Officer Reports

ASFPM CHAIR REPORT 2007
Pam Pogue, CFM

Welcome to Norfolk!! I would like to take the opportunity to not only welcome you to this year’s annual meeting, but to also reflect on the accomplishments of the past year and to thank all of you for a wonderful six year’s experience in working directly with the ASFPM Executive Office, Board of Directors, Policy Committees and State Chapters and Associations around the country as an officer of ASFPM. In this year’s Chair report I would like to give you an overview of how ASFPM has addressed this year’s critical issues related to our organizations’ overall mission of flood loss reduction which will include descriptions of national policy and programmatic activity to improve floodplain management in the nation.

I am very excited and proud to present you with a new and improved version of the ASFPM “National Flood Programs and Policies in Review—2007”. Since last July, a very dedicated group of individuals have worked tirelessly to expand this document last published in 2000. This latest version reflects the need for floodplain management policy changes since then and particularly since Katrina/Rita/Wilma of 2005 and the active 2004 Hurricane season. This review will also address other policy issues in much greater depth such as coastal flooding and other special hazard flood issues, mitigation benefits, the No Adverse Impact program and FEMA’s Mapping Modernization program to name a few new initiatives. I would invite you to use the document as a very valuable reference as to what the ASFPM national policy stance is on any flood-related issue. The most valuable asset, I believe, is the exhaustive, but very valuable interaction this document has gone through as it was widely distributed to all of the ASFPM policy committees, general membership and outside federal and nongovernmental organizations. We received a tremendous amount of feedback. All conference attendees will receive a copy of the report on a CD, and it will be available on our web site.

ASFPM actively addresses levees and residual risk. This past year, ASFPM has worked closely with the National Association of Floodplain and Stormwater Management Agencies (NAFSMA), the Army Corps of Engineers and FEMA to host a national flood risk policy summit. Over 60 professionals participated in a three-day Flood Risk Policy Summit located in Queenestown, Maryland at the Wye River Conference Center in December 2006. The purpose of the Summit was to discuss mutual concerns about current national policies for addressing flood risk. The specific focus was to address policy and programmatic conflicts in order to improve the nexus between the programs of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (the Corps) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Participants included senior policy staff of both agencies along with representatives of organizations of flood risk managers, home builders, real estate agents, lenders, engineering professionals, insurance industry leaders, natural resource specialists, and others. Numerous issues pertaining to the Corps- FEMA nexus in flood risk reduction were discussed at the Summit. However, participants agreed that the most important concern at this time is addressing the safety of the nation’s levees—a concern brought into sharp focus by the destruction caused by levee failures in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. With millions of lives and billions of dollars of property at risk behind levees in the United States and with no fully articulated national policy or program for ensuring the safety of those levees, the need for action is urgent. ASFPM and NAFSMA completed a final report and presented the recommendations during one of the FEMA/Corps interagency levee working group meetings. A formal publication has been produced for informational purposes and for dissemination on Capitol Hill, and it’s on our web site.

For the first time ever, ASFPM has spearheaded a workgroup representing national leaders from the Insurance Industry with the objective of identifying common issues to work toward NFIP reform and to also provide informational sessions to US Congressional Committees on NFIP insurance related issues. At a U.S. Chamber of Commerce Annual meeting sponsored by the American Meteorological Society in December 2005, three leaders in national insurance policy issues gave a very passionate speech about the need to reform the way in which insurance is practiced in this country. Their message was “in order to reduce risk (exposure) mitigation must be practiced and institutionalized.” Wow!!! That evening after the impassioned speech at the Army Navy Club, let me assure you ASFPMers, I did not let those speakers out the door without contact information and a promise to serve on a committee to be led by ASFPM in which the objective would be to not only link mitigation and insurance practices, but also to work with the insurance leaders to reform the NFIP – together. I am very happy to say that we have an extremely well represented and dedicated working group that meets quarterly and have accomplished a very solid list of “agreed to” items of NFIP reform, built support for NFIP reform and the very valuable link to mitigation, all of which has culminated in a Congressional briefing held on the House-side at the Rayburn Building May 14th. A very impressive “Dear Colleague” letter came from both Rep. Barney Frank (Dem –MA) and Judy Biggert (Rep-Ill) in strong support of our briefing. Many thanks to Mike Moye and your Insurance Committee Co-chairs, Paul Osman and Bruce Bender. Special thanks to Merrie Inderfurth for putting it all together!

Again, ASFPM expertise has been shared with our country’s national policy makers in Congressional hearings, meetings and testimony. On many occasions this past year ASFPM has been invited to testify before Congress on issues relating to NFIP reform, Stafford Act reform; the budget for the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), FEMA and the Corps and the need for levee safety standards. In addition to providing testimony, ASFPM has reviewed and commented on legislation pouring forth in record amounts on the Hill. In the past 31 years of the Association, there has never been so much legislative activity at one time to address and act upon. But those challenges can be turned into tremendous opportunities. ASFPM has been involved in providing comment on the upcoming WRDA Bill which has not been passed in 8 years and many therefore believe is long overdue. We are working with the Corps and appropriate Congressional Committees on the 2008 WRDA Bill, not on projects, but on policy and programmatic changes. Many of these concerns were addressed at the Flood Risk Policy Summit. WRDA direction should focus on better floodplain management by encouraging a more holistic and systems approach. We have much to gain by coordinating with coastal zone management through our common mission of addressing coastal hazards. Risk identification, community resiliency and the protection of natural and beneficial functions of natural features of coastal wetlands, dunes and barrier islands should be critical components of our support. On the fresh water side of things -- ASFPM has been a primary signatory in support of the USGS National Streamgaging Inventory Program (NSIP). We have not only signed letters of support, but in several of my oral testimonies ASFPM has strongly advocated for the importance of stream gages in identifying flood risk. With the impending news about global warming stream and tidal gages are becoming an even more critical source of data keeping.

In my past year two years as Chair, ASFPM has tried to make every effort possible to connect with our state chapters. One of my favorite responsibilities as Chair has been to visit State Chapter Annual Meetings. I have had the pleasure of visiting Chapters in nearly all ten regions around the country and I am sure that I learned and gained more from these visits than they may have gained from mine. I have been so impressed by the hard work and dedication of these chapters that I worked very hard in my state of Rhode Island with a very dedicated group of individuals to start the Rhode Island Flood Mitigation Association. I am grateful to many of the State chapters that not only mentored us to start our Chapter, but also helped us to get our CFM program started with 8 new CFMers (OK, so 4 were from MA, but we trained them and they are RIFMA members!!!) I would also like to congratulate the Georgia Association of Floodplain Management on becoming an ASFPM Chapter this year.

Mapping and Modernization mid-course change Since the inception of the MAPMOD Program ASFPM has met with the National Service Provider on a quarterly basis. We have also had regular meetings with FEMA to provide input, voice concerns and address ongoing issues as we receive input from our members and state chapters and associations. As a result of that regular input and your concerns about meeting the goals of the MAPMOD program, a mid-course adjustment was made. ASFPM has provided news articles and web site information for members regarding this change. Over the past year ASFPM has met with our mapping partners to discuss the importance of long term mapping and maintenance. We have and will continue to provide testimony to Congress promoting the Technical Mapping Committee, Congressional authorization of the MAPMOD program, and mapping of residual risk areas such as 500-year flood hazard zones, storm surge areas, and those areas susceptible to coastal erosion.

ASFPM Addressed the Coastal and Oceanic Programs and Policies on Mapping and Managing Coastal Hazards Over the past year ASFPM has met with NOAA-Coastal Services Center (CSC), the Coastal States Organization (CSO) and the NOAA’s Office of Coastal and Resources Management to address national coastal policies and programs. We have been invited to present at numerous national coastal meetings/forums/salons and conferences regarding the need for wise use and management of the nation’s coastal resources. I was invited to participate and present at a national CZMA/NOAA “visioning session” in which the leadership of NOAA is redefining their mission in order to readdress their budget and prepare for the upcoming reauthorization. As Chair I was also invited to participate in a NOAA stakeholders meeting addressing coastal hazards, NOAA’s future role, resources and budget needs.

Training, CBOR and the status of the CFM Program As you may recall from last year, two Policy committees were combined– Public Education and Outreach with Training. The Training Committee continues to coordinate with FEMA, the Emergency Management Institute and NOAA on training needs. A Floodplain 101 workshop has been developed and will be conducted at our annual meeting this year. Many of the state chapters have been asking about the development of a training library, the Training Committee continues to work on that endeavor. Additionally, work has been accomplished on preparing a summary of State Business Plans regarding the training needs of each state. The Certification Board of Regents (CBOR) continues to be very active. CBOR developed and implemented a five-year strategic plan this past year, and has recommended two training modules to be developed with the CFM Program revenue as approved by the Board. CBOR is developing a CFM prep workshop that will be conducted at this year’s annual conference. The CFM exam was offered 126 times this year which brings the total number of CFMs to 4,233 over 1,000 CFMs were added this year alone!

ASFPM developed several white papers addressing specific issues related to better policy and programs in floodplain management. This year ASFPM completed our position paper on levees, “National Flood Policy Challenges, Levees: The Double Edged Sword,” in which 25 recommendations were made including the need to complete a national levee inventory; levee design standards; levee operation and maintenance, inspection and certification, managing residual risk and the need to mitigate for adverse flooding impacts of levees on other people, property and communities. The paper set out the recommendations with the objective of reversing the negative trends and advocates that changes be made at the federal, state, and local levels as well as on the part of citizens who live, work and play in flood risk areas. The ASFPM believes that these changes are necessary to yield a public that is both safer and better informed about levees and the flood risk associated with them.

An additional ASFPM policy paper has been completed and approved by the Board on “Mitigation Reconstruction” I invite you to read that paper which is on the ASFPM web site. Two additional position papers have been drafted and await Board discussion and/or approval at this year’s annual meeting, and the topics include the Benefit/Cost Analysis formula; and MAPMOD Maintenance. Upon Board approval these papers will also be on the ASFPM web site. I would like to thank each of these authors and especially all of those who provided their valuable input and suggestions.

Achievements have been made in Increasing the Effectiveness and Efficiency of the ASFPM Board and the Policy Committees For the first time in ASFPM history a Policy Chair Committee retreat was held in Newport, Rhode Island last October 2006. For many of these folks it was the first time they experienced a true Nor’easter! And for some people in waterside rooms they personally experienced the reason why one should not build in a V-Zone with C zone construction techniques (I was NOT the NFIP Coordinator when the structure was permitted!!!) Anyhow, I do not want to steal the Vice Chair’s thunder but needless to say, it was a very enriching experience for all. The energy, synergy and vitality that these Policy Committees have to offer are both impressive and inspiring. Policy Committees were realigned as was discussed in Albuquerque last year in order to address issue duplicity and the most effective means of addressing national policies and issues. An overall structure was designed in order to improve the coordination, collaboration and communication of all of our Policy Committees. Al Goodman was a fantastic meeting facilitator—I am very excited for him, he will be great!

What a long wild trip it has been! I want to extend my deepest appreciation to those members who have worked so hard this past year toward reducing flood losses in this country. Thank you so much for your input on the various publications that we have produced this year. These documents are that much better because they reflect your views. Thank you also for taking part in the meetings, workshops and trainings that we have had. I have tremendous admiration for my Board of Directors and Policy Chairs these past two years. In addition to your “real” job responsibilities and schedules you have generously given your time, talent and support. My warmest gratitude goes out to the best professional staff, who tirelessly dedicates their efforts to the continued growth and professionalism of ASFPM---thank you, thank you, thank you to the staff of the Executive Office of ASFPM: Diane, Anita, Debbie, Chad, Alan, Becky, Ashley, Bruce, George and Larry!!! Finally, I want to extend my deepest gratitude and love to my kids, Emily and Christopher. These past six years their support and encouragement has been unwavering despite missed soccer, baseball playoffs and football games, pre-high school graduation ceremonies, shattered wrists, horrible dating experiences and boring dances, late airport arrivals home and therefore late night scrambles to friends and neighbors, many missed doctor appointments, ever changing schedules (because of me) and missing homework (I really did not mean to grab the wrong file EM, but hey you got to tell everyone in your class about the levee testimony I had to give… ) During the low points when my guilt at not being there all the time you two kept me going by reminding me that you did not want a “Stepford mom.” I am so proud of you both!!! Congratulations Emily as you graduate from high school on June 9th and enter the pre-veterinary program at the University of Vermont. And my little man, as you pitch this week in the playoffs—think “perfect game!” You did it once; I know you can do it again.

ASFPM, thank you all for such an amazing opportunity—great challenges are ahead. Go get ‘em!!!

Association Office Report

ASFPM
Executive Director Report
State of the Association of State Floodplain Managers
May, 2007

National Policy Initiatives
It is now approaching 2 years since the catastrophic events of Hurricanes Katrina-Rita-Wilma. The federal government has worked hard assist the communities and states to recover from this major event. Huge amounts of federal tax dollars have been provided to impacted areas to assist. In the end, however, almost no changes have been made to the national flood risk policies that contributed to the impact of those events and that all of our members deal with. Many changes, such as NFIP Reform and Water Resources Development Act have been initiated, but not completed. The only significant change was a law putting much of FEMA back together, which was positive, although it is still within DHS rather than an independent agency. We will continue to monitor the new FEMA. The window for, and demonstration of the need for national policy change, opened by the events of 2004 and 2005, is rapidly closing.

In April, your Association hosted Mission Mitigation in New Orleans, the Gulf Coast Recovery Workshop with the assistance of FEMA and in cooperation of the 5 Gulf Coast states (Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Texas). Some 300 participants discussed what is and is not working in the recovery, shared successes in mitigation programs and projects, and identified impediments to the recovery that we all need to work on. A major contributor to the success of the workshop was the decision by FEMA to provide support for community officials to participate in the workshop.

During that week, many of us again visited the areas of Louisiana and Mississippi that were devastated by Hurricane Katrina. Most of the areas looked similar to how they looked in March of 2006. As those in our profession know, recovery after a disaster does not occur rapidly; and the larger the disaster, and the more of a community it impacts, the slower the recovery. Al Goodman, the Mississippi Floodplain Manager, pointed out the number of homes built in the southern 6 counties in Mississippi has recently averaged something over 2,000 a year. Katrina destroyed over 60,000 homes, giving you an idea of the challenges they face. There are pockets of rebuilding in some of the communities of Mississippi where only slabs were left after the disaster. The first floor of those new structures are generally many feet higher then the old surrounding slabs, reflecting the higher flood elevations from FEMA’s new studies on the gulf coast. This is already changing the types of development and the social structure of the immediate coast line in Mississippi. In some areas, we can see signs that small single family homes are being replaced by high- rise multi family structures, which can more readily spread the cost of structure elevation over multiple units.

We commend all those who are providing dedicated efforts in this recovery at the community level, and for the many others in the public and private sector who are assisting them. We also commend FEMA, the Corps of Engineers, and other federal agencies for their continuing support of the recovery.

The ASFPM leadership has been carrying the messages from the disaster impacted areas, from our members in various Chapters throughout the nation and from our many partner organizations, to key decision makers in Washington, DC, as they continue to consider what changes in national policy and programs would be most effective in reducing the catastrophic consequences of the next major natural hazard event. We know those events will come, perhaps even more frequently and with more intensity. We believe the nation can change the consequences of such events, and change catastrophic disasters into events that may cause damage, but not catastrophic damages. That will not come easily or without leadership or debate. But the cost in lives, suffering, and damages are too great for us to ignore or address with minor program and policy tweaks.

ASFPM firmly believes the nation must change the federal top-down model of managing flood risk if we ever hope to reduce the costs and suffering from flooding. One concept that is receiving more and more support is the need to change our top-down model of flood risk management so that states become the focal point for managing flood risk. The logic is that the tools that will most effectively manage and reduce flood risk rely on authorities that are reserved to the states under our Constitution, namely land use management, building codes, and community planning for development, mitigation, and resource protection.

The current model relies heavily on federal-level approaches, which in turn rely on state and local partners to implement land use, building code, and mitigation programs. However, the 500-pound gorilla in this mix is federal disaster assistance, which rushes in when flood disasters occur. These federal disaster dollars too often reward those communities and states who do little or nothing to reduce their flood risk. Furthermore, there are no incentives in the current approaches to encourage state or local partners to go beyond minimum national standards so that they can actually reduce total damage, let alone foster innovation and the integration of programs to achieve multiple objectives, such as improving water quality or providing local recreational opportunities. We encourage all ASFPM members to get involved in this dialogue.

The effort to incorporate mitigation in all aspects of the rebuilding is hugely important not only to those living and working at risk on the coast, but to all of us who contribute to rebuilding following disasters. Interestingly, the major events of these past couple years have brought some of the players in the national policy scene into the discussion with stronger support for mitigation, code compliance, and use of new and higher elevations in the recovery. Notable in that regard is those associated with the insurance industry. While insurance companies accept no risk in flood insurance, they realize more clearly that building right on the coast exposes their other lines of insurance, especially wind, to greater risk. Thus, working for appropriate land use, codes, and mitigation in coastal areas leads to safer communities and smaller costs (thus smaller premiums) for all lines of insurance. ASFPM, with your Chair Pam Pogue and the Insurance Committee Co-Chairs Bruce Bender and Paul Osman leading the way, is building stronger relationships with the insurance sector in our many efforts on flood risk reduction. These three, along with Merrie Inderfurth presented a briefing on the NFIP for Congressional staff in May.

The upcoming session in Congress will impact all of us significantly. Legislation will be acted upon which addresses flood insurance rates and coverage, flood mapping (program extension and mapping of added riverine and coastal flood hazards), floodplain management regulations, levee policy issues, mapping and management of residual risk areas, risk communication, Corps of Engineers flood policy and projects like levees, disaster relief provisions for flooding and other disasters, and many others. On the budget side, funding will determine whether you keep or lose your critical streamgage or tidal gage, if you get a new flood map that is accurately done, whether needed projects in community mitigation plans will receive cost sharing, whether your local levees get inventoried and assessed, and how much support there will be for technical assistance, training, and education for those working for and with the nation’s 21,000 flood prone communities.

ASFPM, as a leader in the hazards management profession, has, and is, undertaking a number of actions to gather member and national experts input on all these national policy issues. This year ASFPM completed a complete and extensive revision to National Flood Policy and Programs in Review 2007. This paper puts forth the ASFPM position on all federal programs and policies impacting flood risk reduction. It is available on our web site www.floods.org . Separate white papers are being developed on such things as levee issues, NFIP reform, and others. Those of you who work in, or with, a community that is impacted by any of the items mentioned in the previous paragraph, had the opportunity to indicate how these programs and activities can better serve your community’s needs. The ASFPM goal is to promote good public policy that will reduce the suffering and costs from flooding, while protecting natural riverine and coastal floodplain functions, leading to safer and more sustainable communities for us and those who follow us.

Flood risk management in this nation must be multi-agency and multi-government and actively involve the private sector if we are to be successful in reducing flood costs and suffering. ASFPM joined with the Corps of Engineers, FEMA and NAFSMA in a continuing series of meetings to focus on the flood risk policy nexus of those agencies. In December, we and NAFSMA hosted a Summit of over 60 experts for organizations representing not just floodplain managers, but realtors, bankers, insurance agents and companies, lenders, home builders, environmental interests, land trusts and many others to discuss these policy issues. Much of the discussion focused on levee policy issues, which need attention. A summary of those recommendations is on the ASFPM web site.

ASFPM has participated for the past number of years in an evaluation of the NFIP. FEMA showed foresight in undertaking this effort (first time in 35 years) in 2000, with over $5 million in funding and a dozen or more research studies. FEMA is now reviewing the recommendations of those studies to determine which ones and how to implement them. We will continue to work with them to implement appropriate findings of that evaluation.

All of these major activities are evolving at the same time as significant ongoing activities, such as flood map modernization, implementation of the 2004 NFIP Reform bill provisions, funding and operation of mitigation programs, and the issue of how to map residual risk areas behind levees, in storm surge zones and below dams. We continue to express our concern with the loss of funding for streamgages (including tidal gages), the policies which lead to increased development at flood risk, and the loss of a mitigation focus nationally. Your Association will represent our members’ needs and concerns on these issues at all levels, as well as seek your input and involvement in policy development. Please provide input to the ASFPM Office or to your ASFPM Board representative.

ASFPM White Papers—ASFPM has developed a number of white papers over the past year, which put forth our detailed position on major policy issues. These papers are usually drafted by a committee or member, with drafts run through all Committees, the Chapters and members. The Board adopts these papers, which are then provided to decision makers like agency heads and other administration and Congressional decision makers who ask for or can benefit from our position. Copies are on our web site. This year we completed white papers on Levee Policy Challenges, the Benefit/Cost analysis of FEMA Programs and Mitigation-Reconstruction as a post disaster mitigation option. Next year we intend to develop a half dozen or more white papers, so please provide your input.

INVOLVEMENT IN NATIONAL GROUPS/DISCUSSIONS --Members of ASFPM continue to be involved in groups of national experts, from National Academy Committees to Strategic Planning focus groups for numerous agencies and programs. In fact, the number of our members doing this is too numerous for us to list, but we do want to thank each and every one of them for volunteering their time and expertise. The key word is “volunteer”, which is the backbone of ASFPM and what sets us apart from many organizations. We have literally hundreds of volunteers, and scores of them spend many hours for the profession in our name, and a number of them spend perhaps hundreds of hours for the organization as their professional contribution. We do our best to recognize each of you who do that, because without you, we could not have the credibility and impact we do. We also lead and participate in coalitions that support our major initiatives that support good public policy for flood issues.

“NO ADVERSE IMPACT” –The ASFPM No Adverse Impact (NAI) approach continues to be recognized and utilized throughout the nation. We focus much of our effort and resources to develop materials and distribute them to communities, states, Chapters and partners. Our new NAI Coastal Handbook (thanks to NOAA-CSC) is on our web site; all 2007 conference attendees will receive a CD containing this new publication. Communities, States, and others are calling/emailing us to learn how they can incorporate NAI approaches in their day-to-day activities. NAI publications and PowerPoint presentations can be downloaded, or ordered from the ASFPM web site.

Legal aspects of managing development and how NAI can benefit communities is in high demand. This past year, Ed Thomas, a member who is also an attorney presented many legal workshops for attorneys, floodplain managers and government officials. The focus is on helping communities understand how to use the NAI approach to reduce community liability and suits on “takings”. The workshops (all-day, 2 and 4 hour options are available) are in great demand and are a huge success, and we thank Ed and Baker Engineering for this invaluable assistance. During our conference, there will be a session for Chapters and State Coordinators on how a Legal Workshop can be presented in their State. At the national policy level, ASFPM continues to work with the federal agencies and Congress to promote NAI policies and programs which fit well with CRS, for example. With the help of Wes Shaw (NOAA), Ed Thomas and Christy Miller (NAI Committee Chair) we have produced a 6 page paper on “Managing Watershed Development-Using NAI as a Legal Framework”. Copies can be obtained from the web site.

The legal paper “Floodplain Management and the Courts” first produced by Jon Kusler, showing how NAI can assist communities in legal protection was updated by Ed Thomas and Sam Medlock. Ed also updated his paper on the Legal liability of owning flood control structures, such as levees and dams. Jon Kusler researched and prepared a paper on “Professional Liability for Construction in Flood Hazard Areas”, which is of interest to all of us in the profession of floodplain management. Again, go to the web site to download any of these.

The NAI Toolkit continues to be in high demand for communities wanting to incorporate NAI approaches. There is a four-hour training session that uses the NAI Toolkit as a workbook. Chapters and States should consider having someone trained to teach the four-hour training using the NAI Toolkit. The ASFPM project management team, with the assistance of NOAA, has produced a Spanish version of the NAI Toolkit, to be on our web site in July.

INFORMATION EXCHANGE
WEB SITE – The Board of Directors approved a change to the Association’s web site to change the content and design which will allow future growth for the Association and better accessibility to members concerning membership, conference, and certification program. Due to programming changes and problems, some of these changes have not been fully implemented. The final product will be on line by October 1, 2007. We are committed to getting these improvements implemented which will allow ASFPM to better serve our members.

Besides conferences and certification, the State NFIP Coordinators page is the most frequently hit. There is a LOT of information on the site about ASFPM, including Board of Directors, Constitution and Bylaws, our Policy Committees, history, membership application, Foundation, Chapters, Corporate and Agency Partners, important links to related sites, publications list/order form, and more. There is a new web page link to the new mapping information on the gulf coast, some of it not available anywhere else (another project management activity). We put items of immediate importance on the Home Page, such as current legislation of importance to floodplain management. We encourage members to look at the website often for new information, and we welcome your suggestions. We are at www.floods.org.

NEWSLETTERS - In 2001, we began sending our newsletters via email to our members. News & Views is produced in even-numbered months by Editor Jacqueline Monday, focusing on what’s going on around the nation and with Congress and Federal Agencies in Washington D.C. It is emailed to over 3,000 professionals in the United States, Canada, Australia, and Central America. The Insider is sent to current members in the odd-numbered months, and features regular information about ASFPM activities, upcoming training, the CFM program, and more. We continue to look for new and better ways to serve our members. Please continue to provide us feedback on the newsletter, and please submit articles on the important work you do.

PUBLICATIONS - A very exciting new publication, the NAI Coastal Handbook, was finished this year and is on our website. The Spanish version will be completed by July 1, 2007. Another new publication is NAI – “The Legal Framework for Managing Watershed Development.” The 2006 Albuquerque Conference Proceedings were sent out to all who attended that conference. We distribute over 40 publications. Various related organizations promote many of our materials. Requests throughout the nation and internationally continue to come into the Executive Office, particularly from people who seek information on how to reduce flood losses and are seeking contacts in their area to get help. We are committed to providing the vast majority of our publications available free on our website to promote mass distribution, though if that is not possible, they are sold at cost plus shipping. Some of our most popular publications include:
• NAI Toolkit, an initiative of the ASFPM Board of Directors
• NAI Case studies, produced with support of PERI and the ASFPM Foundation
• NAI Court Case update, Legal Q&A, Legal Liability Flyer, Status Report, Tabloid and Poster
• Mitigation Success Stories III and IV, published in cooperation with FEMA
• Flood Mitigation Planning, The First Steps, a flood mitigation training video and planning packet directed to community-level decision makers, produced with the Public Entity Risk Institute.
• Addressing Your Community’s Flood Problems: A Guide for Elected Officials

We are always on the lookout to publish more papers which would be of use to our members. Remember, direct members and Agency and Corporate Partners enjoy a discount on our publications at www.floods.org.

MEMBERSHIP
ASFPM continues to experience good growth, in part attributable to the Certified Floodplain Manager program and the annual conference. Our membership includes state and local floodplain managers; a broad representation of federal agency staff, private industry, academia, research, and related organizations. New membership continues to increase at a good pace. We have over 11,000 members between our national and Chapter members. We now have 26 Chapters with Georgia and Rhode Island added this year. Our 26 State Chapters are Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, FMA (California, Nevada, and Hawaii), Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin. We also coordinate with State Associations in Nebraska, Kansas, Montana, Utah, and a regional organization in the Northwest.

MEMBER SERVICES
This has been another significant year, as we increased our staff size to better accommodate the growth and provide a more efficient operation to our CFM Program, membership, and total operations. This past year, Bruce Baird was hired as Research and Outreach Coordinator. Also, due to the growth in the Certification Program, a part time employee, Ashley Barton was hired to assist Anita Larson with Certification. Things are kept running smoothly by them and the rest of the staff: Executive Director, Larry Larson; Deputy Executive Director, George Riedel; Administrative Officer, Diane Brown; Project Manager, Alan Lulloff; Certification Program Coordinator, Anita Larson; IT Manager, Chad Ross; Bookkeeper, Debbie Pond; and Member Services Coordinator, Becky Head. Your Board of Directors is committed to improving service to members and streamlining our operations.

CERTIFIED FLOODPLAIN MANAGER (CFM) PROGRAM
This program is a phenomenal success and in great demand. The initial certifying exam was conducted during our annual conference in Portland, Oregon (1999). The exam has been proctored over 500 times since the beginning of this program. We have certified about 4,200 CFMs in the nation (a 26% increase in the past year). Over 60 are sitting for the exam in Norfolk. Six states are nationally accredited – Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arkansas, Illinois, North Carolina, and Texas. ASFPM administers the Illinois and North Carolina Certification Programs. Our web site is updated frequently with upcoming exam dates. Supplementary funding the Board of Regents requires is provided by Federal agency sponsors; FEMA and the Corps of Engineers. For more information, see CBOR President Diane Calhoun’s report on our web site.

ASFPM continues to have an agreement with RedVector, Inc to provide on-line training opportunities for CFMs and all members. This was in response to our CFMs’ need for more venues to obtain Continuing Education Credits (CECs)to maintain their CFM status. A number of courses have been approved for CECs, which can be found by clicking on the Certification button on our web site. Those who access the courses through our web site and use “ASFPM” as a referral code receive a 10% discount on course fees. Some courses are on the web site through the ASFPM provider agreement with RedVector. ASFPM is looking for more authors to develop floodplain management courses for the web site, where you will receive royalties. Contact the CFM Coordinator, Anita Larson, at the ASFPM office if you are interested.

WASHINGTON LIAISON
ASFPM leadership provides testimony to Congress upon request and meets with federal agencies and White House staff to improve public policy that reduces flood losses. Assisting in coordinating these activities and drafting testimony are Merrie Inderfurth, Washington liaison; and Rebecca Quinn, volunteer Legislative Officer. Others heavily involved this past year include: Pam Pogue, ASFPM Chair; Chad Berginnis, National Mitigation Policy Coordinator; Steve McMaster, Mitigation Committee Co-Chair; Bruce Bender and Paul Osman, Insurance Committee Co-Chairs; and Doug Plasencia, Past Chair.

CONFERENCES
Our 2007 annual conference is being held in Norfolk, Virginia the first week of June. The Virginia Chapter and John Paine (URS) are serving as our Local Hosts, with Mike Powell, Delaware DNR, as Program Coordinator. As usual, Diane Brown, ASFPM, is serving as Conference Director, and Dan Accurti, Pennsylvania, DOT, is our Exhibits Coordinator. ASFPM’s 32nd annual conference will be held in Reno-Sparks, Nevada, May 18-23, 2008. The Floodplain Management Association (CA, NV, HI) and Peggy Bowker are the Local Hosts and Steve McMaster, Nebraska, is the Program Coordinator.

ASFPM and FEMA Regions IV and VI presented a Gulf Coast Recovery: Mission Mitigation workshop April 9-12, 2007, in New Orleans, LA. The purpose of this workshop was to help Gulf Coast communities identify mitigation measures and practices in order to minimize future disaster damages. The Arid Region Issues Conference is scheduled for September 11-14, 2007, in Breckenridge, CO. For additional information, check www.floods.org. The 4th National Floodproofing Conference is being planned for fall 2008 in the New Orleans area.

PROJECTS AND CONTRACTS
This has been another busy year regarding projects. Our contract arrangement on the Community Rating System continues with the Insurance Services Organization (ISO). Current cooperative agreements with FEMA and NOAA-CSC have produced: Coastal NAI documents, Coastal NAI Training Workshops, and assistance in implementing map mod and the CFM Program. Project Manager Alan Lulloff and Research and Outreach Coordinator Bruce Baird have separate reports with details on these activities is available at the conference and from the ASFPM web site.

ASFPM FOUNDATION
Please review Foundation President Larry Olinger’s report at the Foundation booth in the Exhibits Hall or on the ASFPM Foundation website: www.floods.org/Foundation/default.asp.

This page last updated May 30, 2007