Alabama’s Floodplain Alabama’s Floodplain Management ProgramManagement Program

Tom LittlepageAlabama Office of Water Resources

History of the Office of Water History of the Office of Water Resources (OWR)Resources (OWR)

Severe droughts in 1986 and 1988Severe droughts in 1986 and 1988 Alabama Water Resources Study – 1990Alabama Water Resources Study – 1990 Actions by Corps of Engineers and Georgia to

alleviate Georgia drought conditions Threatened the availability of water in Alabama Highlighted the fact that we had no system in place to assess

water use Alabama’s Response Alabama’s Response

1991 - Executive Order by Governor Hunt established the 1991 - Executive Order by Governor Hunt established the Office of Water ResourcesOffice of Water Resources

Water Resources Act of 1993 formalized the agency and Water Resources Act of 1993 formalized the agency and placed it under the umbrella of ADECAplaced it under the umbrella of ADECA

Mission StatementMission Statement

“The Office of Water Resources will plan, coordinate, develop, and manage Alabama’s water resources, both ground and surface water in a manner that is in the best interest of the State of Alabama. This includes recommending policies and legislation, conducting technical studies, implementing and participating in programs and projects, and actively representing Alabama’s intra and interstate water resource interests.”

OWR Functional OrganizationOWR Functional Organization

WaterManagement

InterstateIssues

FloodplainManagement

OWR

OWR Functional OrganizationOWR Functional Organization

WaterManagement

InterstateIssues

FloodplainManagement

OWR

FPM ComponentsFPM Components

NFIP

TechnicalAssistance

FloodplainMapping

FPM

National Flood Insurance ProgramNational Flood Insurance Program

Makes affordable flood insurance availableMakes affordable flood insurance available Is based on an agreement between a local Is based on an agreement between a local

community and FEMAcommunity and FEMA Community passes a local ordinance to foster Community passes a local ordinance to foster

“smart” growth in flood-prone area“smart” growth in flood-prone area

And In ReturnAnd In Return FEMA makes flood insurance and disaster FEMA makes flood insurance and disaster

assistance available to communityassistance available to community

NFIP ToolsNFIP Tools

Local OrdinancesLocal Ordinances Flood Insurance StudyFlood Insurance Study Maps identifying flood-prone areasMaps identifying flood-prone areas

Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM’s)Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM’s) Flood Hazard Boundary Maps (FHBM’s)Flood Hazard Boundary Maps (FHBM’s) Floodway MapsFloodway Maps

OWR’s Role in the NFIPOWR’s Role in the NFIP

Provide technical assistance and education Provide technical assistance and education to local Floodplain Administratorsto local Floodplain Administrators

Provide outreach to floodplain development Provide outreach to floodplain development stakeholders, i.e. surveyors, homebuildersstakeholders, i.e. surveyors, homebuilders

Assist FEMA with compliance-related Assist FEMA with compliance-related issuesissues

MapsMaps

To be effective, maps of flood-prone areas To be effective, maps of flood-prone areas must be:must be: AccurateAccurate Maintained and UpdatedMaintained and Updated Readily AvailableReadily Available

Age of Flood Maps in AlabamaAge of Flood Maps in Alabama0

0%

2334%

3857%

69%

< 5 Years Old

5-10 Years Old

10-15 Years Old

> 15 Years Old

Average = 15+ Years

Flood Map Modernization ProgramFlood Map Modernization Program

Congress created the FMMP to:Congress created the FMMP to: Update FIRMsUpdate FIRMs Produce Digital FIRMsProduce Digital FIRMs Build State capability to maintain mapsBuild State capability to maintain maps Strengthen relationships among Federal, Strengthen relationships among Federal,

State, and local agenciesState, and local agencies

Leading the WayLeading the Way

Alabama is a Cooperating Technical Partner with Alabama is a Cooperating Technical Partner with FEMA in the Flood Map Modernization ProgramFEMA in the Flood Map Modernization Program

Alabama is one of only two states in Region IV Alabama is one of only two states in Region IV that is proactively implementing Floodplain that is proactively implementing Floodplain Management Programs to include Map Management Programs to include Map MaintenanceMaintenance

The Office of Water Resources is the agency The Office of Water Resources is the agency where the Alabama FMMP is housedwhere the Alabama FMMP is housed

As a Cooperating Technical As a Cooperating Technical Partner Alabama Will…Partner Alabama Will…

Administer the Flood Map Modernization Administer the Flood Map Modernization ProgramProgram

Conduct All Flood Map MaintenanceConduct All Flood Map Maintenance Process Letters of Map Change (LOMCs)Process Letters of Map Change (LOMCs) Provide for the Distribution of Paper Provide for the Distribution of Paper

FIRM’s and DFIRM’sFIRM’s and DFIRM’s

What is a DFIRM?What is a DFIRM?

Digital Flood Insurance Rate MapDigital Flood Insurance Rate Map Digital data is used in the FIRM productionDigital data is used in the FIRM production Base map, graphics, text, shading, and Base map, graphics, text, shading, and

geographic data are all includedgeographic data are all included Maps are produced in a countywide formatMaps are produced in a countywide format

DFIRM=

Flood Data/AnalysisBase + Topography +

DFIRM ProductionDFIRM Production

Importance of UpdatesImportance of UpdatesCurrent Map Updated Map

Flood Mapping ProcessFlood Mapping Process

Education and OutreachEducation and Outreach ScopingScoping Technical AnalysesTechnical Analyses Engineering Review and Map Engineering Review and Map

ProductionProduction

ScopingScoping FY2003 MapMod Projects nearing FY2003 MapMod Projects nearing

completioncompletion FY2004 MapMod Projects underwayFY2004 MapMod Projects underway FY2005 MapMod Project scoping just FY2005 MapMod Project scoping just

completed completed FY2006 MapMod Projects scoping to begin FY2006 MapMod Projects scoping to begin

next January and will involve:next January and will involve: Agency/Community CoordinationAgency/Community Coordination Community’s ability to provide assistance and Community’s ability to provide assistance and

leverage costleverage cost

Technical AnalysisTechnical Analysis

Spatial DataSpatial Data

Hydrologic and hydraulic StudiesHydrologic and hydraulic Studies

Draft DFIRM ProductionDraft DFIRM Production

DFIRM Production Process DFIRM Production Process Flow ChartFlow Chart

Scoping/Needs Assessment

Prepare TSDN

Map Production

Map Processing

Data Compilation

•Reconnaissance of existing info

•Fill data needs/gaps

•Prepare data: file, summarize, etc.

Hydrology

Prepare modelinputs

Run modelfor 10, 50, 100

& 500 yr events

Calibratemodel

QA/QC

Delineation/Floodplain Mapping

Prepare/Check Data

ValidateDelineation

DevelopFloodway

QA/QC

Hydraulics

Prepare modelinputs

Run modelfor 10, 50, 100

& 500 yr events

Calibratemodel

QA/QC

ModelEvaluation &

Selection

Are modelInputs

Complete?

No Yes

SupplementalData

Collection

AdjustModelinputs

AdjustModelinputs

Submit toFEMA

ApprovedYesNoSubmit to

FEMA

ApprovedYesNo

Submit toFEMA

Approved

Yes

No

Map ProductionMap Production

Review of engineering analysesReview of engineering analyses Map review, publication, and productionMap review, publication, and production Public review and commentsPublic review and comments DFIRM produced and distributedDFIRM produced and distributed

Where Are We In the Where Are We In the Process?Process?

Business Plan has been approved by Business Plan has been approved by FEMAFEMA

Funding for FY2003, FY2004, and FY2005 Funding for FY2003, FY2004, and FY2005 projects allocatedprojects allocated

Initial aspects of the FY2006 projects Initial aspects of the FY2006 projects underwayunderway

Flood Map Modernization Project Flood Map Modernization Project SelectionSelection

FEMA CriteriaFEMA Criteria High population densityHigh population density History of repetitive loss/claims/disasterHistory of repetitive loss/claims/disaster High growth areasHigh growth areas Large NFIP policy baseLarge NFIP policy base Ability to leverage other Federal agency workAbility to leverage other Federal agency work Availability to cost share with state and Availability to cost share with state and

regional entitiesregional entities

Business PlanBusiness Plan

Plan for the entire statePlan for the entire state Plan has to be approved by FEMAPlan has to be approved by FEMA

Mapping GoalsMapping Goals Program ManagementProgram Management Funding NeedsFunding Needs

LOMCLOMC LegislationLegislation

Counties By YearCounties By Year2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Baldwin Calhoun Autauga Blount Bullock BarbourCullman Cleburne Clarke Chilton Butler BibbJefferson De Kalb Dale Coffee Chambers ChoctawMadison Geneva Elmore Colbert Cherokee ClayMobile Houston Escambia Crenshaw Coosa ConecuhMontgomery Marengo Etowah Fayette Dallas CovingtonMorgan Marshall Henry Franklin Greene LowndesRandolph Perry Jackson Lamar Hale MaconShelby Pike Lauderdale Lawrence Pickens Monroe

Talladega Lee Limestone Russell TallapoosaTuscaloosa Marion St. ClairWalker Winston SumterWashington Wilcox

Program PlanProgram Plan

Establish Flood Map Modernization Establish Flood Map Modernization Business Plan as part of overall Floodplain Business Plan as part of overall Floodplain Management Business PlanManagement Business Plan

• Comprehensive planComprehensive plan• Outline long-term goals and objectivesOutline long-term goals and objectives• Describe plan to establish state capabilityDescribe plan to establish state capability

How can you help?How can you help?

Get involved in the map process through Get involved in the map process through local Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance local Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance Administrators.Administrators.

Give us feedback on the end products.Give us feedback on the end products. Be informed of our progress.Be informed of our progress.

water@adeca.state.al.uswater@adeca.state.al.us

334-242-5499334-242-5499

Contact Information

Web: www.adeca.alabama.govWeb: www.adeca.alabama.gov

E-mail: water@adeca.state.al.usE-mail: water@adeca.state.al.us

Phone: (334) 242-5499Phone: (334) 242-5499

FAX: (334) 242-0776FAX: (334) 242-0776

Questions?