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 29, No. 1
Summer 2022
In This Issue
  • DEEP Beach Association Guide
  • Public Facilities Flood Handbook
  • WestCOG Flood Ordinance Report
  • New DRRA 1206 Video
  • Mitigation Guide for Older Adults
  • HMA Summer Engagement Series
  • New NFIP 101 Online Course
  • Training Opportunities
DEEP Connecticut Beach Association Guide
In May 2022, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Land and Water Resources Division (LWRD) issued the new Connecticut Beach Association's Guide to Coastal Activities and Permitting. The 27 page guide contains a beach activity poster, a permit flowchart, and information covering the topics listed below which are important to beach associations, municipal beaches, marinas, beach clubs and yacht clubs.
  • Dune Protection
  • Beach Grading, Raking and Nourishment
  • Groins and Jetties
  • Public Access and the Public Trust
  • Signage and Fencing
  • Mean High Water (MHW)
  • Swim Areas and Swim Floats
  • Boating Access and Paddlecraft
  • Saltwater Fishing and Shellfishing
  • Tidal Wetlands
  • National Diversity Database (NDDB)
  • Beach Nesting Birds, Horseshoe Crabs, and Osprey Platforms
  • Storm Preparedness and Storm Response
  • FEMA Regulated Beach Structures
  • DEEP Coastal Jurisdiction and the Coastal Jurisdiction Line (CJL)
New FEMA Hurricane and Flood Mitigation Handbook for Public Facilities
In March 2022, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) released a new publication, Hurricane and Flood Mitigation Handbook for Public Facilities (FEMA P-2181), to assist state, local, tribal and territorial governments, utility companies, non-profits, and others seeking ways to reduce hurricane and flood risk to public infrastructure facilities.

The Handbook is comprised of 30 fact sheets that provide technical guidance and recommendations for applying mitigation best practices to public facilities and infrastructure. Topics include: roads and highways, bridges, canals, dams, buildings and their utility systems, roof systems, foundations, drinking water and waste water systems, mass transit facilities, parks, communication towers and antennas, and electric power generation, transmission and distribution.
WestCOG Flood Regulation Report
The Western Connecticut Council of Governments (WestCOG) has produced a report entitled Flooding in Connecticut: A Status Report on Municipal Flood Prevention Standards which summarizes the findings of a review of all municipal flood prevention regulations in Connecticut to identify best practices and areas where municipal regulations have failed to keep pace with rapidly changing climate change conditions.

This report reviews current flood prevention administrative practices, the degree to which compensatory flood storage policies have been adopted consistent with a 2004 state law, current municipal base flood elevation standards, and policies governing septic system leaching fields within the 100-year floodplain and near watercourses.

All of Connecticut’s municipalities have adopted some form of flood prevention regulations, either a stand alone flood ordinance or standards contained within zoning and subdivision regulations, in order to participate in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Community participation in the NFIP allows property owners to purchase federally regulated flood insurance and also allows the community to receive federal disaster assistance.
New DRRA 1206 Video
When disaster strikes, many communities have hundreds, if not thousands, of structures to protect against future damage or restore to local codes and standards. Section 1206 of the Disaster Recovery Reform Act (DRRA) authorizes the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to reimburse communities that participate in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) for the resources needed to effectively administer and enforce building codes and floodplain management regulations following a major disaster declaration. This creates new eligible activities through FEMA’s Public Assistance (PA) Program to carry out required post-disaster activities (e.g., substantial damage evaluations, permitting, etc.)—increasing the overall speed of recovery and enhancing NFIP compliance. 

FEMA has developed a new introductory 6 minute video on DRRA 1206 to arm floodplain administrators, emergency managers, elected officials, and other stakeholders in the recovery process with the information needed for successful reimbursement of these new eligible activities. Viewers of the video will learn key eligibility requirements for communities, work and costs covered under the policy, and how to seek reimbursement for these new activities.
Guide to Expanding Mitigation for Older Adults
On July 13, 2022, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) released two new resources:



These new resources will help local community officials protect older adults in their community. Adults aged 65 and older are a growing demographic that is disproportionately impacted by climate change and natural hazards. This is due to several factors:

  • Lack of access to transportation to evacuate
  • Increased dependence on in-home or nearby health supports
  • Impaired mobility, cognition or senses
  • Lack of access to internet and digital communication
  • Limited social networks

The Guide discusses how older adults are disproportionately affected by natural hazards and provides recommendations and tips to reduce that risk. The Guide is for emergency managers, planners, local officials, and other community stakeholders that serve or advocate for older adults. The Disaster Resilience Tool Kit helps local community leaders develop strategies that reduce risk and disaster impacts on older adults and create places that work better for people of all ages.

The Guide and Tool Kit are the result of a partnership between FEMA and AARP. Together, the two organizations have partnered to identify and provide resources, spark ideas, and encourage partnerships to better engage older Americans in disaster mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery operations. This long-term, strategic partnership aims to advance accessible, safe, and livable communities for people of all ages.
HMA Summer Engagement Series - August 4
To register for the HMA summer engagement webinars listed to the left, click here.


For more information on the Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) grant programs, including the Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) program, the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), and the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program, click here.

New NFIP 101 Online Training Course
FEMA has developed a new, free NFIP 101: Introduction to Floodplain Management Online Training Course. The nine unit course covers flood maps and studies, flood regulations, compliance, flood insurance, substantial improvement/substantial damage, and pre/post disaster floodplain management. The combined course duration for all nine units is approximately 14-17 hours to complete. There is a twenty question exam at the end of the course with unlimited retakes.

The course can be completed at your own pace and is a great self-directed training opportunity for new staff. The course material can also be used as a reference guide for more experienced floodplain managers to refresh your knowledge on specific topics and concepts. The course is eligible for 12 continuing education credits (CECs) from the Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM) for new floodplain managers when the course is taken from beginning to end. The course is hosted on the ASFPM website. You do not have to be a member of ASFPM to access the course.
Training Opportunities
NFIP & CRS 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". All webinars are one hour in length and begin at 1:00pm EST.
 
  • July 19, 2022 - CRS: Preparing an Annual Recertification
  • July 20, 2022 - CRS: Floodplain Management Planning (Activity 510)
  • August 16, 2022 - CRS: Preparing for a Verification Visit
  • August 17, 2022 - CRS: Stormwater Management Regulations (Activity 450)
  • September 20, 2022 - CRS: Preparing an Annual Recertification
  • September 21, 2022 - CRS: FEMA's Elevation Certificate
  • October 18, 2022 - CRS: FEMA's Elevation Certificate
  • October 19, 2022 - CRS: CRS and Coastal Hazards
  • November 15, 2022 - CRS: FEMA's Elevation Certificate
  • November 16, 2022 - CRS: CRS and Floodplain Species Assessment


FEMA REGION 1 - FLOOD MAPPING 101 VIRTUAL WORKSHOP
Local floodplain management and permitting officials are invited to join FEMA Region 1 mapping staff for a free, virtual flood map 101 workshop on Monday, August 8, 2022 from 10:00am-12:00pm.

To join the webinar on August 8, click this link.
Webinar ID: 984 9923 2180
Passcode: 0808
Or Dial-In: 646-876-9923

In this workshop, you will learn about:
• The history of the flood mapping program
• An overview of Flood Insurance Rate Maps and Flood Insurance Studies
• A Map Service Center (MSC) tutorial
• How to read flood maps and how different flood zones affect local communities
• The flood mapping process
• The different Letters of Map Change (LOMC)

Recommended preparation - review these two FEMA websites before the workshop:


RISK RATING 2.0

Risk Rating 2.0 Training Videos
Watch this 2 hour video of a training session recorded on June 8, 2021 for insurance agents to learn more about Risk Rating 2.0. This 6 minute video can give you a brief introduction to the new Risk Rating 2.0 pricing methodology. This 1:15 minute video will discuss how Risk Rating 2.0 defines a property's unique flood risk.

Training webinars are listed below:




SOAK UP THE RAIN NEW ENGLAND WEBINAR SERIES
Soak Up the Rain is a U.S. EPA stormwater public outreach and education program to raise awareness about the costly impacts of polluted stormwater runoff and encourage compliance with stormwater rules and requirements through nature-based solutions such as green infrastructure and low impact development. Click on the link below to register for the webinar. To view watch recordings of past webinars, visit their webinar archive.



NATURAL HAZARDS CENTER
The Natural Hazards Center, posts past webinar recordings on its website.  


EXPLORING CLIMATE SOLUTIONS WEBINAR SERIES
Past webinar recordings are posted on the CTDEEP Climate Change website.


ASSOCIATION OF STATE FLOODPLAIN MANAGERS (ASFPM)
The ASFPM Training and Knowledge Center offers webinars and an online university as a professional development resource for floodplain management professionals. 


AMERICAN PLANNING ASSOCIATION (APA)
Recordings of previous Planning Information Exchange (PIE) webinars can be found here.



CENTER FOR LAND USE EDUCATION & RESEARCH (CLEAR)


RESILIENT NATION PARTNERSHIP NETWORK (RNPN)
FEMA's Resilient Nation Partnership Network (RNPN) brings together a diverse network of stakeholders committed to help communities act and become more resilient toward natural disasters and climate-related events.



VIDEOS
This 15 minute educational video from Adapt CT 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. 

This 13 minute educational video from Adapt CT highlights the effects of climate change in our state. 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.

This 18 minute educational video from Adapt CT, entitled Drowning in Liability: Reducing climate change impacts through municipal planning and zoning, aims to help viewers recognize the planning and zoning interests related to flooding, describes actions that can reduce liability related to planning and zoning decisions, and identifies key resources for further information. The video illustrates the causes of flooding and what has and can been done to protect Connecticut residents, property, and natural resources from its devastating impacts. The video also discusses “takings” and identifies multiple court cases to enhance understanding.

This 7 minute video from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, "Rising Waters" series, discusses high tide flooding, also known as sunny day or nuisance flooding, that is occurring as a result of sea level rise.  Sea level rise is often spoken of in future terms, including projections for impacts we're likely to see by the end of the century. But in many communities in the U.S., sea level rise is already a factor in people's lives in the form of high-tide flooding.  The video visits Annapolis, Maryland that has seen a dramatic increase in floods in recent years. Waters sometimes breach flood walls, or more often, back up through storm sewers to flood nearby streets. 

This 5 minute video highlights how the U.S. Naval Submarine Base is an outstanding example of preparedness and shows some of the actions they have taken include elevating equipment and materials, using floodgates and having a plan of action in order to be more flood resistant.

This 5 minute video highlights a local full-service marina and boat repair business which has implemented a variety of actions to protect the environment and be more flood resistant, including a daily walk-through and connecting with local emergency responders. 

This 25 minute video will show how to make your business resilient to natural hazards, reduce property damage, environmental contamination and liability. This video will help businesses that use chemicals in their process, sell chemicals and store hazardous waste onsite, including retail stores and service providers. It offers steps businesses can take to reduce risks and keep your business operating, especially those in flood prone areas.  This video is also available as a training course.


COASTAL STATES ORGANIZATION (CSO)
Past webinar recordings can be found by clicking here. You can also sign up for their newsletter.


ENVIRONMENTAL BUSINESS COUNCIL (EBC) NEW ENGLAND


CTDEEP AQUIFER PROTECTION AREA PROGRAM TRAINING
This free, online course assists municipal aquifer protection agencies and their staff with meeting the training requirements under the Connecticut Aquifer Protection Act. The course can be completed at your own place, but must be completed within 60 days once started. It is estimated that the course will take approximately 8 hours to complete. There are 13 modules with text, videos, interactive activities, and practice quizzes. The course provides an overview of the regulatory requirements for local implementation, instructs agency members and staff responsible for knowing the law, and assists them in complying with the law. Register here for the training program.


TRAINING FOR MUNICIPAL INLAND WETLAND AGENTS
Visit the CTDEEP inland wetlands agents training webpage to access the comprehensive online training program, continuing education workshops, archived training material, training videos, and newsletter for municipal inland wetland agents. Also visit the National Association of Wetland Managers (NAWM) webpage for past and upcoming webinars and trainings.


NOAA DIGITAL COAST VIRTUAL LEARNING
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Digital Coast has a suite of recorded webinars, trainings, and educational videos on various coastal zone management topics which are great for virtual learning. Also check out their training calendar for online instructor-led training offerings and webinars.


FLOODPROOFING.COM

  • Floodplain Design, Construction & Impacts on Flood Insurance - 10:00am - August 9, September 8, October 4, November 1, 2022; 3:00pm - July 20, August 24, September 21, October 19, November 16, 2022
  • Designing Passive Floodproofing Solutions Using Floodproof Windows and Wall Systems - 3:00pm July 27, August 31, September 28, October 26, November 30, 2022
  • Flood Insurance and Mitigation Outreach - 6:00pm - October 11, 2022
  • National Surveyor Flood Training - 3:00pm - August 4, 2022
  • Code Official Webinar: Active and Passive Floodproofing for Non-Residential Building in the Special Flood Hazard Area - 3:00pm - September 13, 2022


CONFERENCES

September 18-21, 2022: Northeastern Transportation and Wildlife Virtual Conference, Atlantic City, NJ.

October 6-7, 2022: Southern New England American Planning Association Conference (SNEAPA), Rhode Island Convention Center, Providence, RI.

October 24-25, 2022: Connecticut Conference on Climate Change & Insurance, virtual, free.

November 1-2, 2022: Connecticut Conference of Municipalities (CCM), Mohegan Sun Casino. Uncasville, CT.




June 4-7, 2023: National Flood Conference, Washington, DC.


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).  EMI continues to monitor the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19 guidance and will provide regular updates to students on masking, testing and vaccination requirements. Below is a select list of floodplain management classes offered into early 2023.  A full list of training classes and how to apply for admission can be found at the EMI website.    

E213 Hazard Mitigation Assistance Program: Application Review & Evaluation- July 24-25, 2022.
E214 Unified Hazard Mitigation Assistance Program: Project Implementation and Programmatic Closeout - July 26-27, 2022.
E273 Managing Floodplain Development through the NFIP - July 25-28, 2022, December 5-8, 2022, February 13-16, 2023, May 1-4, 2023, August 28-31, 2023.
E278 Community Rating System (CRS) -  August 22-25, 2022, November 28-Dec. 1, 2022, April 2-6, 2023.
E279 Retrofitting Flood-prone Residential Buildings - May 1-4, 2023, Sept. 11-14, 2023.
E312 Fundamentals of Building Science - Nov. 28-Dec. 1, 2022, September 25-28, 2023.
E386 Residential Coastal Construction -  Oct. 31-Nov. 3, 2022, Feb. 27-March 2, 2023.
   

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 offered at no cost 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-21.21  Civil Rights and FEMA Disaster Assistance
IS-30.b   Mitigation eGrants System for the Subgrant Applicant
IS-42    Social Media in Emergency Management
IS-111.a  Livestock in Disasters
IS-158 Hazard Mitigation Flood Insurance in Disaster Operations
IS-162 Hazard Mitigation Floodplain Management in Disaster Operations
IS-212.b  Introduction to Unified Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA)
IS-230.d  Fundamentals of Emergency Management
IS-251.a  Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) for Alerting Administrators 
IS-271.a  Anticipating Hazardous Weather and Community Risk
IS-273   How to Read a Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM)
IS-274   How to Read a Flood Insurance Study (FIS)
IS-276.a  Benefit-Cost Analysis (BCA) Fundamentals
IS-277.a  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.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.b  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-632a  Introduction to Debris Operations
IS-633   Debris Management Plan Development
IS-634   Introduction to FEMA's Public Assistance Program
IS-727   Floodplain Management and Protection of Wetlands
IS-815 ABCs of Temporary Emergency Power
IS-870.a Dam Sector: Crisis Management
IS-871.a Dam Sector: Security Awareness
IS-872.a Dam Sector: Protective Measures
IS-922.a   Applications of GIS for Emergency Management
IS-1100.a Increased Cost of Compliance
IS-1101.b Basic Agent Tutorial
IS-1102  Theory of Elevation Rating
IS-1103.a Elevation Certificate for Surveyors
IS-1104    NFIP Claims Review for Adjusters
IS-1105.a EC Made Easy: Elevation Certificate Overview
IS-1106.a FEMA Mapping Changes
IS-1107    Adjuster Customer Service
IS-1108  Insuring Condominiums
IS-1109.a  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-1117   Severe Repetitive Loss for Agents
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)
IS-2901   Introduction to Community Lifelines
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. View past issues of The Torrent, and other DEEP newsletters at the DEEP newsletter archive webpage or subscribe to other DEEP newsletters and publications.
The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer that is committed to complying with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). If you are seeking a communication aid or service, have limited proficiency in English, wish to file an ADA or Title VI discrimination complaint, or require some other accommodation, including equipment to facilitate virtual participation, please contact the DEEP Office of Diversity and Equity at (860) 418-5910 or by email at deep.accommodations@ct.gov. Any person needing an accommodation for hearing impairment may call the State of Connecticut relay number - 711. In order to facilitate efforts to provide an accommodation, please request all accommodations as soon as possible following notice of any agency hearing, meeting, program or event.