Flood Map Modernization Levee Certification Status in FEMA

Flood Map Modernization Levee Certification Status in FEMA Region VI USACE Red River Levee Meeting Texarkana, Arkansas SW Arkansas Electric CO-OP January 30, 2009 Guy Lowes, P. E. , FEMA Region VI

Outline – Levee Accreditation FEMA Region 6 Flood Map Modernization Presentation Outline § Federal Accreditation Regulations § Responsibilities § Mapping & Certification Status in FEMA Region VI § FEMA Region 6/ USACE Vicksburg District Study Details § Questions

Regulations – Levee Accreditation Flood Map Modernization § Levee Accreditation Regulations – Interim Levee Policy (February 10, 1981) – 44 CFR 65. 10 (August 25, 1986) § Integrating Levee Certification into the Map Modernization Program is new. – Procedure Memorandum 34 (August 22, 2005) • Interim Guidance for Studies Including Levees – Procedure Memorandum 43 (September 25, 2006) – Revised Procedure Memorandum 43 (March 16, 2007) • Guidelines for Identifying Provisionally Accredited Levees

FEMA Responsibilities Flood Map Modernization FEMA is responsible for the following: § Establishing/reflecting appropriate risk zone determinations on flood maps –Accredit levees that meet the criteria of 44 CFR 65. 10 as providing protection from the 1% annual chance flood based on the certification provided by levee owner –Not accredit levees as providing protection that are not or cannot be shown to meet criteria of 44 CFR 65. 10 § Establishing mapping standards

Responsibilities of Others Flood Map Modernization FEMA is not responsible for any of the following: § CERTIFYING LEVEES § Designing, constructing, operating, or maintaining levee systems § Examining levees § Determining how a structure or system will perform in a flood event

Mapping Schedule by FY Start Flood Map Modernization

FEMA MOD Study Starts Flood Map Modernization

FEMA Levee Studies With Certification Issues Flood Map Modernization

FEMA Study Status Flood Map Modernization

FEMA Hempstead Levee Map Flood Map Modernization

County Fiscal Year Status 2006 -2007 Studies Arkansas 2006 Levee was not included in PAL or certified with Mapping of DFIRMs. Garland 2006 No impact with no levees. Miller 2007 Levees do not show protection on Effective Maps-Not eligible for certification. 2008 Studies 2008 Project are Now Underway Hempstead 2008 One levee-See attached map-Documentation Letters going out this week. Howard 2008 No Impact due to levees not providing protection / uncertifiable. Hot Spring 2008 No Impact with no levees. Clark 2008 No Impact with no levees. Ouachita 2008 No Impact with no levees. Saline 2008 No Impact with no levees. Ashley 2008 No Impact with no levees. Drew 2008 Currently reviewing one levee as to whether or not provides protection / un-certifiable. Desha 2008 Five Levees-See attached Map-FEMA Documentation Request letters out-1/5/09. Chicot 2008 Four Levees-See attached Map-FEMA Documentation Request letters out-1/5/09. FEMA Requests for Levee Documents have been going out to Levee Districts and Communities from July 2008 to February 2009. Flood Map Modernization