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Pawcatuck-Wood Watershed Flood Maps Effective April 3 |
The Connecticut municipalities of
North Stonington, Stonington and Voluntown will be receiving revised flood insurance rate maps on April 3, 2020 as part of the Pawcatuck-Wood watershed flood map update. A total of 23 inland flood map panels will be revised in these three communities. There will be no revisions to flood maps in areas along the immediate Stonington shoreline. These three communities will also be required by FEMA to update their local floodplain zoning regulations to include this new map date.
This flood map update will also include ten communities and one tribal nation within the state of Rhode Island including
Charlestown, Coventry, Exeter, Hopkinton, Narragansett, Narragansett Indian Tribe, North Kingstown, Richmond, South Kingstown, Westerly, and West Greenwich.
FEMA held a public open house event on February 4, 2020 at the town library in Westerly, Rhode Island to view the revised maps. FEMA has also developed an online comparison tool where the current flood maps can be compared to the pending, revised flood maps.
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CT Rises Disaster Planning Guide Available on Amazon
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CT Rises, a non-profit disaster recovery organization, has developed a publication entitled
CT Rises: Planning for Long-Term Disaster Recovery The goal of the book is to provide guidance to local and regional recovery coordinators based on lessons learned during Superstorm Sandy recovery efforts. The Connecticut Department of Housing funded the book through a Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR). The publication offers a supplement to the
Local Emergency Management Director and Municipal Official Handbook and provides insight into the consequences of a disaster and guidance to prepare for future disasters. The book includes:
- Overview and analysis of Superstorm Sandy response and recovery efforts;
- Best practices, lessons learned and recommendations based on Superstorm Sandy response;
- Provides local and regional recovery coordinators with a community-based framework for recovery;
- Identifies innovative national disaster recovery tools and programs; and
- Shares stories of recovery and the impact on people and programs.
The paperback book is available on Amazon.com for $16.
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New ASFPM Report: Flood Mapping for the Nation
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 In January 2020, the Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM) issued a new report entitled Flood Mapping for the Nation, A Cost Analysis for Completing and Maintaining the Nation's NFIP Flood Map Inventory. Since the inception of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) in 1969, the nation has invested $6.6 billion ($10.6 billion in 2019 dollars) in flood hazard mapping, resulting in nearly $22 billion in loses avoided. Annual flood losses have increased from approximately $4 billion per year in the 1980s to about $17 billion per year between 2010 and 2018. With increases in frequency and amount of heavy rainfall and hurricanes due to climate change, along with increased development pressure in coastal areas and watersheds, flood losses are expected to continue their upward trend. However, only approximately 1.14 million miles of watercourses have been mapped out of the approximately 3.5 million miles of watercourses in the U.S. This means that only 33% of the nation's watercourses have currently been mapped.
In this new report, ASFPM estimates the cost to complete flood mapping in the U.S. at $3.2 billion to $11.8 billion. The cost to maintain accurate, updated flood maps ranges from $107 to $408 million annually.
Ultimately, floodplain mapping is a sound investment that saves lives, reduces flood losses, and keeps communities thriving.
ASFPM produced a similar report in 2013
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| Connecticut Flood Map Project Update |
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Currently there are nine watershed flood map update projects and one levee project on-going in Connecticut. Below is a brief synopsis of each project and the communities affected.
Pawcatuck-Wood Watershed
(includes the three communities of North Stonington, Stonington and Voluntown): Revised flood insurance rate map (FIRM) panels become effective on April 3, 2020.
Quinebaug River Watershed
(includes the 20 communities of Brooklyn, Canterbury, Danielson, Eastford, Griswold, Hampton, Jewett City, Killingly, Lisbon, North Stonington, Plainfield, Pomfret, Preston, Putnam, Stafford, Sterling, Thompson, Union, Voluntown, Woodstock): This watershed also includes communities in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Field surveying and engineering (hydrologic and hydraulic) analysis has been completed.
Flood risk review (work map) meetings for this watershed were held on September 25, 2019. Preliminary flood insurance rate maps (FIRM) and flood insurance studies (FIS) are projected to be issued to the communities in summer 2020.
Saugatuck River Watershed
(includes the 20 communities of Bethel, Bridgeport, Danbury, Darien, Easton, Fairfield, Greenwich, Monroe, New Canaan, Newtown, Norwalk, Redding, Ridgefield, Shelton, Stamford, Stratford, Trumbull, Weston, Westport, Wilton): Field surveying and engineering (hydrologic and hydraulic) analysis has been completed. The U.S. Geological Survey has completed enhanced
hydraulics. Initial floodplain mapping will begin in early 2020.
Shetucket River Watershed
(includes the 23 communities of Andover, Ashford, Bolton, Canterbury, Chaplin, Columbia, Coventry, Eastford, Hampton, Hebron, Lebanon, Lisbon, Mansfield, Norwich, Preston, Scotland, Sprague, Stafford, Tolland, Union, Willington, Windham, Woodstock): The U.S. Geological Survey has completed surveying work. Hydrology analysis has been initiated.
Thames River Watershed
(includes the 16 communities of Bozrah, Colchester, East Lyme, Franklin, Groton (Town) Lebanon, Ledyard, Montville, New London, North Stonington, Norwich, Old Lyme, Preston, Salem, Stonington (Town), Waterford): The U.S. Geological Survey has competed surveying work. H
ydrology analysis has been initiated.
Lower Connecticut River Watershed
(includes the 45 communities of Berlin, Bloomfield, Bolton, Chester, Colchester, Columbia, Cromwell, Deep River, Durham, East Granby, East Haddam, East Hampton, East Hartford, East Lyme, Ellington, Enfield, Essex, Glastonbury, Haddam, Hartford, Hebron, Lebanon, Lyme, Manchester, Marlborough, Middlefield, Middletown, New Britain, Newington, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook, Portland, Rocky Hill, Salem, Somers, South Windsor, Stafford, Suffield, Tolland, Vernon, West Hartford, Westbrook, Wethersfield, Windsor, Windsor Locks): The U.S. Geological Survey has completed surveying work. Hydrology analysis has been initiated.
Housatonic River Watershed
(includes the 54 communities of Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Bethany, Bethel, Bethlehem, Bridgewater, Bristol, Brookfield, Canaan, Cheshire, Cornwall, Danbury, Derby, Easton, Goshen, Harwinton, Kent, Litchfield, Middlebury, Milford, Monroe, Morris, Naugatuck, New Fairfield, New Hartford, New Milford, Newtown, Norfolk, North Canaan, Orange, Oxford, Plymouth, Prospect, Redding, Ridgefield, Roxbury, Salisbury, Seymour, Sharon, Shelton, Sherman, Southbury, Stratford, Thomaston, Torrington, Trumbull, Warren, Washington, Waterbury, Watertown, Winchester, Wolcott, Woodbridge, Woodbury):
Discovery meetings were held in May 2017 to gather community input. Selection of priority reaches has been completed by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), including modification for inclusion of the
Torrington levee project (see description below). USGS has begun surveying and base level engineering is expected to be completed in early 2020.
Farmington River Watershed (includes the 24 communities of Avon, Bristol, Barkhamsted, Bloomfield, Burlington, Canton, Colebrook, East Granby, Farmington, Granby, Hartland, Harwinton, New Hartford, Norfolk, Plainville, Plymouth, Simsbury, Suffield, Torrington, West Hartford, Winchester, Windsor, Windsor Locks, Wolcott): The Discovery meeting took place on September 25, 2018 in Burlington. Field surveys were completed in the summer of 2019. The Discovery Report was sent to the watershed communities in February 2020. Engineering analysis is nearly complete and the results will be mapped and shared with watershed communities in the spring/summer of 2020 at Flood Risk Review (work map) meetings.
Base level engineering
was conducted using updated LiDAR data to produce approximate Zone A for this watershed. These approximate Zone A will be shown on the preliminary flood maps which are scheduled to be issued to communities in 2021.
Quinnipiac River Watershed
(includes the communities of Ansonia, Branford, Cheshire, Derby, East Haven, Hamden, Meriden, Milford, New Britain, North Branford, North Haven, Orange, Plainville, Southington, Wallingford, Woodbridge):
has been completed for the Quinnipiac River Watershed. The engineering results will be used to map the approximate Zone A areas in future mapping studies.
Torrington Levee Analysis and Mapping Procedures (LAMP) - The
Levee Analysis and Mapping Procedures (LAMP) have been completed for the flood control structures in the City of Torrington. A report summarizing the data provided by the community and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and recommendations for future analysis and mapping of the flood control system was provided to the City of Torrington on November 6, 2019.
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| FEMA Issues Updated Elevation Certificate |
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It is used to provide elevation information necessary to:
- Determine the proper insurance premium rating.
- Support a request for a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA) to remove a building from the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA).
- Ensure compliance with community floodplain management ordinances and regulations.
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| Draft Long Island Sound Blue Plan Sent to Legislature |
After four years in development, the
Long Island Sound Blue Plan
has reached a critical juncture. The draft Long Island Sound Blue Plan was completed in late 2019 and has been submitted to the Connecticut General Assembly's Environment Committee for approval. A public hearing was held on February 21, 2020 to discuss House Joint Resolution No. 1, Resolution Proposing the Adoption of the Long Island Sound Blue Plan. The Blue Plan will not take effect until approved by the state legislature.
The purpose of the Blue Plan is to protect traditional uses, minimize conflicts, and maximize compatibility within the Long Island Sound region, now and in the future. This includes preserving Long Island Sound's ecosystems and resources, and facilitating a transparent, science-based
decision-making process
.
It is also important to note that Blue Plan policies apply only in the deeper waters of the designated Blue Plan policy area as defined by a line that has been established seaward of the 10 foot depth contour. The policy area does not include nearshore areas, including harbors and tributaries. Nearshore activities such as docks and seawalls will not be subject to the Blue Plan policies.
The Long Island Sound Blue Plan Video Series is a
collection of six videos, each 3-7 minutes in length, about the Blue Plan, featuring interviews with Blue Plan Advisory Committee members, ecological experts, and other sector representatives. The series includes an introductory video and five others that foc
us on the topics of recreation, ecologically significant ar
eas, cultural and historic features, commercial fishing and aquaculture, transportation and infrastructure.
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FEMA Issues New Dam Incident Planning Guide
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 In November 2019, FEMA's National Dam Safety Program (NDSP) released its latest publication for emergency operations planning. The
Emergency Operations Planning: Dam Incident Planning Guide supports state, local and tribal emergency managers in planning for dam incidents and failures
by summarizing the concepts that a community should consider when creating dam incident-specific e
lements of local emergency operations plans.
Through the NDSP,
emergency managers work directly with neighboring communities, agencies and the private sector to gain a detailed understanding of the risks they face from local and regional dams and how those risks can be handled.
The topics addressed in the new guide include the need for a detailed planning process, understanding the various types of dam incidents, and developing evacuation strategies. Emergency managers must understand the impact dam incidents could have on life and property. Being able to recognize both the dam hazard potential classification and understand potential failure modes provides officials with a better understanding of the potential severity of an incident and the appropriate actions to take.
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Training Opportunities
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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 on the "Upcoming" tab. When asked during registration what FEMA Region you are in, please reply "1".
- March 26, 2020, 1:00pm - NFIP Basics
- April 16, 2020, 1:00pm - Tools for Determining Base Flood Elevation
- April 23, 2020, 1:00pm - Elevation Certificate
- May 21, 2020, 12:00pm - Floodplain Development Permit Review
- May 21, 2020, 1:30pm - Inspecting Floodplain Development
This
15 minute educational video highlights flooding scenarios within our state along with the social and economic impacts of flooding, and opportunities for mitigation. The video aims to increase the knowledge base of municipal officials to make informed decisions and effective choices supporting resilience. The general public and other stakeholders will also find the video valuable.
Many workshops and conferences have been cancelled or postponed due to the COVID-19 virus outbreak and will be rescheduled for a later date. These events include:
June 7-11, 2020:
Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM) Annual Conference
, Fort Worth, TX,
www.floods.org
.
September 8-10, 2020:
New York State Floodplain and Stormwater Managers Association Annual Meeting and Conference,
Schenectady, NY,
https://www.nyfloods.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 $120/week). Below is a select list of floodplain management classes offered into September 2020. EMI is currently suspending all classes through April 11, 2020. A full list of training classes can be found at the EMI website.
E172 HAZUS-MH for Flood - July 27-30, 2020
E174 HAZUS-MH for Earthquake and Tsunami - August 10-13, 2020
E179 Application of HAZUS-MH for Disaster Operations
- July 20-23, August 31-Sept. 3, 2020
E190 ArcGIS for Emergency Managers - May 11-14, 2020
E212 Unified Hazard Mitigation Assistance Program: Developing Quality Application Elements - June 22-25, 2020
E213 Hazard Mitigation Assistance Program: Application Review and Eval. - July 20-21, 2020
E214 Unified Hazard Mitigation Assistance Program: Project Implementation and Programmatic Closeout - July 22-23, 2020
E273 Managing Floodplain Development through the NFIP
- May 4-7, August 31-Sept 3, 2020
E276 Benefit-Cost Analysis: Entry Level
- May 27-28, July 27-28, 2020
E278 Community Rating System (CRS)
- July 27-30, 2020
E279 Retrofitting Floodprone Residential Buildings - May 11-14, 2020
E284 Advanced Floodplain Management Concepts III
- July 6-9, 2020
E312 Fundamentals of Building Science -
August 31-September 3, September 14-17, 2020
E313 Basic HAZUS-MH
- June 8-11, July 13-16, August 17-20, 2020
E317 Comprehensive Data Management for HAZUS-MH - June 15-18, 2020, Sept. 21-24, 2020
E386 Residential Coastal Construction - September 21-24, 2020
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-30.b Mitigation eGrants System 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-251.a Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) for Alerting Administrators
IS-273 How to Read a Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM)
IS-274 How to Read a Flood Insurance Study (FIS)
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-280 Overview: Engineering Principles & Practices for Retrofitting Flood-prone Residential Structures
IS-284 Using the Substantial Damage Estimator 2.0 Tool
IS-284.a Using the Substantial Damage Estimator 3.0 Tool
IS-285 Substantial Damage Estimator for the Floodplain Administrator
IS-318 Mitigation Planning for Local and Tribal Communities
IS-324.a Community Hurricane Preparedness
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-727 Floodplain Management and Protection of Wetlands
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-1119 Letters of Map Amendment
(LOMA) & Letters of Map Revision Based on Fill
(LOMR-F)
IS-1120 Letters of Map Revision (LOMR)
IS-2001 Threat and Hazard Identification Risk Assessment (THIRA)
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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: [email protected].
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The Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer that is committed to complying with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Please contact us at (860) 418-5910
or [email protected] if you; have a disability and need a communication aid or service; have limited proficiency in English and may need information in another language; or if you wish to file an ADA or Title VI discrimination complaint.
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On February 21, 2020,