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Maryland Department of the Environment: Promoting Higher Standards with the Climate Ready Action Boundary Map Viewer
Challenge: The Base Flood Elevation (BFE) is how high floodwater is likely to rise during a 1%-annual-chance flood event. It is one way to measure and indicate flood risk. However, the study that established the BFE is only a snapshot in time. There are many factors that can cause floodwaters to rise above the BFE. These factors include debris-blocked bridge and culvert openings; blocked city storm sewer drains; higher-intensity rain events; storm tracks causing coinciding peak flows of flooding sources; high backwater conditions; and heavy rains on frozen ground with considerable snow depths. There is also always the potential for an event more severe than the 1%-annual-chance event. To communicate and reduce flood risk in areas beyond FEMA’s regulatory flood zones, communities need more information (especially spatial information) about flooding that exceeds the 1%-annual-chance event.
NFIP Debt
This section outlines the current state of the NFIP’s debt to Treasury and proposes potential reforms to address this accumulation of debt.
Flood Grant Program Helps Reduce High Risk Flood Properties and Increases Resilience
An overview of FEMA’s Flood Mitigation Assistance program that provides a summary of the program’s results for FY 2021. Relevant details of the program for FY 2022 are also provided. This program is key to FEMA’s resilience efforts as catastrophic flooding persists.
Expanding Feedback Opportunities Secures More Public Planning Input: City and County of Honolulu, Hawai‘i
The city and county of Honolulu, Hawai‘i, held public meetings during their 2019 hazard mitigation plan update. The city tapped into local and regional networks to share the messaging and boost public attendance. Informal community meetings were held to discuss the plan; a continental breakfast, bento box lunch and small group breakout sessions were offered. The plan update committee also refreshed its messaging methods
Montana: Mitigation Affordability, Climate Resiliency and Economic Vitality for a Small Community Confluence Project
Proposed communitywide mitigation solution that will counter the effects of climate change, protect nearly 1,000 structures from flooding, and yield multiple ancillary benefits.
New Jersey: Homeowners Suffer Repetitive Losses and Want to Eliminate Future Flood Loss By Selling Their Homes
Homeowners impacted by the stress, financial loss and loss of quality of life are willing to sell their homes and move away from the constant flooding in their community.
Kentucky: Rebuilding After Flood Loss
Reconstruction after flood loss help homeowners get back to their lives.
North Carolina: Leveraging Voluntary Single Property Acquisition to Promote Open Space Preservation
North Carolina’s annual heavy rains cause repetitive flooding to homes in Mecklenburg County. This is a Justice40 project.
Texas: Borley Heights Relief Community Flood Mitigation Project
Repetitive flooding events call for draining improvements to address water in area homes. This is a Justice40 project.
Texas: Elevating 27 Homes to Mitigate Flood Risk
The city of Houston works with homeowners to mitigate homes in accordance with applicable codes and standards to prevent and protect homes from future flood risk.