SPRING 2007 Virginia MMMS – Business Plan Summary Data based on information provided by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) dated October 2006 and other FEMA sources MAP OF PRELIMINARY DFIRMS MAP OF EFFECTIVE DFIRMS 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 LEGENDMap of Effective DFIRMs Source: FEMA Regional Flood Study Sequencing by County – March 2007 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 LEGENDMap of Preliminary DFIRMs Source: FEMA Regional Flood Study Sequencing by County – March 2007 mapping and for a greater allocation of resources to those communities at greatest flood risk. The “end state conditions” refer to how successful the flood mapping effort is at the end of Map Modernization in FY REGIONAL AND STATE VIEW Federal FY06 Region III Funding Distribution Total $15,947,002 Maryland Other 2010. Delaware STATE VISION FOR MAP 3.4% DC 0.2% Virginia MMMS 0.6% Pennsylvania 26.9% 23.9% 6.5% MODERNIZATION AND IMPLEMENTATION West Virginia The vision for the Commonwealth 13.8% of Virginia’s participation in Flood Map Modernization is to provide it’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) communities with a more comprehensive and timely means for updating their flood hazard maps. This will enable them to more effectively manage and enforce compliant development in the FEMA designated special flood hazard areas. In order to fulfill this vision and within the limits of the federal funding levels, the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) will increase the role that it performs in: Managing and coordinating flood mapping activities; Forging partnerships with various local, regional, state, and federal stakeholders to access available and developing resources; Prioritizing flood mapping and study updates; Collecting, compiling, assessing and inventorying data for flood hazard identification and flood mapping needs including input of applicable data into the Mapping Needs Update Support System; and Conducting outreach programs associated with Flood Map Modernization. EFFECTS/APPROACH OF/TO MIDCOURSE ADJUSTMENT A mid-course correction to FEMA’s Map Modernization has been announced. This changes FEMA’s previously announced goals and allows a longer period of time for FEMA to remap the entire country, but the actual schedule and funding changes are not yet clear. This plan is based on information available at the time of its preparation. The Virginia Floodplain Please See Page 2 Source: State percentage received of total FY06 Flood Map Modernization Regional production budget according to internal FEMA procurement data (PALT). Virginia 25.2% PURPOSE OF BUSINESS PLAN SUMMARY The Map Modernization Management Support (MMMS) Business Plan Summary was compiled by reviewing the Federal Fiscal Year (FY) 2005-2009 MMMS Business Plans and FY 2007 updates. These business plans were submitted to the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) by FEMA’s MMMS partners. The spring 2007 Business Plan Summary is being published at the crossroads of FEMA’s mid-program evaluation and the end-state conditions of Map Modernization. This year, the summary reflects the MMMS partners’ approach to and the effects of FEMA’s mid-course adjustment, in addition to outlining their accomplished and planned MMMS activities, highlighting the MMMS partner’s approach to meeting the goals of and program vision for Map Modernization. FEMA’s mid-course adjustment is a redirection of improving and updating the Nation’s flood hazard identification maps. FEMA will now focus on developing flood maps that meet new higher standards for PAGE 2 Virginia MMMS – Business Plan Summary Data based on information provided by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) dated October 2006 and other FEMA sources Management Program will cooperate with FEMA in implementing the mid-course correction. The DCR will determine the impacts of the mid-course correction including which communities will be affected and how the modernization schedule will be modified. SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND STRENGTHS OR SUCCESS STORIES DCR contracted with Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University using 2005 MMMS grant funds to perform a survey of the Virginia communities on FEMA’s Map Modernization schedule to determine what information was available and in what format. The information includes base map information and anything else that could be helpful in developing more accurate and effective maps. This contract included the development of a website where the information would be available to community officials and the public. SIGNIFICANT COOPERATIVE EFFORTS WITH PARTNERS One project, to redelineate the floodplains of Montgomery County using County supplied Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR)/ topographic data and create Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps (DFIRMs), is underway; however, the majority of the 2005 grant is not obligated yet. Two additional projects, to create DFIRMs for the City of Radford and Giles County are being initiated. These projects, when under contract, will obligate the remaining 2005 grant funds, with completion in early 2008. DCR plans to increase its involvement in Map Modernization and maintenance through the Cooperating Technical Partner (CTP) program. The current projects are developing capabilities in preparing compliant flood maps and remapping projects for additional communities will be pursued. The actual expansion of this work depends on FEMA’s objectives and funding. IMPEDIMENTS TO MAP ADOPTION The states, commonwealths, and district in Region III do not have laws or regulations that act as an impediment to adopting ordinances. Virginia’s policy actually facilitates timely adoption; auto adoption is a legally available option in cities, incorporated towns, and counties. The only impediment may be staffing to complete the tasks involved in the adoption process. Region III staff have indicated that Virginia employees and FEMA Regional staff who are trained and knowledgeable in the adoption and ordinance review processes currently have large workloads. UNMET NEEDS OF VIRGINIA'S MAP MODERNIZATION PROGRAM Prior to 2005, the Virginia Floodplain Management Program was only minimally involved in the flood mapping process due to low staffing levels. In August 2005, a mapping manager position was created and filled by a transfer of the program engineer. In early 2006, the Program Manager, Program Engineer, and Program Planner positions became vacant. The planner and engineer positions were filled in the second quarter of 2006. The current staff of the Virginia Floodplain Management Program consists of: a Floodplain Mapping Manager, Floodplain Program Engineer, and a Floodplain Program Planner. The Virginia NFIP Coordinator position has been vacant for eight months. As senior staff member, the Mapping Manager has assumed many of the Program Manager’s responsibilities. This has increased cooperation between compliance assistance and mapping management activities. LEVEE STRATEGY The DCR will initiate a levee inventory program. The Army Corps of Engineers (COE) inventory lists 10 levees in Virginia. The DCR will conduct the following activities as part of this effort: Investigate requirements for documentation of levee construction and accreditation activities; Contact communities, the COE, and other organizations that may have information on levee construction and accreditations; Prepare a levee inventory report; and, Perform outreach activities specific to levees. ACCOMPLISHED ACTIVITIES FY06 • Supported FEMA’s Map Modernization • Provided outreach (e.g., technical support and training) • Fostered mutually beneficial partnerships with governmental and private organizations • Filled the planner and engineer positions within the DCR • Extended a contract with Virginia Tech to survey communities for data available for use in the flood map update process MMMS ACTIVITIES PLANNED FY07 The following broad categories of support activities are planned: • Support FEMA’s Map Modernization objectives • Continue CTP projects with contract, program, and project management activities • Conduct outreach • Develop a web-based system for public access to DFIRMs and mapping information • Continue to develop and maintain partnerships • Initiate a levee inventory program MHIP Version 2.5 http://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=2636