix gives helpful information about how property owners can obtain FEMA assistance for flood retrofitting projects. 

The guide addresses mitigation measures for:

• Mechanical Equipment and Appliances - heating and cooling equipment and appliances, exhaust systems, duct systems, boilers and water heaters, hydronic piping, and solar energy systems.
• Electrical Systems - service equipment, feeders, panel boards, switches, fuse boxes, cabinets and control panels, outlets, receptacles, wiring, and emergency power generators.
• Communications - phone, cable, fiber optic, internet, Wi-Fi.
• Plumbing - water supply piping, water treatment systems, sanitary drainage, fixtures, laundry appliances, plumbing vents, septic tanks, fire protection systems, and pumps and equipment for pools and spas.
• Water Supply Systems - wells, water connections, and filtration and treatment systems
• Fuel Systems - fuel gas and oil supply pipes, oil tanks, propane tanks, meters, pumps, and gas and oil-fired equipment, and appliances.
• Conveyances - elevators, escalators and lifts.

The Climate Adaptation Academy (CAA), a partnership of the University of Connecticut Center for Land Use Education and Research (CLEAR) and Connecticut Sea Grant, provides an informational forum to community leaders, researchers, engineers, homeowners and others to discuss issues and best practices related to climate adaptation topics.  In 2015, the CAA held a workshop entitled Legal Issues in the Age of Climate Adaptation, which focused on legal issues involving property rights, zoning, flooding, and rebuilding after a storm.  As an outcome of this workshop, the CAA prepared four new legal issues fact sheets:

Takings and Coastal Management

Property and Permitting Boundaries at the Shoreline

Flood and Erosion Control Structures

Governmental Tort Liability for Disclosure of Flood Hazard Information

In March 2017, FEMA released the 2017 CRS Coordinator's Manual.  The new manual will be implemented by FEMA immediately, but changes will not take effect for any community until that community's next cycle verification visit.  This edition has an expiration date of March 31, 2020. 

The new edition incorporates many improvements, clarifications, and minor corrections, but no major changes.  Nothing will require substantive changes to a community's current CRS program or procedures.  Changes from the previous editions will be marked with vertical bars in the page margins of the 2017 manual.  The changes have been discussed in issues of NFIP/CRS Update newsletters, beginning in September/October 2016. 

The CRS webinar series will include training courses on the new items in the 2017 CRS Coordinator's Manual and other topics to assist communities.  See the "Training Opportunities" section below for a list of these upcoming CRS webinars.     

• June 20, 2017, 1:00pm - CRS:  Preparing for a Verification Visit
• June 21, 2017, 1:00pm - CRS:  Developing Outreach Projects (Activity 330)
• June 22, 2017, 1:00pm - Floodplain Development Permit Review
• June 22, 2017, 1:00pm - Inspecting Floodplain Development
• June 23, 2017, 1:00pm - Integrating Community Wildfire Protection Plans and Natural Hazard Mitigation Plans
• July 18, 2017, 1:00pm - Changes in the 2017 CRS Coordinator's Manual
• July 19, 2017, 1:00pm - Elevation Certificates
• July 20, 2017, 1:00pm - Developing an Effective Mitigation Strategy
• August 15, 2017, 1:00pm - CRS:  Preparing an Annual Recertification
• August 16, 2017, 1:00pm - CRS:  Flood Warning & Response (Activity 610)
• August 25, 2017, 1:00pm - Incorporating Climate Adaptation into Natural Hazards Mitigation Planning
• September 19, 2017, 1:00pm - CRS:  Preparing for a Verification Visit
• September 20, 2017, 1:00pm - CRS:  Floodplain Management Planning (Activity 510)
• October 17, 2017, 1:00pm - Introduction to CRS
• October 18, 2017, 1:00pm - Developing a CRS Program for Public Information Planning
• November 14, 2017, 1:00pm - CRS:  Preparing for a Verification Visit
• November 15, 2017, 1:00pm - CRS:  Working with Repetitive Loss Properties
• December 12, 2017, 1:00pm - Introduction to the CRS
• December 13, 2017, 1:00pm - CRS and Coastal Hazards