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View Narrative Program Session A Tuesday, May 11 – 9:00-10:30 AM central A1: CRS - National Focus CRS Transformation: Incentivizing the Future of Risk Reduction Rachel Sears, CFM, FEMA, [email protected] Co-presenters: Mary Jo Mullen, PE, PMP, [email protected] Abstract: Since the CRS program started, there have been major changes in understanding flood risk, flood risk reduction techniques, and technology. There are a series of transformations in programmatic approaches within the NFIP, and CRS will need to align to all these evolutions in programs, policies, and knowledge. CRS Transformation is the multi-year effort to make this happen. This presentation will inform state and local partners about the purpose, timeline, and ongoing work on FEMA’s Community Rating System (CRS) Transformation. Participants will learn the goals and objectives of this effort and how they too can contribute to shaping the new CRS. Join us to be a part of making change and improving this valued program! Biography: Rachel Sears joined the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in 2004 and currently serves as the Director for the Floodplain Management Division. In this capacity, Ms. Sears provides leadership in the implementation of the floodplain management requirements of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and oversees FEMA’s work as the lead agency under the Unified National Program for Floodplain Management and as the consultation agency under Executive Order 11988, Floodplain Management. In her previous capacity as the Senior Policy Advisor for the Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration, Rachel played a lead role in advancing FEMA's work in national climate adaptation and resilience policy, supporting the development and implementation of the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (EO13690), Presidential Policy Directive 8 - National Preparedness, the President's Climate Action Plan, the Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Strategy, and the Principles and Guidelines to Water Resource Management. Rachel has also been involved in the many reforms of the National Flood Insurance Program. She has worked multiple disasters in the national operations center and has been deployed to disaster field assignments in Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Iowa. Ms. Sears has a B.S. in Environmental Sciences from Shepherd University and a Masters of Public Policy from George Mason University. The Community Rating System: Program Updates and the 2021 Addendum Bill Lesser, CFM, FEMA, [email protected] Co-presenters: Molly J. O’Toole, P.E., D.WRE, CFM Sherry Harper, CFM Abstract: In January 2021, new Community Rating System (CRS) prerequisite requirements became effective and new CRS credits were made available. These changes are included in the 2021 Addendum (Appendix) to the 2017 CRS Coordinator's Manual, which is serving as a “bridge” between the existing guidance materials and the more comprehensive update to the CRS program (CRS Transformation) that is part of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Transformation. This CRS program update presentation will highlight the 2021 Class 9 prerequisite for Elevation Certificates, the Class 8 prerequisite for freeboard, the new credit opportunities, and several credit simplifications. The discussion will also include how the CRS program is transitioning (implementing) the Addendum, both at cycle verification visits and at annual recertifications, and recommendations for communities. Additionally, other program updates and CRS priorities for the near future will be discussed. Biography: Bill Lesser, CFM, works in the FEMA Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration, Mitigation Directorate, Floodplain Management Division as the National Coordinator for the National Flood Insurance Program’s (NFIP) Community Rating System (CRS). He coordinates overall operation of CRS through the ten FEMA Regional Offices with the support of Insurance Services Office which provides field delivery of the CRS to communities. Bill has worked with FEMA since 1993 in various capacities including NFIP Community Eligibility and Compliance, Congressional Affairs, as a Subject Matter Expert with the FEMA National Emergency Training Center and most recently as the CRS National Coordinator. Prior to working for FEMA he worked with the Commonwealth of Virginia in the Floodplain Management Branch and with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts with the Department of Environmental Management. New CRS Credits for Conservation and Recovery of Threatened and Endangered Species French Wetmore, French & Associates, Ltd., [email protected] Co-presenters: Bret Gates, CFM, FEMA, [email protected] Abstract: FEMA worked collaboratively with the U.S. and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service to develop a plan to further the conservation of threatened and endangered species and designated critical habitats pursuant to Section 7(a)(1) of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). After several years of research, discussion, and pilot studies, FEMA developed new tools and two new CRS credits (effective with the 2021 CRS Coordinator’s Manual Addendum). The first tool is a FEMA.gov website, “Floodplains and Wildlife Conservation.” The website explains how communities can incorporate species and habitat conservation into floodplain management strategies and decisions; and also reviews the benefits to the community with several success stories. The second tool is FRESH (Flood Risk and Endangered Species Habitat), a Web-based mapping tool identifying species’ ranges and critical habitats within a community’s Special Flood Hazard Areas. FRESH shows communities which species they should address and where. The third tool is two new CRS credits, the Floodplain Species Assessment (FSA) and Floodplain Species Plan (FSP), which are credited under the natural floodplain functions plan element (NFP) in Activity 510 (Floodplain Management Planning). One credit is an assessment of ESA species with ranges and/or critical habitat in the community, how the species relate to the community’s floodplain, and what relevant activities the community is implementing that warrant CRS credit. The FSA takes advantage of the FRESH mapping tool. The second new credit encourages the community to leverage the FSA and to identify conservation and recovery actions that it could take to help priority ESA species. The new CRS credits are dependent on reviews with appropriate federal, state, and local natural resources agencies and organizations. The presentation will review the new tools and walk through the new CRS credits, including best practices to develop FSAs and FSPs by three pilot CRS communities. Biography: French Wetmore is President of French & Associates, a floodplain management consulting firm. French’s consulting projects have included assisting communities, states, and federal agencies with their floodplain management programs, mitigation plans and programs, floodproofing projects, and flood warning and response programs. French & Associates was the lead consultant to FEMA and the Insurance Services Office on the Community Rating System from its inception in 1988 until 2014 and the lead CRS instructor at FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute during that time. Most recently, French has been working with FEMA on ways to use its authorities, especially the CRS, to promote conservation and recovery of threatened and endangered species. French served as Chair of the Association of State Floodplain Managers (1985 – 1987), President of the Certification Board of Regents (2001 – 2004), and on the Board of Directors for the Illinois Association for Floodplain and Stormwater Management (1989 − 2007). He has a B.A. in Government from Indiana University (1968) and a Masters in Public Administration from Syracuse University (1972). Bret Gates is the National NFIP ESA Coordinator in FEMA’s Federal Insurance & Mitigation Administration. He is currently responsible for national NFIP ESA Coordination, Floodplain Management policy and special projects. He has previously served as Program Manager of the Community Assistance Program – State Support Services Element (CAP-SSSE); and National Coordinator of FEMA’s Community Rating System (CRS) 1990-2006; Other responsibilities have included serving as Program Lead for the Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM), and the Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) programs. A2: Mitigation Successes and Loss Avoidance Studies The Results are in! Building Codes Save Jonathan Westcott, PE, FEMA Headquarters, [email protected] Co-presenters: Shane Parson, PhD, PE, CFM, Compass/AECOM, [email protected] Abstract: Adopting the latest hazard-resistant building codes is a community investment in mitigation and damage prevention – FEMA’s Building Codes Save Study shows the return on investment represented as losses avoided and supports FEMA’s programs and efforts that promote and support hazard-resistant building code adoption and enforcement. Using big data, FEMA’s modeling of the 18.1M buildings constructed in the United States since 2000 has found that the nation has benefited to the tune of $1.6 billion in savings each year. These savings represent the cumulative losses avoided from property damage associated with using the International Codes or similar building codes during floods, hurricane, and earthquakes. FEMA projects that, by the year 2040, the nation will save around $3.2 billion in savings per year. This adds up to almost $133 billion in total losses avoided from 2000 to 2040. This presentation will provide a brief
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