Informational Listening Sessions on FFRMS have been set.

Intergovernmental Affairs Advisory

February 13, 2015

SAVE THE DATE: Federal Flood Risk Management Standard Implementing Sessions
Dear Colleagues:

Please join FEMA and federal partners during a series of Listening Sessions on the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard Implementation. These sessions provide the opportunity to listen, ask questions, and provide feedback on how federal agencies implement the Standard.

FEMA, on behalf of the Mitigation Framework Leadership Group (MitFLG), published a draft version of Implementing Guidelines that remains open for comment until April 6, 2015. Various locations have been identified across the nation to solicit feedback on the Implementation Guidelines. The MitFLG, a collection of federal agencies with programs and authorities designed to mitigate the impacts of disasters on communities, will accept written comments through the Federal Register process from those unable to attend the public meetings and will also host a virtual listening session in the coming months. An official Federal Register Notice will be published in the near future to officially announce the Listening Session schedule.

Listening Sessions
Additional Listening Sessions to be announced soon.

· March 3, 2015
3:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. (CT)
Iowa Water Conference Venue
Iowa State University
Scheman Building
Lincoln Way
Ames, Iowa 50011

· March 5, 2015
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (CT)
Mississippi Recovery Office
220 Popps Ferry Road
Biloxi, Mississippi 39531

· March 11, 2015
2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. (PT)
California Office of Emergency Services
3650 Schriever Ave
Mather, CA 95655

· March 11, 2015
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (ET)
Old Dominion University
Ted Constant Convocation Center
4320 Hampton Blvd
Norfolk, VA 23529

Due to space constraints of the facilities, seating may be limited. To reserve a seat in advance, please provide a request via email at least three days in advance with the contact information of the participant (including name, mailing address, and e-mail address), and the meeting to be attended to FEMA-FFRMS@fema.dhs.gov and include the subject/attention line: Reservation Request for FFRMS. For anyone attending the meetings who is hearing or visually impaired, or who requires special assistance or accommodations, please also contact FEMA-FFRMS@fema.dhs.gov.

On January 30, the President issued an Executive Order, “Establishing a Federal Flood Risk Management Standard and a Process for Further Soliciting and Considering Stakeholder Input.” Future federal investments in, and affecting floodplains, will be required to meet the level of resilience established in the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard. This includes projects where federal funds are used to build new structures and facilities, or to rebuild those that have been damaged. These projects make sure that buildings are constructed to withstand the impacts of flooding, improve the resilience of communities, and protect federal investments.

The Standard requires agencies to consider the best available, actionable science of both current and future risk when taxpayer dollars are used to build or rebuild in floodplains. On average, more people die annually from flooding than any other natural hazard. Further, the costs borne by the federal government are more than any other hazard. Water-related disasters account for approximately 85% of all disaster declarations.

The MitFLG will revise the draft Implementing Guidelines, based on input received through the Listening Sessions and comments, and provide recommendations to the Water Resources Council.

The Water Resources Council will, after considering the recommendations of the MitFLG, issue amended guidelines to federal agencies on the implementation of the Standard. Agencies will not issue or amend existing regulations or program procedures until the Water Resources Council issues amended guidelines that are informed by stakeholder input.

FEMA and the MitFLG look forward to your participation and input in the process as part of the work towards reducing flood risk, increasing resilience, cutting future economic losses, and potentially saving lives.

If you have any questions, please submit them to FEMA-FFRMS@fema.dhs.gov.
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