T h e  T o r r e n t
A newsletter of the Connecticut Department of  
Energy & Environmental Protection 
exploring floodplain management issues  
 
Volume 24, No. 3                                                                                                 Summer 2018
FloodSmart.gov Website UpdatedFloodSmart

The FloodSmart.gov website was re-launched in the spring of 2018.  The website has been streamlined, and focuses on how to buy flood insurance, how to find an agent, what to do before and after a flood, understanding the risks and costs associated with flooding, and how to file a flood insurance claim.     

 
FEMA Releases NFIP Affordability FrameworkAffordabilityFramework

On April 17, 2018, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) released an affordability framework for the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), as required by the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2014 (HFIAA).  The framework provides the first ever data driven analysis of policyholder and potential policyholder incomes and home ownership status.  The framework suggests that both policyholders and non-policyholders with the lowest median incomes live in the highest hazard areas.  The framework proposes several options for developing an affordability program for flood insurance and offers models of the costs of each option.

 

Due to additional affordability challenges associated with increased premiums required by the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012, HFIAA Section 9 specifically directed FEMA to develop an Affordability Framework that could help policymakers consider how to provide targeted assistance to policyholders rather than generally providing subsidized rates.  Within the study, FEMA proposes programmatic and regulatory changes that address affordability of NFIP policies.   
Malloy Signs Climate Change and Renewable Energy BillsClimateEnergyBills
On June 20, 2018, Governor Malloy held a signing ceremony to commemorate the recent passage of two pieces of legislation related to renewable energy and climate change resiliency.

This act contains a number of provisions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prepare the state for the ongoing effects of climate change and sea level rise, including:
  • Implementing an interim target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 45 percent from a 2001 baseline by 2030 as recommended by the Governor's Council on Climate Change;
  • Updating current statutory references to sea level rise to reflect the Connecticut Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation's (CIRCA) planning recommendation of nearly two feet by 2050; and
  • Requiring all future state projects located in the Coastal Boundary that are either undertaken by a state agency or funded by a state/federal grant or loan to meet CIRCA's projections.
This act takes action in the development and deployment of affordable clean energy by:
  • Increasing the Renewable Portfolio Standard to 40% to deploy more renewables of all sizes for all customers;
  • Creating "successor" programs for commercial, industrial and residential programs to provide sustainable growth of renewables in Connecticut with the expiration of programs such as Low-Emission Renewable Energy Credits, Zero-Emission Renewable Energy Credits, and Solar Home Renewable Credits;
  • Expanding opportunities for municipalities, state agencies, and agricultural customers to deploy renewables under an auction structure;
  • Revising net metering so Connecticut pays a more affordable rate per kilowatt-hour basis; and
  • Creating a statewide shared clean energy program that targets low to moderate income customers.
October 2018 Flood Insurance ChangesOctobertInsurance
On October 1, 2018, the following changes will go into effect for NFIP flood insurance policies:
  • Allowing policyholders who purchase a private flood insurance policy to cancel their duplicate NFIP policy;
  • Requiring NFIP insurers to notify certain policyholders of the Preferred Risk Policy (PRP) lower-cost premium option when applicable; and
  • Extending the eligibility for the Newly Mapped Procedure rating option.  
FEMA Issues Record of Decision for Final NFIP NPEISRODNFIP
On May 25, 2018, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced in the Federal Register the availability of the  Record of Decision (ROD) for the final Nationwide Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (NPEIS) evaluating the environmental impacts of proposed modification to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).  An executive summary was also prepared jointly by FEMA and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The preferred alternative consists of the following program modifications:
  • Phase out of subsidies on certain pre-Flood Insurance Rate Map (pre-FIRM) properties (non-primary residences, business properties, severe repetitive loss properties, substantially damaged or improved properties, and properties for which the cumulative claims payments exceed the fair market value of the property) at a rate of 25 percent premium increases per year.
  • Phase out of subsidies on all other pre-FIRM properties through annual premium rate increases of an average rate of at least 5 percent, but no more than 15 percent, per risk classification, with no individual policy exceeding an 18 percent premium rate increase.
  • Implement a monthly installment plan payment option for non-escrowed flood insurance policies.
  • Clarify that pursuant to 44 C.F.R. ยง 60.3(a)(2), a community must obtain and maintain documentation of compliance with the appropriate Federal or State laws, including the Endangered Species Act (ESA), as a condition of issuing floodplain development permits.
  • Clarify that the issuing of certain Letter of Map Change (LOMC) requests (i.e., map amendments or revisions) is contingent on the community, or the project proponent on the community's behalf, submitting documentation of compliance with the ESA.
FEMA Map Service Center ChangesMapServiceCenter
In February 2018, FEMA implemented a number of significant changes to its Map Service Center (MSC) that will make the site much easier to use: 
  • Users will be able to view an upgraded, interactive National Flood Hazard Layer (NFHL) map immediately following an address search and print a FIRMette using this map.  The NFHL shows all digital FEMA flood map data, including Letters of Map Change (LOMC).
  • A Preliminary Map Comparison Tool will allow users to easily compare effective flood maps and preliminary flood maps to better understand proposed changes. 
  • Members of the public will now be able to download engineering models and other supporting data for flood maps using the Flood Risk Engineering Library (FRiSEL).
NFIP Celebrates its 50th Anniversary in 2018NFIP50Years

August 1, 2018 marks the 50th anniversary  of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968.  This Act, motivated by the devastation caused by Hurricane Betsy in 1965, resulted in the creation of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).  Billion Dollar Betsy ravaged the Gulf Coast of the U.S. and was the first storm to cause a billion dollars of damage.

 

The NFIP provides federally-backed flood insurance to residents in participating communities in exchange for municipal regulation of development in mapped floodplains.  Nationwide, 22,309 communities participate in the NFIP, including every Connecticut municipality.  The NFIP has paid over $64 billion in claims over the last 50 years.
Training OpportunitiesTrainings
WEBINARS

NFIP-related training webinars are available through STARR, a FEMA contractor.  Below is a list of upcoming webinars.  To register, go to the NFIP training website  and  click "Training Center" on the top bar, and then on the "Upcoming" tab.  When asked during registration what FEMA Region you are in, please reply "1".
  • July 17, 2018, 1:00pm - CRS:  Preparing an Annual Recertification
  • July 18, 2018, 1:00pm - CRS:  Repetitive Loss Properties and CRS
  • July 19, 2018, 1:00pm - Letters of Map Amendment (LOMA)
  • August 2, 2018, 1:00pm - NFIP Basics
  • August 21, 2018, 1:00pm - Introduction to CRS
  • August 22, 2018, 1:00pm - CRS:  Flood Insurance Promotion (Activity 370)
  • September 13, 2018, 12:00pm - Floodplain Development Permit Review
  • September 13, 2018, 1:30pm - CRS:  Inspecting Floodplain Development
  • September 18, 2018, 1:00pm - CRS:  Preparing an Annual Recertification
  • September 19, 2018, 1:00pm - CRS:  Activity 410 (Floodplain Mapping)
  • October 16, 2018, 1:00pm - CRS:  Preparing for the Verification Visit
  • October 17, 2018, 1:00pm - CRS:  Developing a Program for Public Information (PPI)
  • December 18, 2018, 1:00pm - CRS:  Preparing an Annual Recertification
  • December 19, 2018, 1:00pm - CRS:  Flood Insurance Promotion (Activity 370)
 

V IDEOS

H2O Partners offers short training videos on the following topics:
  • Demonstrating the Elevation Certificate
  • How the NFIP Works for the Floodplain Professional
  • Effects of Flood Map Changes
  • Role of the Elevation Certificate in Floodplain Management
 
 
CERTIFIED FLOODPLAIN MANAGER (CFM) EXAM 
 
August 16, 2018, 9:00am to noon, Milone & MacBroom, 99 Realty Drive, Cheshire, CT 06410.  This exam date will be posted soon to the Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM)  exam calendar.  Application and fee must be submitted to ASFPM in order to take the exam.  There will be no review session offered prior to this exam being held.  There are exam preparation materials available on the ASFPM website.
   
 
 
CONFERENCES & WORKSHOPS
 
July 19, 2018:  Elevation Certificate Workshop, Branford, CT.  Morning and afternoon sessions. For more information, www.ctfloods.org.
 
October 24, 2018:  Connecticut Association of Flood Managers 5th Annual Conference, SAVE THE DATE, more details to come at www.ctfloods.org. 
   
November 7-9, 2018:  National Disaster Resilience Conference, Clearwater Beach, FL, http://flash.org/nationaldisasterresilienceconference.
 
December 4-6, 2018:  ResCon International, The Global Resilience Summit, New Orleans, LA, https://resconnola.com.

May 19-24, 2019:  Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM) Annual Conference, Cleveland, OH, www.floods.org.
 
 
FEMA EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE

The Emergency Management Institute (EMI) is located at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) National Emergency Training Center (NETC) in Emmitsburg, Maryland.  EMI serves as the national center for emergency management training of federal, state and local government officials.  Tuition, housing, and all books and materials are provided at no cost.  Participants are responsible for the cost of a meal pass (approximately $100/week).  Below is a select list of floodplain management classes offered into September 2019.  The classes in 2018 are shown in parentheses and italics. A full list of training classes can be found at the EMI website.    

E170  HAZUS-MH for Hurricane - March 25-28, 2019
E172  HAZUS-MH for Flood - June 17-20, July 8-11, 2019
 E174  HAZUS-MS for Earthquake - July 22-25, 2019
E179  Application of HAZUS-MH for Disaster Operations - August 20-23, 2018, September 17-20, 2018, March 18-21, 2019, August 26-29, 2019. 
E190  ArcGIS for Emergency Managers -  August 27-30, 2018, Dec 3-6, 2018, May 6-9, 2019
E194  Advanced Floodplain Management Concepts - July 9-12, 2018
E210  Recovery from Disaster: The Local Government Role -  August 27-30, 2018, March 11-14, 2019, June 17-20, 2019
E212  Unified Hazard Mitigation Assistance Program: Developing Quality Application Elements - July 23-26, 2018, May 6-9, 2019
E213  Unified Hazard Mitigation Assistance Program:  Application Review and Evaluation -
July 29-30, 2019
E214  Unified Hazard Mitigation Assistance Program:  Project Implementation and Programmatic Closeout - July 31 - August 1, 2019
E273  Managing Floodplain Development through the NFIP - August 27-30, 2018, November 26-29, 2018, March 18-21, 2019, June 17-20, 2019, August 26-29, 2019
E276  Benefit-Cost Analysis:  Entry Level  - September 12-13, 2018, November 14-15, 2018, November 29-30, 2018, April 29-30, 2019, June 12-13, 2019
E278  Community Rating System (CRS) - March 25-28, June 24-27, 2019
E279  Retrofitting Floodprone Residential Buildings - May 13-16, 2019
E282  Advanced Floodplain Management Concepts II - July 30 -Aug. 2, 2018, July 15-19, 2019
E284  Advanced Floodplain Management Concepts III - February 4-7, 2019
E312  Fundamentals of Building Science -    September 24-27, 2018, September 23-26, 2019
E313  Basic HAZUS-MH - July 16-19, 2018, May 14-17, May 20-23, August 19-22, 2019 
E317  Comprehensive Data Management for HAZUS-MH - June 10-12, September 16-19, 2019
E386  Residential Coastal Construction -  August 13-16, 2018, August 12-15, 2019
E582  Mitigation for Tribal Governments - July 8-11, 2019
 

EMI also offers free Independent Study courses on various aspects of the NFIP aimed at  community officials, surveyors, insurance agents, and claims adjusters.  These web-based courses are free and can be taken at your own pace. Below is a sample of courses available.  Independent study courses are also available for other topics in emergency management, hazard mitigation planning, disaster response and dam safety.    

IS-10.a     Animals in Disasters:  Awareness & Preparedness
IS-11.a     Animals in Disasters:  Community Planning
IS-30a      Mitigation eGrants for the Subgrant Applicant
IS-42       Social Media in Emergency Management
IS-111.a   Livestock in Disasters
IS-212.b   Introduction to Unified Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA)
IS-276      Benefit-Cost Analysis (BCA) Fundamentals
IS-277      Benefit-Cost Analysis (BCA):  Entry Level
IS-279.a   Introduction to Retrofitting Flood-prone Residential Structures
IS-284      Using the Substantial Damage Estimator 2.0 Tool
IS-366.a   Planning for the Needs of Children in Disasters
IS-386      Introduction to Residential Coastal Construction
IS-393.a   Introduction to Hazard Mitigation
IS-394.a   Protecting Your Home or Small Business From Disaster
IS-552      The Public Works Role in Emergency Management 
IS-554      Emergency Planning for Public Works
IS-556      Damage Assessment for Public Works
IS-558      Public Works and Disaster Recovery
IS-559      Local Damage Assessment
IS-634      Introduction to FEMA's Public Assistance Program
IS-1100.a  Increased Cost of Compliance
IS-1101     Basic Agent Tutorial
IS-1102     Theory of Elevation Rating
IS-1103     Elevation Certificate for Surveyors
IS-1104     NFIP Claims Review for Adjusters
IS-1105     EC Made Easy:  Elevation Certificate Overview
IS-1106     FEMA Mapping Changes
IS-1107     Adjuster Customer Service
IS-1108     Insuring Condominiums
IS-1109     Understanding Basement Coverage
IS-1110.a  Writing Commercial Exposures
IS-1111     Introduction to Commercial Claims
IS-1112     Introduction to Flood Claims
IS-1113     Coastal Barrier Resources Act
IS-2001     Threat and Hazard Identification Risk Assessment (THIRA)
Visit the DEEP website at www.ct.gov/deep.  Published by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Bureau of Water Protection and Land Reuse, Land and Water Resources Division.  Editor:  Diane Ifkovic, State National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Coordinator, email:  diane.ifkovic@ct.gov.
CT Department of Energy & Environmental Protection
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