The Antediluvian Ohio’s Floodplain Management Newsletter

Volume VIII Winter 2001 Issue 2

THE FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT PROGRAM MISSION: To provide leadership to local governments, state agencies, and interested parties toward cooperative management of Ohio’s floodplains to ensure the reduction of flood damage and the recognition of the floodplain’s naturalbenefit. This mission is accomplished through technical assistance, public awareness, education, and development / protection standards.

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In R e t r o s p e c t BY PETER FINKE, DEPUTY CHIEFDIVISION OF WATER (RETIRED) On August 1, 2001, I retired from theOhio Department of Natural Re-sources’ Division of Water. Most ofmy 31 years with the ODNR werespent with Ohio’s Floodplain Manage-ment Program. The following are someobservations from my years with theflood program. In 1970, I was fortunate enough to behired to help implement the newFloodplain Management Program thatthe Division of Water had just started.Until that time, the Division of Waterhad a Flood Control Section whosemain function was to coordinatevarious federal flood control works ofthe U.S. Army Corps of Engineers andthe Soil Conservation Service. TheDivision of Water wanted to develop anew program that would include notonly the traditional dam, levee andchannel improvement projects, but alsotry non-structural strategies such asfloodplain regulations, flood warningand forecasting, and flood insurance.To emphasize the new unified ap-proach to reducing flood losses, theFlood Control Section was renamedthe Floodplain Management Section.As with many state programs, thischange did not just happen but wasborn out of necessity–Ohio hadwitnessed a terrible flood the yearbefore in July 1969 that forced local

and state leaders to look for moreeffective and less costly measures tohelp reduce Ohio’s mounting floodlosses.

Back in 1970, few Ohio communitiesregulated floodplain use. In fairness,most of these communities lacked agood understanding of their flood-prone areas, since few flood mapsexisted at that time. True, the firstflood maps were just beginning to bemailed to communities through the National Flood Insurance Program(NFIP), but these maps were extremelycrude and geared primarily for insur-ance rating purposes. There were,however, some exceptions where localfloodplain regulations were in effect.In southwest Ohio, for example, flood-plain zoning regulations could befound in a number of townships andmunicipalities thanks to the efforts ofthe Miami Conservancy District.Another pocket of communities withfloodplain regulations existed innortheastern Ohio. But in most communities, the construction of newbuildings proceeded without anyconsideration being given to the risk offlooding.

I am happy to say that over the last 30years, things have changed in Ohio.

The flood mapping efforts of the NFIPimproved and almost every Ohiocommunity now possesses a goodindication of its flood threat.Floodplain regulations exist invirtually every flood-prone commun-ity. Improvements in radar tech-nology, such as the Doppler Radar,have led to more accurate floodforecasting, and nowadays automatedstream and rain gages send datainstantaneously by satellite to NationalWeather Service offices and local/stateemergency operation centers. Com-puter-based Geographic InformationSystem applications enable planners tomap flood-prone areas with greateraccuracy and at less cost. All thesefactors help improve our response tothe flood threat at the local, state, andnational levels of government. The key, however, to an effective stateflood damage reduction effort restswith the local floodplain program.Here, too, I have seen a significantchange during my years with theODNR. More and more communitiesare recognizing that the floodplainmanagement regulations they hadinitially adopted for the purpose ofjoining the NFIP can work well inreducing future flood damage when

In Retrospect……………………..……………………………….………First The Boss, Now A Mentor, Forever A Friend……………………… Floodplain Management in Ohio – Statewide Conference 2001……… And the Award Goes to…………………………………………………. A Special Thanks………………………………………………………… A Call for Involvement………………………………………………….. 2002 Statewide Floodplain Management Conference………………… He did it, so why can’t I? Flood Recovery in Manchester…………….. FMP’s Geographic Information System (GIS) Strategy……………… Marking High Water After Flood Events……………………………… Plan – Prepare – Protect…New Trends In FPM 2001………….…….. LOMR-f (Technical Bulletin #10-01)…………………………….…….. The Importance of Being Earnest in Adopting FPM Regulations…… Severe Weather Safety Awareness Week………………………………. Workshop Watch…………………………………………………………Find FEMA Floodmaps Fast…………………………..…….

111

(back cove

In This Issue

creative license, butthe near devastationprogram in the late tale of the Phoenix. been reduced to a stacollaboration and cFederal EmergenAgency funding thatrebuilding of the flooprogram. As the Sthe National Flood he expanded staff toassistance, educationflood hazards. Undmajority of NFIP cotheir initial Flood Insmaps.

properly administered. They havecome to understand that flood damagereduction standards do not operate in avacuum and such regulations workbest when they are integrated into andcoordinated with other developmentplans and goals. Thanks to dedicatedlocal floodplain administrators, whosetask is not always an easy one,communities are beginning to see thatfloodplain regulations play a criticalrole in protecting their communities'welfare. Regrettably, local floodplainadministrators have not alwaysreceived the recognition they deserve.When the next flood hits, however,those homeowners who built theirhomes safely will appreciate thebenefits of having heeded the advice oftheir local permit officials. It has been my good fortune to havebeen associated with a program ofsuch importance to the welfare andsafety of Ohio’s citizens, and to haveknown so many talented individuals atODNR, throughout the state, and at thenational level who work tirelessly toprotect our natural resources.

For the early 80’s wand through Pete’sethic and leadershipable to gain credibilion a mission to redprotect the floodplainin strategic priorcomprehensive floodacross Ohio. He wmultiple drafts oreduction legislation adopted in the eapromoted standards

F BY CPROGDIVI This writeessento soshoulI amcausifloodOctome a Whenalreasimilof yoPhoeAraband out oYes,

First The Boss, Now A Mentor, orever A Friend

YNTHIA J. CRECELIUS, CFM, RAM MANAGER

SION OF WATER

really should be an easy article to; however, as I try to capture thece of wishing a “happy retirement”meone I’ve worked shoulder- to-der with for nearly seventeen years, finding that the emotions areng some difficulty. I started myplain management career inber of 1984 when Peter Finke hireds one of his two planners.

I joined the Program, Peter haddy performed a mythical featar to that of the Phoenix. (For thoseu who are not mythology buffs, thenix was a lone bird that lived in theian Desert for several hundred yearsafter being consumed in fire, rosef the ashes to start another life.)I am using some imagination and

Pete’s survival of of the floodplain70’s resembles the The program hadff of one! He usedreativity to securecy Management helped support thedplain managementtate Coordinator ofInsurance Program, provide technical and training oner his tenure, the

mmunities receivedurance Studies and

e were a lean staff dedication, work the program wasty. His clear focusuce flood risk and resources resulted

ities to supportplain managementorked tirelessly onf flood damagethat was eventuallyrly 90’s. Peterin excess of the

NFIP, open space preservation, zoningand riparian corridor protection ascreative ways to protect the floodplainresource in addition to reducing flooddamages. Peter’s contributions to floodplainmanagement are not limited to his careeractivities in the State of Ohio. Since thelate 1980’s he has been a contributingmember of the national Association ofState Floodplain Manager’s by being amember of the Board of Directors, Chairof the Insurance Committee, RegulationsCommittee and participating in annualconferences. Overall, he has been aneffective liaison to FEMA working toachieve comprehensive national flood-plain management goals. The Associa-tion recognized his contributions lastyear and awarded Peter the LouthainDistinguished Service Award. Peter G. Finke, Deputy Chief of theDivision of Water, has been involvedin multiple aspects of floodplainmanagement for his entire career, whichspans three decades. It has been myprivilege and pleasure to have workedfor, with and mentor under Peter indeveloping my floodplain management

career. In the early years he promotedthe program mission and objectivesthrough teaching of floodplainmanagement concepts, flood hazardmitigation strategies, support for theNFIP, and involvement in floodpreparedness, warning and recovery. Heworked to address the partnership goalsof the State of Ohio and FEMA to createthe success of the NFIP that we knowtoday. In the late Eighties, he addressedpolicy and created a vision for a strongstate floodplain management effort tocompliment the strengths of the NFIPand national strategies for flood lossreduction. Throughout the Nineties andinto this millennium, he has capitalizedon his administrative position in the stateand his national committee chairmanshipto promote legislation and initiatives thatreach the broad goals of reducing riskand promoting the natural benefit andfunction of the floodplain. As we move forward in carrying out theplans that have been made, I have a quietconfidence that Pete Finke, even inretirement, will never be more than aletter, email or phone call away. I amfortunate to have worked with such acompetent and committed individual;and grateful for the opportunity beforeme as a program manager and statecoordinator following in the footsteps ofa leader who created a floodplainmanagement vision and established thecredibility to make it happen! Peter and his wife Mary are lookingforward to more time for travel and eachother. His immediate plans includecatching-up on all the to do’s around thehouse! Eventually, they may relocate tobe closer to his son and daughter-in-law.He is also perfecting all the skills thatgrandfather’s need…just in case! Pleasejoin the Division of Water staff inwishing Peter a happy and healthyretirement.

Best Wishes Peter, and remember, you’re still part of the group.

page 2

Floodplain Management in Ohio Statewide Conference 2001 BY ALICIA SILVERIO, CFM, ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST DIVISION OF WATER On August 29th and 30th, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’(ODNR) Floodplain ManagementProgram, in partnership with the OhioFloodplain Management Association(OFMA), and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA),coordinated Floodplain Management inOhio – Statewide Conference 2001. The conference was again held at theRamada Plaza Hotel and ConferenceCenter in Columbus, Ohio where over187 individuals attended the two-day training. Registrants primarily consistedof community floodplain administratorsand other local officials, in addition tofederal and state government officials,and representatives of the private sector.Twenty sponsors and exhibitorsparticipated in the event [See Thanks article on page 4]. The 2001 conference featured keynotespeakers Mike Buckley, P.E., TechnicalServices Division Director (FederalEmergency Management Agency) andLarry Larson, CFM, Executive Director(Association of State FloodplainManagers), who addressed FEMA’s MapModernization initiative and “NoAdverse Impact”, respectively. Concur-rent sessions in “Basic FloodplainManagement”, “Advanced FloodplainManagement”, and “Engineering inFloodplain Management” highlightedelements and strategies of compre-hensive floodplain management, infor-mation on those topics, and how toimplement such practices withinindividual communities. The ASFPM’s Certified FloodplainManager (CFM) Exam was alsoadministered to twelve conferenceregistrants at Floodplain Managementin Ohio – Statewide Conference 2001.The CFM is a nationally recognizedexamination devised to further profess-sional development as well as promotecontinuing education amongst thoseemployed within the floodplain manage-ment discipline. Floodplain Manage-ment in Ohio – Statewide Conference2001 has been allocated twelve Continuing Education Credits (CECs)

(six per day) that can be applied towardmaintaining CFM certification. Theconference was also given four hours ofcontinuing education for all classes ofcertification from the Ohio Board ofBuilding Standards. During the 2001 conference, OFMApresented four awards to acknowledgeseveral individuals and an organizationthat exemplify leadership in the field offloodplain management. Awards in-cluded “Floodplain Administrator of theYear”, “Award for Innovation inFloodplain Management”, “Peter G.Finke Award for Most ValuableContribution to Floodplain Manage-ment”, and the “Distinguished MemberService Award”. [See the article below.] Overall, the conference was well-received by those who attended andprovided comments. ODNR’s Flood-plain Management Program and OFMAwelcome any additional comments orsuggestions regarding the conferencethat you may still wish to offer. Pleaseforward any remaining survey forms orremarks to: Ohio Department of Natural Resources

Division of Water, Floodplain Management Program

1939 Fountain Square Drive, Building E-3 Columbus, OH 43224-1385

If any persons did not receive conferenceflyer for the 2001 Statewide Conferencedirectly would like to be notified of any2002 statewide floodplain conferenceevent, please contact ODNR at 614-265-6750.

And the Award Goes to…… BY RAY SEBASTIAN, PRESIDENT OFMA, CBO CLERMONT COUNTY

In an effort to recognize individuals andorganizations that exemplify leadershipin the field of floodplain management,OFMA developed four awards that werepresented at Floodplain Management inOhio – Statewide Conference 2001.The 2001 award recipients were selectedby the Conference Planning Committeeaccording to specific criteria. Theawards and recipients presented at theconference were:

Floodplain Administrator of the Year- Ray Sebastian (Clermont County) Thisaward was designed to honor anindividual whose contributions haveresulted in an outstanding local programor activity for comprehensive floodplainmanagement. Award for Innovation in FloodplainManagement - Chagrin River Water-shed Partners This distinction wasintended to recognize those who havedeveloped and applied an approach thatis “outside of the box.” Promotion offlood loss reduction, stewardship ofvaluable flood-plain resources, economicsustainability and quality improvementmay be ele-ments of programs, projects,publications and activities nominated forthis award.

Peter receiving one of many awards at the State Floodplain Conference

The Peter G. Finke Award for MostValuable Contribution to FloodplainManagement - Peter G. Finke Thishonor was established as a tribute toPeter G. Finke in his distinguishedservice and leadership of the OhioFloodplain Management Program forthree decades. Peter utilizedcollaboration and creativity throughouthis career and drew strength from hispersonal dedication to create astatewide floodplain managementprogram that improves the quality oflife for Ohioans present and future.He has also been an integral part ofdeveloping the national policy onfloodplain management.

Distinguished Member ServiceAward –Jerry Brems, Licking CountyPlanning Director (Past OFMAPresident) and Doug Johnson, ChiefEngineer for the Miami ConservancyDistrict (Past OFMA President) This award was established to recognizea member of OFMA, whose outstandingcontribution has furthered theorganization’s goals and objectives.The nominee must have made asignificant contribution through their

page 3

•tycc •fTLHFE

A Cal for InBY MARY SAMPASSISTANT ENGINEE

The Ohio FloodAssociation (OFMAmembers in order

leadership, dedication, creativity orcollaboration to improve floodplainmanagement in accordance with theOFMA purpose and objectives. OFMA is currently acceptingnominations for the 2002 OFMA Re-cognition Awards. Deadline for sub-mission is May 1st, 2002. For criteria,application forms, or more information,please call 614-265-6750 or email:cindy.crecelius@dnr.state.oh.us.

sTwu •fineth •SBisE(CSioO(RgoNDAaSM(paelo

•fsimth Tpen

its mission. Whyjoin and participateand what will you g I have personallyOFMA for the last a very worthwhileare my top ten rinvolved in land uregulations, zoniregulations, citizenand emergency mwould want to join: 1.OFMA provides

tunities with Managers that haflooding events. in Ohio has had your communitrespond?

2. OFMA has in

planned the Floodplain ManaThe Statewide cohensive two-day eexcellent opportuabout Floodplain is to continue wmembers to accand lead in this pl

3. OFMA performs

education program“takes the show oone-day worksregions of the staship dues (througfor this activity.

4. OFMA members

numbers and acreach our goals oness, professionaregulations and opportunities.

A Special Thanks BY ALICIA SILVERIO, CFM, ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST DIVISION OF WATER

Now that the Floodplain Managementin Ohio – Statewide Conference 2001has taken place, I’ve had a chance toreflect and consider how much work wasrequired throughout the ten months priorto plan and coordinate the two-dayconference. As the Conference Chair, Ican say that the success of the 2001Statewide Conference was based uponthe cooperative efforts of all who werewilling to get involved. In turn, I mustgive credit where credit is due and thankall those who provided assistance in theorganization of this conference. I wouldlike to recognize: • the 2001 CONFERENCE PLAN-NING COMMITTEE MEMBERS, fortraveling from even the vast reaches ofOhio just to make preparations (as wellas eat donuts and bagels) for theconference. These dedicated indivi-duals, [Chad Berginnis (ODNR–Flood-plain Management Program), DougCade (Lawrence County FloodplainManagement), Cynthia Crecelius(ODNR–Floodplain Management Prog-ram), Jake Greuey (Kemron Environ-mental Services), Miles Hebert(EMH&T), Kari Ann Mackenbach(FMSM Engineers), Mary Sampsel(Union County Engineer’s Department),and Gary Ziegler (City of FindlayDevelopment Services Department)],truly made planning the conference apleasure.

RAY SEBASTIAN (Clermont Coun- Building Department), for leading the

onference with much acumen andonsideration.

the SPONSORS, for providinginancial support for the conference.hese sponsors [Burgess & Niple,imited, DLZ, Evans, Mechwart,ambleton & Tilton Inc., (EMH&T),uller, Mossbarger, Scott & Mayngineers (FMSM), Miami Con-

ervancy District (MCD), PBS&J, andhermacon] not only were delightful toork with, but also demonstrated thetmost professionalism.

the CONFERENCE SPEAKERS,or contributing their time and expertise an effort to promote wise and

ffective floodplain managementroughout Ohio.

the EXHIBITORS, Association oftate Floodplain Managers (ASFPM),uilding Officials & Code Admin-trators International (BOCA), Federalmergency Management Agency

FEMA), Franklin County Soil & Wateronservation District, Insuranceervices Office (ISO), Mid-Ohio Reg-nal Planning Commission (MORPC),hio Emergency Management Agency

OEMA), Ohio Department of Naturalesources–Floodplain Management Pro-ram (ODNR-FMP), Ohio Departmentf Natural Resources–Division ofatural Areas & Preserves (ODNR-NAP), Ohio Environmental Protectiongency (OEPA), Ohio Floodplain Man-

gement Association (OFMA), Unitedtates Geological Survey (USGS), Wateranagement Association of Ohio

WMAO), for introducing theirrograms and services to conferencettendees so that each community couldxamine opportunities to better theircal floodplain management.

the CONFERENCE ATTENDEES,or taking time out of their hectic dailychedules to learn how to implement and

prove flood damage preventionroughout their communities.

hanks so much to all of you. You madelanning the conference a wonderfulxperience. Hope to see all of you againext year!!!

l volvement…

SEL, P.E.,

R – UNION COUNTY

plain Management) needs more active

to grow and achieve would you want to in this organizationet out of it??

been involved in5 years and think it is organization. Hereeasons why anyonese planning, buildingng, environmental drainage complaintsanagement planning

networking oppor-other Floodplain

ve had to deal withAlmost every countya flood event – willy know how to

the past two yearsannual statewide

gement conferences.nference is a compre-vent that provides annity to learn more

Management. If thise need other OFMAept Board positionsanning effort.

community outreachs. Our organization

n the road” by doinghops in differentte. OFMA member-h WMAO) help pay

hip needs to grow intivities if we are tof community aware-l growth, improvededucational training

page 4

mailto:cindy.crecelius@dnr.state.oh.us

Statewi

t o

BY ALICIA S

ld you lik

MaCof theBe par

ENVIRONMEDIVISION OF

Wou2002 StatewidConference? Silverio by phoemail at: alicfor more inform Want to knoStatewide FConference?

ation wInformODNR, Divisi

5tion about floodplain developmentpermitting and enforcement pro-blems. This day-to-day problem solving is a support network forthose administering the flood hazardreduction regulations adopted by the community.

. OFMA takes an active position on6

legislative issues that arise. Forexample, last year strongly advo-cated a proposed Federal budgetappropriation that would improvefloodplain mapping.

. OFMA members can develop

. Interest in watershed protection,

7consensus on how floodplain regula-tions can be strengthened to improvea community’s sustainability.

8land use planning and open space,GIS mapping, building codes andflood damage, subdivision develop-ment adjacent to water ways andemergency management planninghas increased statewide. Engineers,planners, environmentalists andbuilding officials should all beactive OFMA members.

. OFMA administers the Certifie9 d

Floodplain Managers exam foranyone interested in obtaining thiscertification. This national examrecognizes the professional expertisethat Floodplain Managers need tohave to effectively perform theirduties.

0. OFMA members get reduced rates

you have questions about OFMA o

1for conference registrations.

If rsuggestions for our Board, feel free to contact me at 937-645-3132 or by emailmsampsel@co.union.oh.us.

. OFMA members exchange informa-

2002 de Floodplain

mmittee…

ILVERIO, CFM,

e to join us in planning the

nagement nference Conference Planning Co

NTAL SPECIALIST WATER

e Floodplain Management Please contact Aliciane at 614-265-1006 or by

ia.silverio@dnr.state.oh.usation.

w more about the 2002loodplain Management

ill be posted on theon of Water website in the http://www.dnr.state.oh.

future. Visit:us/ water/. More

On Enf

Y CORNELIA M. DETTMER, M.D.,

to

“He did it, so why can’t I?” Recovery in Manchester

BPH.D., MAYOR OF MANCHESTER

hen Christopher Thoms asked meWwrite an article about our floodplainmanagement experiences for TheAntediluvian, I readily agreed as anopportunity to review what has happenedhere. Manchester is a struggling Appalachiancommunity of 2,003 people.Unfortunately in 1791, the foundingfather located the civilian fort in themiddle of a floodplain. It rotted away ina decade or so, as have buildings eversince. n 199I

5th Street putting one half of the villageunder water (50-year flood level). It wasafter this that we realized we had neverreally enforced the flood regulations

orcement

7, our flood waters went up past

passed in 1978. The sudden necessity tobring unreceptive persons into compli-ance with poorly understood regulationsresulted in the resignation of the Flood-plain Manager. He tried to educate him-self to do a proper job but the abuse andlawsuits against the village were toomuch.

No one wanted this job. I finally volun-teered so we would not lose our floodinsurance. I thought I was appointedFloodplain Administrator but found itincluded Zoning Administrator—anequally unpopular job.

My first action wasFloodplain Commission. Decisionscould be discussed and enforcementwould be easier if shared among severalpeople. I asked retired, respected mem-bers of our community to serve with meand they all accepted (2 retired bankersand a county agricultural agent).

Next we had to be educated as we had gotten ourselves into. We at-tended county and state FloodplainManagement courses in 1998. Ourneighbor down the river, David Kennedyof the award fame [David was honoredwith the Larry R. Johnston MemorialAward in 1998 for his floodplainmanagement efforts. Editor], was ex-tremely helpful in sharing his exper-iences and visiting. Our other mentorwas Christopher Thoms, who stillanswers our questions and oversees ourwork.

I typeRegulations (no secretary, but it did helpto study every word). The Councilpromptly passed it.

It then became very apparent that welacked one major key to properenforcement of these regulations. Wehad no first floor elevations on anybuildings. The Corps of Engineers didleave orange rings on telephone poles atthe 100-year flood level of 520’MSL.They surely looked high in some areas.

A private surveying company came toour rescue and volunteered to do freesurveys in our lowest areas. Two week-ends gave us several hundred unofficialelevations so we could work with theresidents. Of course, as-built elevationsare required to finish the permits. In themidst of all this activity the villageapplied for a Flood Hazard MitigationGrant–two years late but we were trying.

to appoint a

to what

d up our revised Floodplain

page 5

mailto:msampsel@co.union.oh.usmailto:alicia.silverio@dnr.state.oh.ushttp://www.dnr.state.oh. us/ water/http://www.dnr.state.oh. us/ water/

In order to be awa d the grant we harde dto prove we were enforcing regulations.Mr. Thoms came down to review ourefforts and presented us with a reportcard. I will never forget our score – lessthan 20 points out of possible 100!About an F, I figured.

d to address thWe hadamaged homes on the FEMA list thathad been complied in 1997 mainly byinspectors from elsewhere. All of themwere solved or solutions underway by2000 so our grant could begin.

ommissioners have conWe Cour efforts on making sure all newconstruction or mobile home placementshave proper permits. We revised all ourforms as we gained experience.Interestingly, whenever a new homeappears, villagers call us to make surepermits were issued. We are all policingthe area and it is hard to slip in on us.

nce we Commissioners have all servSithe public before, we continue to beuser-friendly. We take turns dealingwith particularly abusive persons and doinspections together. This has beenhelpful in keeping our composure.Every Friday morning we meet todiscuss new requests, review progress,and follow-up on incomplete permits.We divide up the tasks for the week. Wedid not grant a variance until this pastsummer. We have cited several non-responders into the Magistrates Courtafter all efforts failed to resolve an issue.We are very patient and frequently havegotten cooperation by just politelypestering people.

ve been chWe hatest case started on June 20, 1999. Ayoung man placed a mobile home in thelowest floodplain area of the village. Ireceived several phone calls alerting meto the situation so I went down on aSunday to request he get a permit. MyEncounter Form notes are classic: 1) hehas lived here 40 years and it has alwayslooked awful 2) other people are out ofcompliance 3) he had flood insurance soit was o.k. 4) he would get a lawyer (Isaid I would be glad to speak with hisattorney). We settled on his raising up 3blocks now and getting a permit thefollowing week. He would continue toelevate as he got the money. In July, heauthorized and elevation survey (whichwe eventually had to pay for) thatshowed the grade level at the site to be

e 63 substantially

centrated

ed

allenged and the first

total of ten feet. He had only gotten tosix feet and refused to go any higher.

ltiple visits had no effect and h

510.5’ MSL so he needed to elevate a

Mu enever appeared for a permit. OnFebruary 28, 2000 a citation wasprepared for him but could not be servedbecause he was in jail. He finally cameto court May 8 and found guilty with afine of $100 a day imposed beginningJune 13 if he had not taken action. Thiswas one year later but I said we werepatient and feeling our way.

ourse he did nothing so Of cappearance July 10 his fine was maderetroactive to May 8. The fine finallyreached $16,000 but we did not reallywant to repossess his mobile home.Then one day he moved out of thefloodplain. And he did not apply for apermit for this move. However with afew persuasive visits he did come in andget a permit and the judge canceled hisfine. We have not had any furthertrouble since. Other cases, after this, moved along

ences, my “boys”

1) We acknowledge errors fro

much more swiftly.

viewing our experiIn reand I felt we had learned severalimportant lessons.

mthe past but now enforce theregulations properly (we neededto comprehend the complexityof this task).

All new pe

2) rmits issued aretemporary with no occupancyuntil regulations are met.

Enforcement is by meetintalking with persons in a non-threatening manner. We res-pect everyone.

If no action is o

4) btained, then weprogress to a letter with aDEADLINE.

5) Final step is a citation where

one must have a cooperativeMagistrate, plus, well-docu-mented cases with EncounterForms and letters.

our dreams you can always

did it, so why can’t I?

And in yhear:

He

on his court

3) g and

BY DARLENE

Floodplain

M. MAGOLD, GIMS,

eographic Information System (GIS) is

Management Program’s GIS Strategy

DIVISION OF WATER Ga tool used to create, analyze andcompare spatial and statistical relation-ships among data with a location and avalue through the use of advancedcomputer technology. One of the maingoals of the Department of NaturalResources Floodplain ManagementProgram is to compile a GIS database inorder to provide better and more efficientservices and technical assistance tosupport floodplain management activ-ities. Numerous applications such ashazard mitigation, identifying structuresimpacted by potential flooding andhydraulic modeling are included in thisGIS endeavor. ODNR is very interested in what localcommunities have done to develop GISdata. Please feel free to contact me withquestions about the GIS program orinformation of GIS data in yourcommunity. I look forward to hearingany ideas your community may have tooffer.

Marking High Water

Y MICHAEL K. GEASE,

ST

or many Ohio communities, Floo

After Flood Events BSENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIDIVISION OF WATER F dInsurance Studies prepared for theNational Flood Insurance Program(NFIP) provide detailed 100-year “baseflood” elevations and other data utilizedfor sound floodplain management andthe protection of new or substantiallyimproved structures. Studies performedby federal agencies such as the U.S.Army Corps of Engineers and theNatural Resources Conservation Serviceprovide additional sources of floodplaininformation. For many streams,

page 6

however, detailed base flood elevationdata has not been developed. The lackof this information contributes touncertainty in assessing the flood risk toproperty owners and communities. One method of obtaining additionalinformation is to capture the elevation offloodwaters immediately following theflood event, usually within 48 hours afterthe water recedes. Using various floodlevel indicators such as mud lines onbuilding walls, seed lines on trees, anddebris lines on roads or other features,these elevations can be “flagged” ormarked, then later surveyed in toestablish the actual vertical elevation.The reliability of high water marks canbe affected by wave or current wash,additional rainfall which may obliterateseed lines, several flood peaks, etc.Therefore, locating high water marksshould ideally be conducted by qualifiedpersonnel such as the community orCounty Engineer. When valid highwater marks are established, the data isinvaluable after a flood for subsequentmapping of the flood’s area extent,estimating a flood protection elevationwhere no other data is available, and forcalibrating the flood event to known datasources such as stream gage records.The ODNR Division of Waterrecognizes high water marking as apriority and conducts limited high watermarking activities in conjunction withlarge flood events, as resources areavailable. Historical flood profiles andhigh water mark surveys have beenestablished by the Division of Waterfollowing floods in 1959, 1987, 1992,1995, 1997, and 1998. During theODNR Division of Water’s strategicplanning initiative in 1997-98, the needto establish and support a locally basedhigh water marking capability wasidentified. The following technical paper introducesthe concept and basic techniques of highwater marking. It is reprinted hereinfrom Techniques of Water ResourcesInvestigations of the United StatesGeological Survey, 1967. Book 3,Chapter A1, General Field and OfficeProcedures for Indirect Measurements,was authored by M.A. Benson and T.Dalrymple. For more information aboutestablishing high water marks after aflood, please contact the ODNR Divisionof Water at (614) 265-6750.

High-Water Marks

High-water marks are the evidence of the highest stage reached by the flood.There are many different types of marks,and the proper identification of them is that part of the work that requires themost experience. For this reason themost experience man in the field partyshould act as rodman and locate thehigh-water marks.

High-water marks tend to disappear rapidly after the flood peak, particularly in humid regions where rain is frequent.For this reason start the work ofsurveying as soon as possible after thepeak. If enough field parties are notavailable, locating the high-water marks at the desired sites before making thecomplete surveys may be worthwhile. Identify the marks by means of stakes,cloth tags, paint, paint sticks, nails, orcrayon. Make field sketches showingthe approximate locations of these marksfor the benefit of the survey party.Because it is difficult to stake out sufficient marks in this manner, the fieldparty should attempt to survey alladditional marks necessary to define theprofiles well.

Locate many high-water marks on both banks through the reach and for aconsiderable distance above and below,in order to aid in interpretation of theprofiles. The slope as determined bythese marks is probably very nearlyparallel to that of the water surfaceprevailing at the time of the crest stage.

Select high-water marks on surfaces parallel to the line of flow so that they represent the water surface and not theenergy grade line of the stream.However, there may be times whenponded elevations representing the totalenergy head are desirable, such as indam, bridge, or culvert computations.High-water marks on the ground where wave action and runup from surge are a ta minimum are generally preferable tothose in bushes and trees as defined bydebris which has been carried up, bywave action or the velocity of thecurrent, to a level above the prevailingwater surface. Even along the banks, the

upstream sides of projections into thestream will tend to show higher marksbecause of runup or velocity-headrecovery, whereas embayments mayhave lower elevations. Under suchconditions, obtaining of more closelyspaced marks is advisable, to show theshape of the water’s edge and aid ininterpretation.

Surge

The effect of surge on the high-watermarks found on the banks is animportant point to be considered.Observation and photographs offloodflow in natural channels show that,although there may be extensive waveaction in the middle of a fast-flowingstream, at the sides velocities are lowand the water surface quiet. Althoughthere undoubtedly is some effect fromsurge, the high-water marks should beused a found and no adjustmentsattempted for surge. Any adjustmentswould necessarily be subjective andwould lead to questionable results. Thisis justified by the fact that roughnessvalues as determined from “verification”studies are determined from high-watermarks on the banks, and any effect ofsurge is contained in the n valuesdetermined; if similar n values wereapplied for like conditions using thesame methods, then the effect of surgewould be minimized.

Identification & rating of high-water marks

In the field notes, describe the type ofhigh-water mark, such as drift on bank,wash line, drift on upstream side of tree.Also rate each mark as excellent, good,fair, or poor. All this information willhelp in interpreting the high-waterprofile.

Types of high-water marks

Many kinds of material which float,chiefly vegetative, are left stranded at thehigh-water line (and at lower elevations)when the water subsides. The finermaterial produces more definite andbetter marks and is apt to represent thehighest elevation that the water attainedthan would some scattered clumps oflarge drift. Leaves or cornstalks are aptto become waterlogged, and at the veryedge in slow velocities they will not risewith a slight rise of the water surface. Inthis manner, a mount of material,sometimes a foot or more in height, willform at the edge of the channel. Wherethis occurs, the elevation found byholding rod on the top of the mound—

page 7

would be the proper high-water elevation if the material is consolidated; if the material is loose, the shoreward toewould be the correct elevation.

Much drift usually will be found onbushes or trees within the channel. Suchmarks are not generally as dependable asthose on the banks. In swift water,varying amounts of pileup due tovelocity will affect the marks at theupstream side of such objects. Marks atthe downst5ream sides of large objectsmay be lower than normal. Brush in fastvelocities often will be bent downstreamby the flow, and drift will be caught on the upper limbs. When the velocitiesslow down, the brush becomes erectonce more, and the drift will appear to beat an elevation much higher than that ofthe actual water surface. In quiet wateron overflow plains, the highest drift inbrush or trees may be reliable.

Often the small seeds of various plantswill provide excellent high-water marks, remaining in the crevices of bark or inthe cracks in fence posts or utility poles.The highest of such particles should beused. At times, seeds will adhere to smooth surfaces and encircle trees,poles, metal posts, or guy wires. Whenpresent, seeds are an excellent source ofhigh-water data.

In arid regions, or where sandy soil orsteepness of banks prevent vegetativegrowth, the water surface may lapagainst bare banks. Soil will be washedaway by the moving water and undersome conditions will show “wash lines”which may be reliable high-water indicators. Good marks are indicators bythe straightness of the top of the washline. Where the bank is steep or the soil unstable, the material may slough toelevations above the water surface. Thiscondition may be recognized by theuneven ragged line at the top edge of thewashing—such marks should beavoided. Usually wash lines are poor.

Water carrying mud or silt will at timesleave easily recognizable lines alongbanks, on trees, brush, rocks, andbuildings. If there is only a slightdifference in color, the mud line may bemore readily visible from a distance.

Foam lines are common bridgeabutments, wingwalls, riprap, poles, andtrees. They may be affected by velocityhead pileup.

Buildings within the floodplain shouldbe investigated; they sometimes are an

excellent source of high-water marks.Even relatively clean water will leavestain marks within buildings. Excellentmarks may be found on windowpanes orscreens. Use care to select marks thatare not affected by velocity head, as aremarks on the upstream side of buildingsin an area where velocities were high.The exposure of floodwater entrancesinto buildings should be noted in order tojudge drawdown or pileup.

High-water marks on snow are notreliable. The flood debris may bedeposited on snow which partially meltsbefore a survey is made, leaving marksat a false elevation.

Even though high-water marks aroundhouses have been cleaned up or de-stroyed by rain, valuable informationmay be available from residents of theflood area. The information is usuallyreliable where the water has come into adwelling place, particularly if the familyremained there at the time or returnedshortly after. Information about floodheights away from dwellings, such as ontrees, fences, or sloping ground, arefrequently not reliable, particularly ifmuch time has elapsed or the facts aresecondhand. All such data should beconfirmed independently, if possible.Photographs taken at time of flood crestby local residents may be helpful inguiding the search for flood-marks.

Fourteen Ohioans were among thenation’s flood protection experts at the25th annual conference of theAssociation of State FloodplainManagers (ASFPM) in Charlotte, NorthCarolina, June 3 – 8, 2001. Ohiorepresentatives included: four localofficials, four consultants, one localwatershed council member and five stateofficials. The ASFPM celebrated acommitment of 25 years of work towardreducing the flood losses of our nation.Larry Larson, Executive Director,reflected upon the accomplishments thatbegan with fewer than 20 members of anorganization now representing 4000floodplain management practitioners,including leading flood hazard

Plan – Prepare – Protect …New Trends in

Floodplain Management, 2001

BY CYNTHIA J. CRECELIUS, CFM, PROGRAM MANAGER, DIVISION OF WATER

management experts throughout theworld.

The theme this year, Plan, Prepare,Protect …New Trends In FloodplainManagement, 2001 attracted over 700government and private professionals allsharing their techniques, experiences andtools for mitigating against the effects offlooding. The conference formatincluded an expanded technical programwith hands-on workshops and field toursto demonstrate the concepts. Severalfocused breakout sessions andnetworking forums were interspersedwith the plenary speakers and technicaltraining to provide a comprehensiveexperience for the attendees. A recordnumber of Exhibitors showcased thelatest in hardware and softwaretechnology; flood mitigation products,and successful mitigation projects. Theexpanded conference format, with anemphasis on the technical training, was adirect response to support the CertifiedFloodplain Manager continuingeducation need.

The technical program tracks coveredeight major areas; community initiativesto balance flood risk and sustainabilityneeds, multiple-objective planning,technology trends, coastal and riverinemanagement successes, National FloodInsurance Program, mitigation planning,mapping and engineering forfloodplains, and community education /outreach. A wide scope of issues werecovered, you should visit the ASFPMwebsite at www.floods.org for a reviewof the presentations / presenters in eachtrack.

The NFIP track was dedicated todiscussion of the new administration’spriorities and the reorganization that hasoccurred. The Mitigation Directoratehas been combined with the FederalInsurance Administration. This issimilar to the organization prior to theClinton administration. Priorities willinclude implementing the provisions ofthe Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000(Public Law 106-390, October 30, 2000),and reducing the number of repetitiveloss properties across the nation.

The Disaster Mitigation Act will focuson new selection criteria and proceduresthat local and state governments willhave to satisfy in order to maintaineligibility for pre-disaster and post-disaster mitigation funds. In short, thestate and local governments will need tohave mitigation plans before the flood to

page 8

http://www.floods.org/

Rule on Letters of Map Revision Publishedfrom Flood News for Michigan FloodplainManagers, Summer 2001. The article hasbeen modified for Ohio FloodplainManagers.]

LOMR-f BY GEORGE HOSEK, LAND AND WATER MANAGEMENTDIVISION, MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

The Federal Emergency ManagementAgency (FEMA) on May 4, 2001,published its revised final rule dealingwith Letters of Map Revision based onfill (LOMR-f). It is expected that thesenew rules will have a profound effect on

communities participating in theNational Flood Insurance Program(NFIP) and the usual practices of theland development industry.

The old rules were changed to endconfusion and the promoting of unwisedevelopment in floodplains. Under theold rules, land within the floodplaincould be filled and raised above the base(one-percent chance or 100-year) floodelevation (BFE) and an application couldbe filed with the FEMA to have the filledland removed from the floodplain. Oncethat land was removed from the mappedfloodplain, the NFIP floodplainmanagement regulations no longerapplied; and the required purchase offlood insurance connected with afederally regulated, supervised, orinsured mortgage also disappeared; thus,structures could be built at-risk with theirlowest floors (including basements)below the BFE. The revised final rulediscourages this practice and empowerslocal governments to make decisions toassure existing and proposed structuresin and near floodplains are reasonablysafe from flooding. The new rule more closely links theflood hazard identification process(mapping) with existing floodplainmanagement requirements by mandatingthat minimum floodplain managementrequirements be met before land (orstructures) can be removed from aFEMA-mapped floodplain. FEMA now requires a community tosign a form acknowledging that a maprevision request has been made and thatall applicable floodplain managementrequirements have been met. FEMAwill use those forms as its assurance thatthe structure(s) or filled area(s) are andwill remain reasonably safe fromflooding, a long-standing minimumfloodplain management requirement.The instructions for the forms have beenrevised to reference the new rule and tomore explicitly state the meaning of thelocal official's signature.

Specifically, the crucial revisions arefound at 44 CFR Part 65.5 (a) (4) and(5), as follows:

(4) Written assurance by the partici-pating community that they have complied with the appropriate minimum floodplain management requirements under §60.3. This includes the require-

ensure that the projects and actions takenduring flood recovery are cost beneficialand effective at reducing future risk.There is more emphasis, from thenational perspective, to have solutionsthat reduce multiple risks. Since Ohiodoes not have strong planning mandatesand many communities do not havecomprehensive plans, this change infocus will impact local communities.The Division of Water will be workingto assist in preparing local communitiesfor flood mitigation planning to maintainour competitive status for federalmitigation assistance.

Repetitive loss properties (thoseproperties meeting one or more of thefollowing criteria: four or more losses ofat least $1000 each; two losses in a ten-year period, that in aggregate, equal orexceed the current value of the building;or three or more losses that, in aggregate,equal or exceed the current value of thebuilding) will continue to be a highpriority for FEMA. Mitigation fundsand projects will be directed to eliminateas many repetitive loss properties aspossible. Ohio communities have 161target repetitive loss properties that as ofDecember 2000, resulted in nearly $7.5million. Nearly 90 of these propertiesare in the 100-year flood hazard area.Gloria Glens Park and Chippewa Lakehave the highest concentration ofrepetitive loss properties.

Throughout this year’s conference, theASFPM further developed the NoAdverse Impact initiative introduced atlast year’s annual conference. Theapproach is a shift from…the techniquesand standards used for floodpronedevelopment to how adverse impactresulting from those land use changescan be planned for and mitigated. …Aproposed new approach to floodplainmanagement, if properly implemented,can protect private property and stillallow society to take account of the fullsuite of benefits provided by floodplains.This new approach, called a “no adverseimpact policy,” would require those whoalter flooding conditions to mitigate theimpact their actions have on individualsand adjacent communities. It isessentially a “do no harm” policy thatwill significantly decrease the creationof new flood damage….

Division of Water staff have beenfielding questions from Ohio commun-ities concerning their desires to do morethan the minimum NFIP standards. The

[The following article is a reprint of Final

No Adverse Impact strategies and thegoals of many local communities may becompatible. There will be more on theNo Adverse Impact concept at theFloodplain Management In Ohio –Statewide Conference, August 2001.

Overall, the Ohio representatives notedthat our local and state programinitiatives in water resource managementand floodplains are headed in the rightdirection! Ohio local official’s sharedtheir expertise and talent in discussingNFIP compliance, and presenting on ariver corridor planning success. TheOhio consultants were benchmarkingtheir products, services and technologieswith the “latest and greatest” across thenation. Our state staff was also bench-marking to confirm that our strategicgoals of incorporating better technologyand building strong local capability, arekey to reducing flood losses andprotecting floodplain resources.

The host State of North Carolinademonstrated how to put all the piecestogether and showcased several localprojects that we all learned from. If youhave not attended an Association of StateFloodplain Manager’s Annual Confer-ence – you really should consider it!Next year’s event will be hosted inPhoenix, AZ from June 23-28, 2002.The theme will be “Breaking the Cycleof Repetitive Flood Loss.”

page 9

ments that:

i) Existing residential structures built in the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) have their lowest floor elevated to or above the base flood;

ii) The participating community has determined that the land and any existing or proposed structures to be removed from the SFHA are reasonably safe from flooding, and that they have on file, available upon request by FEMA, all supporting analyses and documen-tation used to make that determination;

iii) The participating community, has issued. permits for all existing and proposed construction or other develop-ment; and

iv) All necessary permits have been received from those governmental agencies where approval is required by federal, state, or local, law.

(5) If the community cannot assure that it has complied with the appropriate minimum floodplain management requirements under §60.3, of this chap-ter, the map revision request will be deferred until the community remedies all violations to the maximum extent possible through coordination with the FEMA. Once the remedies are in place, and the community assures that the land and structures are reasonably safe from flooding we will process a revision to the SFHA using the criteria set forth in §65-5;(a). The community must maintain on file, and make available upon request by the FEMA; all supporting analyses and documen-tation used in determining that the land or structures are reasonably safe from flooding. It is clear from these revisions that localcommunities will have to change pastpractices and that developers that fillparcels of floodplain and later buildstructures with basements below the BFEare endangering that community'sstanding in the NFIP. In addition, ifcommunities cannot give assurances thatthe filled land and structures arereasonably safe from flooding; FEMAwill consider such projects to be NFIP-violations, thereby, raising the possibilityof community probation or suspension.Suspension from the NFIP makes floodinsurance unavailable in the community.If the insurance coverage is notavailable, federally insured, regulated, or

supervised mortgages cannot be obtained. Community officials, that assure struc-tures. are :reasonably safe: from floodingcould be exposing their communities tofuture lawsuits if the structure does flood. The new rule can be downloaded at: http://www.fema,gov/,Iibrary/lomrAD13.pd . You can also download Technical Bulletin 10-01 entitled, Ensuring that Structures Built on Fill in or Near SFHAs Are Reasonably Safe FromFlooding in Accordance with theNational Flood Insurance Program, from: http://www.fema:gov/mit/tbl001.pdf. If you: have specific questions about the rule, you may contact a map specialist at 1-877-FEMA-MAP (336-2627) or George Meyers, FMP Engineerat 614-265-6635.

The Importance of Being Earnest in Adopting Local Floodplain Management Regulations

BY MICHAEL K. GEASE, SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST DIVISION OF WATER No, this isn’t my impression of a theatrecritic! This office has recently beencontacted by representatives of severalOhio communities that participate in theNational Flood Insurance Program(NFIP) to discuss the validity of theirlocal floodplain management regula-tions. NFIP participant communitiesmust adopt and enforce regulations fordevelopment in identified flood hazardareas that meet or exceed the minimumNFIP standards. Apparently in thesecommunities, while reviewing proposeddevelopment activities for compliancewith the local/NFIP regulations, it cameto light that the municipal ordinance orcounty resolution was not adoptedproperly and were thus considered“unenforceable.” In one instance, alandowner/developer who balked atmeeting the local flood protectionstandards threatened to sue thecommunity on the basis that theordinance was unconstitutional becauseit was not published following adoption,as required by state law.

Communities need to be aware thatfailure to properly adopt and maintain inforce NFIP-compliant local floodplainmanagement regulations could lead toserious consequences. First, the FederalEmergency Management Agency (FEMA), which administers the NFIP, couldsuspend the community’s participation inthe NFIP. This essentially means that nofederal flood insurance, federally backedmortgage loans, or federal disasterassistance would be available. Second,since compliance with the NFIPregulations is also required at the statelevel under Ohio Revised Code (ORC)1521.14 (C)(1), state disaster assistanceand state financial assistance for projectsin floodplains is very limited in non-participating or suspended communities.In addition to adopting new regulations,in most cases, a suspended communitymust also receive a NFIP CommunityAssistance Visit conducted by ODNRstaff prior to FEMA’s reinstatement ofthe community into the NFIP. FEMAalso requires that any violations of theNFIP regulations during communitysuspension be remedied by the commun-ity to the maximum extent practicable asa condition of reinstatement into theNFIP. And, any development thatoccurs in the floodplain during NFIPsuspension will be actuary insurancerated based on its risk once thecommunity rejoins the NFIP, causingincreased flood insurance premiums.Finally, communities may incur legalliability as noted in the example above.Thus the failure to properly adoptfloodplain management regulationscould have serious local political,economic, and social ramifications forflood prone communities.

How to avoid this problem? Com-munities can ensure the compliance oflocal regulations by following the legalprocedures defined in the ORC. In Ohio,only incorporated municipalities andcounties have the full requisite land useauthority to participate in the NFIP,although some township governmentshave adopted floodplain regulationsunder their zoning powers. For muni-cipalities, the specific legal processesand requirements to adopt floodplainmanagement regulations depend on theland use controls in the community.Ohio municipalities have broad localpowers (including zoning) under thehome rule authority provisions of Article18, Section 3 of the Ohio Constitution,and ORC Section 713.06. Municipal

page 10

http://www.fema:gov/mit/tbl001 .pdfhttp://www.fema:gov/mit/tbl001 .pdf

Waterford's Elementary, Paige Newmanof Peebles' North Adams Elementary,Calinda Pena of Fremont's StammElementary, Emily Rodriguez ofMacedonia's Ledgeview Elementary,Abby Shepard of Dayton's SalemChristian Academy, Sarah Siegrist ofNewark's Madison Elementary, & JasonWidmer of Sterling's Elementary.

Severe Weather Safety Awareness BY CHRISTOPHER M. THOMS, CFM, ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST, DIVISION OF WATER For information concerning the upcomingWinter Safety Awareness Week, Nov-ember11-17, 2001 go to www.state.oh. us/odps/division/ema/PDFslWinter2001.pdf. Rebecca Peterson, a 6th-grader from SaintBrigid School in Xenia, won this year'soverall award for her Severe WeatherAwareness poster (below). Her poster urgesus to, Slip on clothing, Slap on a hat andSlop on sun-screen to protect ourselves fromthe ill-effects of potentially deadly heatwaves. Statewide winners include Josh Boesigerand Hugh Dresbach both of Circleville'sSalt Creek Elementary, Ann Burger ofNorth Bend's St. Jude School, CarynMoore of Winchester's North Adams,Casandra Piecuch of Cleveland's St. Leothe Great, Sam Regas of Canton's SauderElementary, and Brandon Wiggins ofKingston's Salt Creek Elementary. Regional winners include Sondra Ander-son of Creston's Burbank Elementary,Shane Bianchini of Wintersville's Elemen-tary, Corinne Bocci of Sagamore Hill's St.Barnabas, John David Botti of Delaware'sCentral Ohio Christian, Michael Carter ofOak Hill's Oak View Elementary, RyanChambers of Perrysburg's Luckey Ele-mentary, Chelsea Griffin of Sherrodsville'sElementary, Kelsey Leis of Union's SalemChristian Academy, Alex McCutcheon of

Workshop Watch BY CHRISTOPHER M. THOMS, CFM, ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST, DIVISION OF WATER Nearly one hundred conferees participated in the Flood Loss Reduction Workshop at this year’s statewide floodplain manage-ment conference (see articles page 3). The participants represented a broad range of experience and expertise with some familiar faces and some new acquaintances. Each year seems to bring changes—not only of floodplain managers—but also to floodplain management. Some of the latter changes are useful innovations, some merely complications, and some seemingly unnec-essary obstacles. The Floodplain Manage-ment Program (FMP)-staff seeks to keep abreast (if not always ahead) of these changes in order to assist Ohio floodplain managers with the best preparation to reduce flood risks in Ohio. As a fundamental part of that preparation, the FMP-staff continues to develop andstrengthen a variety of workshops. Our lat-est workshop component addresses effec-tive flood safety standard enforcement methods and includes an innovative (hope-fully useful) mediation method called the Al-ternative Violation Remedy Process (AVRP). This new component joins the basic Flood Loss Reduction Workshop, and Substantial Damage Workshop that we regularly offer. We hope to add yet another component (currently under development) dealing withhydraulic and hydrologic engineering con-cepts. If you would like to be a host for a work-shop in your area or for more information, contact me at (614) 265-6752. We will be happy to answer your questions or provide additional information.

governments can also adopt buildingcode regulations as established by homerule authority and ORC Section 715.26.County authority to participate in theNFIP is established under ORC Section307.85, while counties also have powersto adopt building codes (ORC 307.37)and subdivision regulations. There are anumber of communities that haveutilized these powers to adopt specificstandards for NFIP compliance andsound floodplain management. ManyOhio communities, especially smallermunicipalities and counties, have simplyadopted the ODNR Model SpecialPurpose Flood Damage PreventionRegulations as stand alone regulations.

As the state coordinating agency forfloodplain management and the NFIP,the ODNR, Division of WaterFloodplain Management Programprovides model regulations and guidanceon the flood protection standardsnecessary to meet NFIP minimumcriteria. This office cannot provide legaladvice on the constitutionality orprocedural validity of adopted localfloodplain management regulations. TheDivision of Water is required to reviewall adopted floodplain managementregulations within 45 days of adoption.Primarily, the Division of Water reviewensures the ordinance or resolutionmeets or exceeds NFIP minimumstandards, and is a check to ensure thatthe copy of legislation provided toODNR has been properly signed andcertified. In all cases of legislativeaction to adopt floodplain managementregulations in compliance with the NFIP,it is critical that communities consultwith their legal adviser, i.e., VillageSolicitor, City Law Director or Attorney,or County Prosecutor, for guidance on theprocedures for compliance with adoptionof land use regulations in accordance withstate law and community enablingauthority. In some very smallcommunities, the cost of such services mayseem disproportionate to other communitybudget needs, but the legal assuranceprovided by such reviews may proveinvaluable in retaining a community’seligibility for the NFIP. Communitiesshould ensure that proposed floodplainmanagement regulations have beenthoroughly re-viewed by the communitylegal adviser prior to adoption andsubmittal to ODNR and FEMA. For moreinformation or to obtain a copy of the latestODNR model floodplain regulations,contact the Division of Water at (614)265-6750.

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http://www.state.oh. us/ odps/division/ema/PDFslWinter2001.pdfhttp://www.state.oh. us/ odps/division/ema/PDFslWinter2001.pdf

The Antediluvian is produced by the Division of Water & is supported by funding through a FEMA Cooperative Agreement as part of the Community Assistance Program - Stat

An Equal Opportunity Employer-M/F/H Please send address corrections, additions, & other changes to our offices or e-mail: ella.hardman@dnr.state.oh.us

Bob Taft, Governor Samuel W. Speck, Director James R. Morris, Chief

DIVISION OF WATER 1939 FOUNTAIN SQUARE COLUMBUS, OHIO 43224

4) Select Search.map appears (n

5) Scroll below the

Anyone who has an address for aproperty can perform an on-line search to determine the community ID andpanel number. At the Fema.gov website, select National Flood Insurance, then select Flood Hazard Mapping, then select The FEMA Flood Map Store.

Find FEMA Floodmaps Fast BY CHRISTOPHER M. THOMS, CFM, ENVIRONM

1) Select U. S. Street Addressfrom the pull-down menuwindow that currently showsVisible Map Bounds.

2)

3)

Enter address.

Select Find

1

2 3

4

5

12

e Support Services Element of the NFIP. The contents do not necessarily reflect the views & policies of the federal government.

printed on recycled paper Christopher M. Thoms, Editor

A location streetot a flood map).

page

map to the table.

ENTAL SPECIALIST, DIVISION OF WATER

The last four digits of the Item IDform the panel number, the first fivenumbers are repeated under theCommunity ID, and the date of themap follows. Panel type informs youif the map is in the single community(CB) or countywide format (CW). Print copies can be ordered from theFEMA site or from the toll-freenumber: (800-358-9616) or—if aphotocopy will suffice—thoseproviding the FMP office with theproperty’s panel number can speed oursearch for the map requested.

mailto:ella.hardman@dnr.state.oh.us

Volume VIII Winter 2001 Issue 2