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FEMA Mitigation Best Practices: Cedar Heights Saved During Waldo Canyon Fire
"In June 2012, the Waldo Canyon Fire burned more than 18,000 acres and destroyed 347 homes. Currently, it is the most costly fire in Colorado history, with estimated insured losses of $454 million. While the effects were devastating to the Colorado Springs community as a whole, the losses avoided in some areas are a testament that wildfire mitigation works. Thanks in part to mitigation efforts in an adjacent park, the Cedar Heights neighborhood (valued at more than $75M) was saved, allowing 250 families to return to their homes and their lives after the fire. […] Colorado Springs has long recognized the risk of wildfires to its residents. 'In the 1990s, we got a new Fire Chief, Manual Navarro,' says Christina Randall, Colorado Springs Wildfire Mitigation Program Administrator. 'Chief Navarro was a veteran of deadly wildfires in Oakland, California and immediately recognized our risk here. He told us that residents should never be able to tell us that they didn't know about their wildfire risk. This charge became the cornerstone of our education and outreach program.' More than 28,800 acres are in the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI), which includes twenty-four percent of the city's population. In 2000, the Colorado Springs Fire Department hired a wildfire risk manager and began conducting risk assessments on more than 36,000 properties in the WUI. The city developed a wildfire hazard rating system that identifies low, moderate, high, very high, or extreme ratings for each resident at the lot level."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
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FEMA Mitigation Best Practices: City of Arvada Attributes Successful Mitigation to Cooperative Efforts
"Arvada City Officials have been working together on mitigation projects that have paid off for the community. 'It is really the work of all these folks - our engineers, city planner, city managers, public works director, stormwater manager, and parks and recreation director, working together on a common goal - to protect lives and property,' said Patrick Douherty, city engineer. 'We have also collaborated with other agencies and neighboring cities.' Dating back to the early 1970's, Arvada was one of the first cities in the United States to begin flood flow attenuation and to manage development in the floodplain. Projects included small channelization, bridge replacements, large storm sewers, and regional detention. Funding for these projects came out of the city's General Fund-Capital Improvement Projects. In 2000, a stormwater utility was funded. Through the stormwater utility, the city has been able to fund more mitigation projects. 'We certainly have significant projects that are the showcase, but it is numerous activities (what people would call mundane or ordinary) - year after year upkeep, collaboration, replacements, improvements, and modifications - taken in its totality, that make mitigation work,' Douherty said. 'As a group, we take on the responsibility of assuring that our projects work effectively.' As of 2013, Arvada has spent more than $35 million (funding from local sources) on various projects throughout the city. Projects have been as small as putting in a more efficient inlet to major channelization projects. Small projects to eliminate localized flooding have cost the city $4.2 million."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
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FEMA Mitigation Best Practices: Combating Streambank Erosion in Fountain Creek
"Embankment erosion of Fountain Creek was threatening the roadway in Chinook, an area in the city of Pueblo. 'When this creek floods, basically this whole area is inundated with water,' said Earl Wilkinson, director of Public Works. 'Approximately 928 square miles of the drainage district drains down to Pueblo,' according to Daryl Wood, stormwater coordinator for Pueblo County. The erosion of stream banks is a natural process that occurs in lakes, streams, and rivers, and although it can be rapid, more often it involves the gradual removal of sediments from the shoreline. Erosion is caused by a number of factors, including storms, wave action, rain, ice, winds, runoff, and the lack of trees and other vegetation. In the spring of 1999, rain fell most of the day over Colorado Springs, Manitou Springs, Pueblo, and the surrounding areas. The rain intensified that evening and continued to come down heavily until the afternoon of April 30. Many areas received as many as eight inches in 40 hours, with some receiving more than 13 inches in 48 hours. The heavy rain in the Arkansas River basin led to widespread river flooding along Fountain Creek in El Paso and Pueblo Counties. 'We saw significant erosion in Fountain Creek after the 1999 flood, especially in the area of Creek Side at Velmount,' said Wood. 'We had to act fast and also consider cost. We determined that using hardpoints was the way to go.' Hardpoints are an erosion-control technique consisting of stone fills spaced along an eroding bank line."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
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FEMA Mitigation Best Practices: California Uses Hazus Multi-Hazard (Hazus-MH) to Reassess Safety of Hospitals
"Hazus-MH [multi-hazard] is playing a central role in the vulnerability analysis of over 1,300 hospitals that were built in California before 1973. The findings of this analysis have significant cost implications for the state. Following the 1994 Northridge California earthquake that damaged several hospitals, the state passed Senate Bill 1953 that requires all existing hospitals be seismically evaluated and retrofitted, if needed. Hospitals most likely to collapse in an earthquake, which fall under Structural Performance Category (SPC) 1, are required to be seismically retrofitted, replaced or removed from acute care service by January 1, 2008 or 2013, if granted an extension. Other hospitals that are less likely to collapse (SPC 3-5) have until 2030 to be seismically upgraded. A significant percentage of hospitals surveyed in California are SPC-1 facilities, constructed between 1950 and 1975. The methodology used for the seismic evaluations is NEHRP [National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program] Handbook for the Seismic Evaluation of Existing Buildings (FEMA 178). Since the publication of FEMA 178 in 1992, significant progress has been made in understanding the seismic performance of buildings, especially in performance based design. Hazus-MH has contributed in a major way to our ability to assess performance of buildings in earthquakes. In November, 2007, the California Building Standards Commission approved the use of the Hazus-MH Advanced Engineering Building Module (AEBM) to re-evaluate hospitals in California. The Commission's action amends the rule for implementing SB 1953."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
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FEMA Mitigation Best Practices: CAP-SSSE Funding Methodology: How a New Approach Produced Better Results
"The Community Assistance Program, State Support Services Element (CAP-SSSE) Cooperative Agreement, is a funding mechanism that supports States' floodplain management efforts and flood reduction measures through local communities' participation in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Administered by the Floodplain Management and Insurance (FMI) Branches of each one of the ten FEMA Regional Offices, CAP-SSSE currently disperses an annual total amount of $10.4 million nationally. Some of the CAP-SSSE fundable activities conducted by the State partners are Community Assistance Visits (CAVs), Community Assistance Contacts (CACs), floodplain management ordinance reviews, training, and the provision of technical assistance. Prior to the application process in fiscal year 2011, FEMA Region IV's FMI Branch identified a need to establish a more equitable, transparent funding process for State partners in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee to apply for CAP-SSSE funding. This need was identified due to previous negotiated funding levels that were not always commensurate to the floodplain management activities conducted. Beginning with fiscal year 2011 funding, nine core activities were identified and assigned negotiated work hours based on what would take to complete each activity (i.e.; 180 work hours for completion of a CAV). Those core activities are: enrollment of NFIP non-participating communities, CAVs, CACs-visits, CACs-phone, ordinance adoption associated with remapping, floodplain management courses, training and education, general technical assistance, and professional development."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
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FEMA Mitigation Best Practices: Repetitive Flood Claims Program Benefits City and Homeowners
"Cañon City officials completed an acquisition project after being motivated by a home that was subject to frequent flooding.
The 2011 acquisition was funded by FEMA's repetitive flood claims program.
Property acquisition can be a cost-effective and long-term solution for community floodplain managers and owners of flood-prone properties. The house that previously stood on the now empty lot was subjected to flooding not long after it was built. For decades, flooding of the Cañon City home continued after almost every rain storm."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
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FEMA Mitigation Best Practices: Computerized Warning System Alerts Pueblo Residents
"The county of Pueblo is located at the confluence of the Arkansas River and Fountain Creek, 112 miles south of the Colorado state capital in Denver.
Historically, flooding of most Pueblo County communities has been relatively infrequent. However, when flooding events occurred in August and September 2013, county and city officials were prepared to alert residents.
In the event of a flood, city and county officials consider it essential that they have the capability to warn residents. Warning residents in Pueblo County of potential flooding does not create a challenge because of the automatic emergency notification system they invested in, which has been installed by the county."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
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FEMA Mitigation Best Practices: Gallatin County, Montana Completes HAZUS-Multi Hazard Earthquake Study
"Gallatin County, Montana recently completed a comprehensive, two-year study of the potential impacts of two scenario earthquakes: a maximum probable event and a maximum credible event. The study results are being used by several local agencies and organizations.
The Gallatin County Department of Emergency Services is incorporating regional loss estimates into planning for earthquake mitigation, response and recovery."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
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FEMA Mitigation Best Practices: Flood Mitigation Project Leads to Saving the Town of Wellington
"The completion of the Coal Creek flood mitigation project with the support of a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) pre-disaster mitigation grant has taken much of the town of Wellington out of the Larimer County 100-year floodplain.
Coal Creek and Indian Creek are tributaries to the Boxelder Creek watershed that runs through Wellington. This watershed was on the Top 10 list of flood-prone watersheds in Colorado. The state made it a high priority to mitigate the extensive threat from these waterways."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
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FEMA Mitigation Best Practices: City of Colorado Springs Provides Training on Stormwater Management
"Stormwater Management has traditionally been the responsibility of local governments. However, with management practices becoming more complex, it has warranted the attention and involvement of both the State and Federal governments.'The state has indicated that as part of our role in assuring stormwater quality is to provide training,' said Steve Gardner, a certified floodplain manager. Gardner works for the Colorado Springs Department of Public Works. The city provides guidance on local, State, and Federal requirements for those responsible for operations and stormwater practices within the city. Stormwater is defined as rainwater and melted snow that runs off streets, lawns, and other sites. When it's absorbed into the ground, the water is naturally filtered, and ultimately flows into streams and rivers. However, in developed areas impervious surfaces such as pavement and roofs prevent precipitation from naturally soaking into the ground. Instead, the water runs rapidly into storm drains, sewer systems, and drainage ditches. This can cause problems like downstream flooding, stream bank erosion, infrastructure damage, and contaminated waterways along with overflowing sewers.'We not only provide training for our city staff but also for anybody who is interested in land development or who might be disturbing land within the city limits,' said Gardner. 'They all are encouraged to attend our twice a year training.' 'We have three brochures that were put together as part of our Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit,' said Gardner. Colorado Springs was issued a MS4 permit from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
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FEMA Mitigation Best Practices: A Safe Place to Call Home
"The residents of the Bay View Heights community in Dunn Wisconsin now have one less thing to worry about if a tornado strikes, thanks to a safe room constructed in their community in 2009. The safe room is designed to withstand wind speeds up to 250 mph and can temporarily hold over 400 people. Built with 12-inch- thick walls, the safe room offers a place of protection during a tornado, for residents of Dane County who would otherwise be left to fend for themselves. Before the safe room was constructed, residents were forced to try to flee the area and find shelter in neighboring towns or to brave it out in their manufactured homes. The planning for the safe room did not happen overnight; it took years of work, patience and motivation. Cathy Hasslinger, Town of Dunn Clerk Treasurer, was an advocate for building the safe room long before its existence, 'The Town of Dunn identified this as a need, and the county identified this as a need, and we spent an awfully long time; over a decade working on all the possible solutions.' The safe room project planning started over 15 years ago, when a number of tornados hit the Dane County area and came within a half mile of the Bay View homes twice. It was then that others began to understand the importance of this project."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
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FEMA Mitigation Best Practices: Harris County, Texas Uses Hazus-Multi Hazard for Risk Assessment & Hurricane Preparedness
"Harris County, Texas is the latest in a growing number of urban counties that has used Hazus-Multi Hazard (Hazus-MH) for risk assessment and preparedness planning. In 2005, the county enlisted the support of CivilTech Engineering, a FEMA authorized Hazus vendor for flood and hurricane models, to assess the risk to flood and hurricane hazards. Harris County has a population approaching four million, encompasses 1,746 square miles, and is frequently subjected to damaging winds and flooding. Harris County was in a unique position to initiate a Risk Assessment Program using Hazus-MH in 2005. The Tropical Storm Alison Recovery Project (TSARP) provided up-to-date hydrologic and hydraulic data and new mapping tools. In addition, the County's unique relationship with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers provided extensive economic and risk assessment data from multiple completed and ongoing federal flood reduction projects. In summary, the County already paid for extensive data collection and data generation for other projects which it now was able to applying to Hazus-MH to a Risk Assessment Program. CivilTech worked with the County to develop a Phase 1 project that would test the capabilities of Hazus-MH. In Phase of the Harris County Risk Assessment Project, a basic Hazus-MH Level 1 analysis using the Hurricane Wind and Flood modules was run for the entire county to familiarize personnel with the program and provide a useful product that could be immediately used. This was among the largest applications to date of the Hazus-MH program."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
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FEMA Mitigation Best Practices: Adhering to Floodplain Management Practices Saves Business
"As a local business owner in Estes Park watched flood waters inundate nearby homes and businesses in September, he was grateful he followed the advice of the local floodplain manager and the director of community development - to elevate and to add at least one and a half to two feet of freeboard. Freeboard is the amount of watertight surface between a given water level and the lowest possible entry point during flooding. 'I listened to them,' said Bret Freedman, broker/owner of Estes Valley 8z Real Estate. 'All of that stuff was new to me and it sounded very expensive. I didn't really want to do it. But my wife Jan said, 'You either have to put your trust in this town or get out.' So I listened to her.' Will Birchfield, floodplain manager in Estes Park, said, 'I recall Bret was pretty upset at the time. The town has no freeboard requirements,' said Birchfield. 'However, we do recommend that structures be built to exceed our base flood elevation of 7,548.6 feet above sea level by at least one and a half feet.' Freedman's wife Jan designed the building. He took the plans to a local builder who informed him that building the kind of structure that he had always dreamed of owning was going to be a challenge because of its proposed proximity to the Big Thompson River. Freedman met with an engineer to determine what needed to be done to fulfill the construction requirements. An elevation certificate was secured that documents the building's elevation."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
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FEMA Mitigation Best Practices: Keeping the Highway Safe
"The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) has been faced with some serious challenges since the June 2012 Waldo Canyon Fire in El Paso County. The catastrophic fire burned over 18,000 acres of vegetation leaving a burn scar that does not absorb water. Because of the burn scar, CDOT officials have been concerned about frequent rain storms that cause debris runoff. This runoff can result in floodwaters flowing over stretches of U.S. Highway 24 through Waldo Canyon. This overflowing can quickly turn into a catastrophic event. Traffic on U.S. Highway 24 averages 25,000 vehicles per day between west Manitou Springs and Cascade, four miles to the northwest. This roadway is a key transportation corridor between Colorado Springs and communities nestled throughout the Front Range. This problem was demonstrated on July 9, 2012, when a mudslide crossed Highway 24 just west of Cascade after an afternoon rainstorm in the region. It sent charred logs, mud, rocks, and ash to the roadway. CDOT quickly closed one lane of the road each way. 'For the safety of the motorist we have had to close the highways due to sediment and other debris on the road,' said Dave Watt, resident Engineer for the Department of Transportation. 'The closing of Highway 24 affects motorists, commuters, gamblers, and tourists, along with local business owners and civic leaders.'"
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
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FEMA Mitigation Best Practices: Alleviating Flooding in the Park Hill Drainage Basin
"Frequent flooding was no stranger to the Park Hill drainage basin in northeast Denver. The basin includes a mix of industrial, commercial, and residential properties. At least 716 structures were affected by urban flooding within the basin, including a critical infrastructure (police station) until mitigation measures were initiated. 'The city of Denver decided to construct a detention pond that would manage storm water, up to the five-year storm event,' said Saeed Farahmandi, senior storm drainage engineer for the Department of Public Works, Wastewater Management Division. 'This project was the most cost effective measure to minimize flooding in that area.' Before mitigation, the Park Hill drainage basin experienced frequent flooding due to inadequate storm sewer drains and no regional detention facilities within the 7.7 square mile basin. In 2005, the city and county of Denver applied for a grant under the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) pre-disaster mitigation (PDM) grant program. The PDM grant program is an annual competitive grant offered through statutory allocations. Almost every project type eligible for funding under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) is also eligible under PDM. However, initiative projects, code enforcement and advance assistance are not allowed under this program. The city and county of Denver were awarded the PDM grant funding for the project that totaled $3 million. The project included using a seven-acre site dominated by abandoned buildings that was owned by Denver. The site was cleared and excavated to provide approximately 35 acre-feet of regional detention storage. Existing storm drain pipes were connected to the pond and an outlet was constructed."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
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FEMA Mitigation Best Practices: Hurricane Straps Save a Roof
"The weekend of April 26-27, 2014, gave Beverly Thomas and her husband, Bob Herring mixed blessings. Bob had just gotten out of the hospital on that Saturday and they were celebrating his birthday at a friend's house on Sunday evening when a tornado hit central Arkansas. They were not at their house when the tornado ravaged the cities of Vilonia and Mayflower, but they raced home when they heard about the storm. Their dachshund, Jackie Sue, had ridden the storm out alone as the wind barreled around and through the house, and remained unharmed. Inside the house, the winds had pulled kitchen cabinets from the wall, blown out all but two windows and torn bedroom doors off their hinges. Outside, the storm leveled their shed, wrecked two trucks, and did about $5,000 in damage to the enclosed porch where they often entertained. The storm's fierce winds had ripped the siding off the two-year-old, $90,000 house and had torn away 90 percent of the roof's shingles. Nevertheless, the damage could have been far worse. The roof itself remained intact, thanks to the hurricane straps bolted onto each thick rafter and reinforced steel rods supporting the walls. When they decided to build their home, they had turned to a North Carolina builder familiar with the use of straps and clips. The builder's experience in constructing homes strong enough to withstand hurricane force winds is exactly what Beverly and Bob wanted for their new home."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
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FEMA Mitigation Best Practices: Risk MAP Success Story: The Herbert Hoover Dike Presented a Unique Challenge; FEMA Responded With a Unique Solution
"The Herbert Hoover Dike, which surrounds Lake Okeechobee in South Florida, could not be accredited to protect against the 1% annual chance flood event by the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). Portions of five counties surrounding the lake - Glades, Hendry, Martin, Okeechobee, and Palm Beach - would be mapped into a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) as a result. […] Before completing the Flood Insurance Study updates for the counties around Lake Okeechobee, FEMA Project Manager Mark Vieira proactively reached out to both the USACE and the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) to obtain their latest modeling. At that time it was discovered that the USACE was updating their two dimensional model for the Herbert Hoover Dike. FEMA put all five countywide studies on hold so that the new modeling results could be used in a comprehensive statistical analysis to determine the 1% annual chance flood event. […] The initial benefit of coordination with the USACE and SFWMD was multiple government agencies using the same model and information. But the real impact of this effort was through public outreach - how would FEMA help the counties and communities around Lake Okeechobee explain the SFHA changes to their citizens?"
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
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FEMA Mitigation Best Practices: Community Rating System Users Group - FAST
"The Floodplain Awareness Success in Texas (FAST) Community Rating System (CRS) users group is based in Houston, Texas and is made up of CRS communities that meet on a monthly basis to share ideas and best practices, learn new approaches to successful floodplain management, stay current on CRS trends, learn about available resources, and network with other communities. FAST communities are mostly from Harris County and Galveston County; however, other cities in the state have participated either by attending meetings in person or via a call-in line. The National Flood Insurance Program's (NFIP) CRS is a voluntary incentive program that recognizes and encourages community floodplain management activities that exceed the minimum NFIP requirements. As a result, flood insurance premium rates are discounted to reflect the reduced flood risk resulting from the community actions meeting the three goals of the CRS: 1. Reduce flood damage to insurable property; 2. Strengthen and support the insurance aspects of the NFIP, and 3. Encourage a comprehensive approach to floodplain management."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
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FEMA Mitigation Best Practices: Left Hand Creek Project Shrinks Flood Plain
"During September 2013, the state of Colorado was hit hard by catastrophic flooding that impacted many cities. Lives were lost, property was damaged, and many structures were completely destroyed. Longmont, located less than 40 miles from metropolitan Denver, was one of the hardest hit cities. Luckily, only months before, the city had completed a mitigation project known as the Left Hand Creek Flood Control Project. This mitigation effort helped reduce the amount of damage to property and protected the majority of area residents from danger. Left Hand Creek meanders through Longmont and has a history of flooding in the city's Southmoor Park neighborhood whenever rainfall exceeded levels of only a 20-year storm. The creek channel was not large enough to carry additional water and bridges were subject to being washed out. Stormwater would overflow the channel and flood approximately 200 neighborhood homes. This repetitive result created a need for upgrading the channel and bridges so they would stand up to water flows from 100-year storms. The goal of the Left Hand Creek Project was to reduce the mapped floodplain so most of the homes in Southmoor Park would not be affected. Upgrading bridges and channel capacity would keep storm water in the channel and away from the homes in the neighborhood. The project was multi-faceted. The South Pratt Parkway Bridge was replaced, bridge structures were added at Main Street, the Left Hand Creek channel was enlarged between Main Street and South Pratt Parkway, the channel on the north side of Pike Avenue was improved, and the bike path to cross under South Pratt Parkway was reconstructed."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
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FEMA Mitigation Best Practices: Mitigation Alleviates Economic Impact of Flooding at Airport
"The existing crossing at Coal Creek, located at Erie Municipal Airport (EMA), was in desperate need of repair and unable to withstand an annual storm event. The city replaced the culvert through a grant funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program (PDM). The culvert system consists of two parallel precast reinforced concrete box culverts, each measuring approximately ten feet in height and twenty feet in width. The ends of both culvert sides were anchored and poured in concrete wing walls approximately 30 feet long and tapered to meet the creek bank. The new system was in place during the September 12, 2013, flood disaster that devastated the state of Colorado. The airport was able to operate during the event, since Coal Creek Crossing was not overwhelmed by the rushing flood waters. The project was initiated on December 12, 2008, and completed on June 6, 2011. The total cost of the project was $417,082.85. PDM pays up to 75 percent of approved projects that will prevent or reduce damage from storms and other natural hazards. PDM funds are designed to assist state and local communities with implementing long-term mitigation measures. EMA is owned by the town of Erie and is strategically located in the Denver-Boulder Metropolitan Area on Colorado Highway 7, three miles west of Interstate 25. The culvert system connects the airport's 4,700-foot-long paved runway to several maintenance facilities. Damages from the annual flood events had deteriorated Coal Creek Crossing to the point that significant repairs were required to keep it operational."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
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FEMA Mitigation Best Practices: Land Use Ordinance Protects Buildings in Estes Park
"Estes Park adopted a land use ordinance to protect Estes Valley stream and river corridors. This ordinance clearly defines the boundaries at which structures should be set back to promote, preserve, and enhance the important hydrologic, biological, ecological, aesthetic, recreational, and educational functions that stream and river corridors and their associated riparian areas and wetlands provide. Adhering to this ordinance protected many buildings in Estes Park during the September 2013 catastrophic flood event. 'For new construction, we have an ordinance which states that all buildings and accessory structures shall be set back at least 30 feet from the annual high-water mark of stream corridors, or if not readily discernible, from the defined bank of the stream,' said Will Birchfield, local floodplain administrator. 'With regard to rivers, all buildings must be set back at least 50 feet from the annual high-water mark of river corridors.' In the downtown area, all buildings and accessory structures in the Community Development (CD) district have to be set back at least 20 feet from the annual high-water mark of river corridors. Where a principal building in the CD district provides public access, the setback may be reduced to 10 feet. Setbacks were also addressed for parking lots. Except in the CD zoning district, parking lots must be set back at least 50 feet, and in the CD district, at least 12 feet from the defined bank of the river or stream. Located along the Big Thompson River, Estes Park, a small town and popular summer resort, received a large portion of the flash floods that wreaked havoc on the state of Colorado in September 2013."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
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FEMA Mitigation Best Practices: Water Pumps Mitigate Simonton's Flood Problem
"As floodwaters ravaged the state of Texas during Memorial Day weekend 2015, the water pumps in Simonton were hard at work protecting the city. The city of Simonton in Fort Bend County, Texas, had been plagued by flooding in the past, but escaped the flood waters of the Brazos River during this recent event largely because of its drainage pumps. Simonton is a community of just over 800 people located some 25 miles west of Houston, Texas, and one mile east of the Brazos River. It is a relatively new city established in 1957 and incorporated in 1979. However, since its origin, the city has been plagued by repeated flooding due to its location in the 100 year floodplain of the Brazos River."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
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2012 Assistance to Firefighters Grants Self Evaluation Sheet: Operations & Safety
"This Self Evaluation Sheet has been developed to help you understand the criteria that you must address in your Narrative
Statement when applying for the Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG). The Panel Reviewers will review all the criteria in the
Narrative Statement and assess the degree to which your proposal best describes your community risks, the requirements you
have listed that will r'educe those risks' and how your project(s) align with the AFG Program priorities."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
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2012 Assistance to Firefighters Grants Self Evaluation Sheet: Vehicle Acquisition
"This Self Evaluation Sheet has been developed to help you understand the criteria that you must address in your Narrative
Statement when applying for the Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG). The Panel Reviewers will review all the criteria in the
Narrative Statement and assess the degree to which your proposal best describes your community risks, the requirements you
have listed that will reduce those risks and how your project(s) align with the AFG Program priorities."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
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FEMA Mitigation Best Practices: Homes are High and Dry Protection from Verde's Floodwaters
"Arizona's Verde River showed its dangerous side by flooding four times during the winter of 2004-2005. But for the most part, the Cottonwood homeowners along Comanche Drive with front-row views of the river escaped serious damage. Under a Yavapai County requirement, homes built in the Verde's floodplain must be elevated at least one foot above the base-flood level. Although the rising water entered some of the lower-level crawlspaces, no flooding was reported in the living areas of these homes. The recent flooding -- the worst since 1993 -- proved to be a lesson for those who wondered whether elevating a home was worth the bother and expense. Before the recent severe winter weather, some homeowners had questioned the need for elevation." This and other individual FEMA Best Practices documents are also combined in 'Mitigation Best Practices: Public and Private Sector Best Practice Stories for All Activity/Project Types in All States and Territories Relating to All Hazards [August 10, 2011],' which can be accessed at the following link: [https://www.hsdl.org/?abstract&did=683132]
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
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FEMA Mitigation Best Practices: HIHUG Hawaii HAZUS Atlas
"To help Hawaii's disaster managers better prepare for and respond to potentially devastating earthquakes, the Pacific Disaster Center (PDC)--in collaboration with Hawaii State Civil Defense and the Hawaii State Earthquake Advisory Committee (HSEAC)--has created the Hawaii HAZUS Atlas (HHA). The PDC formally unveiled the HHA at the HSEAC-sponsored workshop, Estimated Earthquake Losses for Hawaii County. Over 100 participants attended the event in Hilo, including Hawaii County Mayor Harry Kim. Stakeholders from emergency management and planning communities identified several potential applications of the HHA, ranging from assisting emergency response operations to supporting future exercises." This and other individual FEMA Best Practices documents are also combined in 'Mitigation Best Practices: Public and Private Sector Best Practice Stories for All Activity/Project Types in All States and Territories Relating to All Hazards [August 10, 2011],' which can be accessed at the following link: [https://www.hsdl.org/?abstract&did=683132]
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
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FEMA Mitigation Best Practices: Floodprone Structures Acquisitions Becomes Park Area
"Floods have devastated the City of Tulsa many times, an average of about once every 5 years. Through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) and the Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) Program, the City has taken measures to mitigate against these costly floods. The City has also taken measures to increase public awareness and support of flood mitigation via the production of videos and publications. Through HMGP funding, the City of Tulsa acquired 17 repetitive loss structures. An additional five structures were acquired under the FMA program. These structures were among the 100 repetitive loss structures addressed in the City's Master Drainage Plan. As a result of the acquisition, all acquired homes were demolished and the land was reverted to a park area and water detention site." This and other individual FEMA Best Practices documents are also combined in 'Mitigation Best Practices: Public and Private Sector Best Practice Stories for All Activity/Project Types in All States and Territories Relating to All Hazards [August 10, 2011],' which can be accessed at the following link: [https://www.hsdl.org/?abstract&did=683132]
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
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FEMA Mitigation Best Practices: Home Elevation Proved Successful After Tropical Storm Isabel
"Ray and Caroline Warehime bought their waterfront property in the early 1990s with the plan of building a home for relaxation and future retirement. As they spent more time on the property and began to develop their building plans, they became acquainted with Nick Lyons, the Building Codes Administrator for Dorchester County. Through Lyons, they learned about the hazards that the location was at high risk for, notably hurricanes and flood. As a result, they made the informed decision to build to FEMA hurricane standards. Building of the house began in 1993 and was completed in 1998. Ray Warehime designed the building, and together with Lyons monitored the building process step by step to insure that recommended codes and standards were incorporated correctly. The footer was sunk into the ground and the building was elevated 4 feet up (six cinderblocks above ground) above the base flood elevation (BFE). The foundation is bolted to the footer, threaded rods are through each block, fastened to steel plates, fastened to studs and the roof trusses secured with hurricane ties and clips. Warehime chose to use plywood for the siding rather than particleboard. The siding is nailed every twelve inches, which creates a stronger resistance to wind and pressure. Additionally, the roof is strapped to the foundation at all corners. " This and other individual FEMA Best Practices documents are also combined in 'Mitigation Best Practices: Public and Private Sector Best Practice Stories for All Activity/Project Types in All States and Territories Relating to All Hazards [August 10, 2011],' which can be accessed at the following link: [https://www.hsdl.org/?abstract&did=683132]
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
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FEMA Mitigation Best Practices: Mitigation Education and Outreach North Carolina State Fair
"A problem with mitigating natural disasters is knowing what threats are most likely and what can be done to protect against them. Another problem is thinking, 'Disasters only happen to other people. It won't happen to me.' Throughout the 1990s, US taxpayers spent $25 billion fighting disasters. Insurance companies spent $106 billion over and above that in 1990s catastrophes, plus another $6.6 billion were paid through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), private companies uncounted billions above that figure, and private individuals even more beyond that. After Hurricane Isabel went through North Carolina, mitigation specialists reached out to the public with information on making their homes and businesses safer. They found many people hungry for information. Specialists set up information booths and passed out literature at the North Carolina State Fair, and at Lowe's Home Improvement Centers in the communities of Washington and Elizabeth City." This and other individual FEMA Best Practices documents are also combined in 'Mitigation Best Practices: Public and Private Sector Best Practice Stories for All Activity/Project Types in All States and Territories Relating to All Hazards [August 10, 2011],' which can be accessed at the following link: [https://www.hsdl.org/?abstract&did=683132]
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
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FEMA Mitigation Best Practices: Community Park Prevents Damage Acquisitions Prevent Future Flood Damage
"After 34 homes on the west side of the Skagit River, opposite downtown Mount Vernon, were severely damaged in the 1996 floods, city officials concluded it was time to take aggressive steps to prevent this kind of damage in the future. In partnership with the Washington State Division of Emergency Management and FEMA, the City of Mount Vernon acquired 34 flood-prone properties. The designated houses were then demolished (or moved), and the entire site was combined to form an enlarged community park." This and other individual FEMA Best Practices documents are also combined in 'Mitigation Best Practices: Public and Private Sector Best Practice Stories for All Activity/Project Types in All States and Territories Relating to All Hazards [August 10, 2011],' which can be accessed at the following link: [https://www.hsdl.org/?abstract&did=683132]
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
