August 25, 2020
ASFPM Makes Case for Flood Risk Map Funding
By News Editor
The Association of State Floodplain Managers has sent a letter to members of the Senate Appropriations Committee strongly urging they maintain funding for FEMA’s flood risk mapping program in Fiscal Year 2021 at the current level of $263 million, which is the same as the House bill and the same level as the previous two…
August 21, 2020
Communities Gaining Ground in the Race Against Rising Waters
By News Editor
New Flood Science Center resource uses story maps to educate and engage officials on flooding issues Floods and flood-related hazards have the potential to damage or destroy public and private property and disrupt the local economy and overall quality of life in all types of communities. For elected officials tasked with keeping their communities safe,…
August 17, 2020
ASFPM Comments on FEMA State and Local Mitigation Plan Guides
By News Editor
The Mitigation POD Committee has submitted comments to FEMA on behalf of ASFPM in response to the agency’s announcement that it is updating both the State and Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Review Guides this year. Hazard mitigation plans can serve as the backbone of decisions and actions that can reduce flood damage. In its comments,…
August 13, 2020
High and Dry: Managing Multifamily Buildings in the Floodplain
By News Editor
By H. Martin Koch, CFM, LEED Green Associate According to National Multifamily Housing Council and U.S. Census Bureau data, nearly 390,000 new residential multifamily housing starts occurred in 2019. This is more than triple the number that occurred just a decade ago. While the COVID-19 public health emergency may result in changes to real estate…
August 11, 2020
ASFPM Comments on Fifth National Climate Assessment
By News Editor
ASFPM responded to the request for comments on the U.S. Global Change Research Program’s proposed themes and framework for the Fifth National Climate Assessment (NCA5). As outlined in the Federal Register, NCA5 will include a number of overarching themes and perspectives that respond to needs and gaps identified by NCA4. The following is a list…
August 11, 2020
Changes Coming to the 2017 CRS Coordinator’s Manual
By News Editor
FEMA plans to issue a 2021 addendum to the 2017 CRS Coordinator’s Manual. The changes will go into effect January 2021. The June/July issue of the NFIP/CRS Update newsletter says the addendum will be used by communities in conjunction with the current Coordinator’s Manual, and will serve as a bridge between the existing guidance materials…
August 10, 2020
Upcoming Webinars for FMA and BRIC Grant Programs
By News Editor
With more than $660 million up for grabs, FEMA is offering a series of webinars on the Fiscal Year 2020 (FY20) Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) for the Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) and the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant programs. These webinars are primarily intended for federal, state, tribal and local community officials…
August 6, 2020
FEMA Publishes New Guide on Nature-based Solutions
By News Editor
Nature-based solutions weave natural features and processes into a community’s landscape through planning, design, and engineering practices. These practices can be applied to a community’s built environment (for example, a stormwater park) or its natural areas (for example, land conservation). While nature-based solutions have many hazard mitigation benefits, they can also help a community meet…
August 5, 2020
FEMA Announces Notice of Funding Opportunities for Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grants
By News Editor
On August 4, FEMA posted funding notices for two hazard mitigation grant programs totaling more than $660 million. The two grant programs, the Flood Mitigation Assistance grant and the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities, or BRIC, will provide funds to states, local communities, tribes and territories for eligible mitigation activates to strengthen our nation’s ability…