Guidance for New York Rising Community Reconstruction Plans
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IS Y R IN Guidance for N G New York Rising C O S M IE Community MUNIT Reconstruction Plans A Planning Toolkit for CR Planning Committees Table of Contents Introduction . 1 Preparation of a NY Rising Community Reconstruction Plan . 3 Overview Characteristics of a Successful CR Plan Contents of a NY Rising Community Reconstruction Plan Step 1: Organize for Action . 7 Appoint a Planning Committee Select a Consultant Establish a Vision Conduct Public Outreach Review Risk Assessment Areas Identify Geographic Scope of Community Reconstruction Plan Step 2: Inventory Assets . 11 Overview Conduct Inventory Step 3: Assess Risk . 15 Overview Assessing Risk Using the Risk Assessment Tool to Quantify Risk Step 4: Determine Needs and Opportunities . 21 Overview Analyze Asset Needs and Opportunities Step 5: Engage in Regional Planning Process . 28 ii Step 6: Develop Strategies for Investment and Action . 31 Overview Develop Strategies Identify Projects Needed to Implement Strategies Identify Management Measures Needed to Implement Strategies Costs and Benefits Step 7: Complete the CR Plan . 37 Develop a Detailed Implementation Schedule Submit the CR Plan Appendices . 39 1. Expanded Outline of Community Reconstruction Plan Contents 2. Flooding Risk Factors for Inland Communities 3. FEMA Definition of Critical Facilities 4. Six Classes of Management Measures 5. Example List of Zoning and Subdivision Tools 6. Using the Risk Assessment Tool to Test Management Measures 7. Scenario Planning 8. Interpreting Risk Scores 9. Relationship of CR Plans to LTCR Plans 10. Case Examples of Effective Community Redevelopment Endnotes . 75 iii iv Introduction Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee (2011) and Hurricane Sandy (2012) demon- strated the severe effects of changing weather patterns – loss of life, displacement, damage to property and infrastructure, loss of essential services, and disruption of daily routines. Through the New York Rising Community guide project and investment decisions, redirect land Reconstruction Program, New York State is assist- use, and gradually transition at-risk assets from high ing communities to rebuild better and safer based risk conditions to an acceptable lower level of risk. on community-driven plans that consider current To promote economic development in the com- damage, future threats to community assets, and the munity, each community will be able to apply les- community’s economic future. In keeping with the sons learned and best practices in other commu- National Disaster Recovery Framework, CRZ Plans nities across the country and around the world. will consider the needs, risks, and opportunities A successful plan will focus on those investments related to assets in the following categories of recov- that produce the greatest economic benefits while ery support functions: Community Planning and improving the resilience of the community in the Capacity Building, Economic Development, Health face of future threats. and Social Services, Housing, Infrastructure, and Natural and Cultural Resources. To help communities develop their plans, New York State will provide communities with the following: By completing a successful Plan, each participating community will position itself to obtain funding to • Consultants to help develop plans; implement that Plan to improve the community’s • Assistance from experts and facilitators during future. the planning process; Through the planning process, communities will: • Workshops and webinars to help prepare the • Assess the community’s vulnerabilities to future community and planning committee members natural disasters and its needs for economic to develop plans; development; • A website containing information related to plan • Identify where funds should be used to repair or development and implementation, as well as reconstruct critical facilities and essential public other useful resources; assets damaged or destroyed by these storms; and • A regional context to develop large scale infra- • Identify projects that will increase resilience structure projects and address State, regional, while also protecting vulnerable populations and county assets; and promoting sound economic development. • Identification of risk assessment areas; and Planning to become more resilient is based on under- • A risk assessment tool to allow communities standing and managing risk to a community. An to quantify relative risk and test management evaluation of the factors that produce risk – hazard, measures. exposure, and vulnerability – will help communities develop effective reconstruction strategies which will 1 2 Preparation of a NY Rising Community Reconstruction Plan OVERVIEW Though scientists cannot predict meteorological events with certainty, it is likely that the storms of 2011 and PREPARATION OF A COMMUNITY 2012 are the first of an era in which coastal storms may RECONSTRUCTION PLAN be more intense and more frequent. As a result, com- Step One: Organize for Action • Appoint a Plan Development Committee munities must identify approaches to community recon- • Select a Consultant struction and development that will reduce future costly • Establish Goals • Conduct Public Outreach damages to their social, economic, and environmental • Review Risk Assessment Areas assets. • Identify Geographic Scope of Reconstruction Plan The State has invited communities hardest hit by Step Two: Inventory Assets • Conduct Inventory of Assets Hurricane Sandy, Hurricane Irene, and Tropical Storm Step Three: Assess Risk Lee to prepare NY Rising Community Reconstruction • Assessing Risk Plans. For details on how to access information and • Using the Risk Assessment Tool to Quantify Risk assistance related to community reconstruction plan- Step Four: Determine Needs and Opportunities ning, consult the website found at: • Analyze Asset Needs and Opportunities Step Five: Engage in Regional Planning Process http://nysandyhelp.ny.gov/community-reconstruction- Step Six: Develop Strategies for Investment and Action program • Develop Strategies • Identify Projects Needed to Implement Strategies This guide explains the seven steps a community must • Identify Management Measures Needed to Implement take to develop a plan that will guide their rebuilding, Strategies resilience and economic development and position the Step Seven: Complete the Community Reconstruction community to receive implementation funds. Plan • Develop Detailed Implementation Schedule As set forth in the timeline in Figure 1, the planning • Submit Community Reconstruction Plan process is expected to take eight months. The deadline for submission of completed plans will be posted by the State before the commencement of the planning process. Figure 1 Planning Timeline Month 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Public Outreach Planning Committee & Consultants in Place Regional Planning Establish Goals Assess Risk Develop Strategies Inventory Assets Identify Needs Submit Plan and Opportunities to State Identify Implementation Measures State Review of Plan Finalize Plan 3 CHARACTERISTICS OF A SUCCESSFUL CR PLAN To qualify for grants to implement the CR Plan, the • Projects with economic growth co-benefits. plan must include the following: Projects that will improve the future of the local • Assessment of risk to key assets and systems. economy may also enhance the resilience of the As the bedrock of the plan, an inventory of the community. For example, investments in new vulnerabilities of key assets and systems is nec- transportation infrastructure may facilitate the essary to prioritize various projects and actions. growth of Main Street business corridors; and investments in new recreational assets (e.g. new • Projects and actions to restore and increase the green space that serves as a buffer against coastal resilience of key assets. The CR Plan should flooding) may protect against storm damage or address both the restoration of key assets and serve as redundant protection in critical areas, actions that will make them more resilient to while also drawing tourists or facilitating the future threats. Examples of such projects and growth of new businesses. actions include restoration or mitigation of nat- ural infrastructure (e.g. wetlands, oyster reefs, • Regional coordination. To ensure that CR Plans dunes, and other green infrastructure), changes are consistent with regional objectives and that in land use regulations (e.g. changes in use, a regional response to the challenges that cross increased setbacks, and transfer of density) to political jurisdictions serve the community’s encourage sound development, and investments long-term objectives, Long Island communities in transportation or other improvements in com- and communities in other areas identified by munity systems to prepare for future threats. the State must participate in a regional planning process. • Protection of vulnerable populations. The CR Planning Committee should develop new mea- • Detailed implementation agendas. Each CR sures to protect vulnerable persons (people with Plan must include a clear and detailed descrip- disabilities, low and very-low income popula- tion of the tasks it will take to implement the tions, elderly, young children, homeless and plan. This includes assigning responsibility for people at risk of becoming homeless) through specific actions to specific individuals or orga- housing decisions and other services. For exam- nizations, and establishing timelines for each ple, site new facilities in lower risk areas, require action, as appropriate. backup power systems for