Post on 01-Jan-2016
Developing a National Levee Safety Program
Mike Stankiewicz - NCLS
Arizona Floodplain Management Association November 3, 2011
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Update on the National Committee on Levee Safety
Susan Gilson & Dusty Williams NCLS
Association of State Floodplain ManagersMay, 2012
Presentation Overview
• NCLS Introduction• Overview of Recommendations for a
National Levee Safety Program• Levee Safety & Flood Risk
Management• Way Forward
History
• National Committee on Levee Safety (NCLS) created by Congress in response to an event – Hurricane Katrina
• Tasked to develop recommendations and a strategic implementation plan for a National Levee Safety Program (January 2009)
Today
• Last year’s flooding serves as reminder that we will continue to experience major floods with significant national, regional, and local impacts
Committee Members
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Rod Mayer
Les Harder
Steve Verigin
Marilyn Thomas
Don Basham
Dusty Williams
Karin Jacoby Mike Stankiewicz
Jon Sweeney
Robert Turner
David Garcia
Sam Riley Medlock
Steve StocktonEric Halpin
Bill Blanton
Susan Gilson
Committee Members
Levees Today• Many levees designed for one
purpose now serving another.• Built in uncoordinated
fashion, by different entities, not as a systems.
• Varying levels of responsibility and maintenance – federal, state, local, special districts, private.
• No national standards for construction, maintenance or inspection of levees.
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Levees Today
• Many levees designed for one purpose now serving another.
• Built in uncoordinated fashion, by different entities, not as a systems.
• Varying levels of responsibility and maintenance – federal, state, local, special districts, private.
• No national standards for construction, maintenance or inspection of levees.
Flooding: A High Cost to Communities and the Nation
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2008 = $5.6B 2009 = $1.1B 2010 = $5.1B
2011 = $??B
Source: National Weather Service
Flooding: A High Cost to Communities and the Nation
Key Activities of National Levee Safety Program
1. One-time comprehensive inventory and inspection of levees and maintain a comprehensive National Levee Database
2. Understand and communicate risks associated with levees
3. Develop model state levee safety program and incentives to adopt it
4. Establish Levee Rehabilitation, Improvement, & Flood Mitigation Fund so qualified states and communities can reduce significant flood risk and improve public safety
Key Activities of National Levee Safety Program
5. Develop model national levee safety standards and encourage federal agencies, states, and communities to adopt standards appropriate to their region and needs
6. Align federal programs for incentivizing state programs and appropriate investments in levees and leveed areas
7. Understand and address liability concerns
Context for a National Levee Safety Program
• Part of a larger flood risk management approach
• Shared responsibility from individuals and all levels of government required for success
• Education and communication are key to success
• Primary focus on existing levees and leveed areas– However, future levees should be built to
national standards, reduce risk, etc.
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Context for a National Levee Safety Program
• Part of a larger flood risk management approach
• Shared responsibility from individuals and all levels of government required for success
• Education and communication are key to success
• Primary focus on existing levees and leveed areas– However, future levees should be built to
national standards, reduce risk, etc.
National Levee Safety Program &
Flood Risk Management• Improve understanding of role
levees play in overall flood risk management
• Better communicate role and limitations
• Recognize role of nonstructural approaches in improving levee safety
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National Levee Safety Program & Flood Risk Management
• Improve understanding of role levees play in overall flood risk management
• Better communicate role and
limitations
• Recognize role of nonstructural approaches in improving levee safety
Intersection of Levee Safety & Flood Risk Management
Levee Safety Program Activities
InspectionsInventoryLevee Research & DevelopmentAssessmentsTrainingAssistanceStandardsOperations & MaintenanceProgram Oversight
Shared Activities
Risk CommunicationCommunity InvolvementMappingLevee RehabilitationNon-Structural MeasuresEnvironmental-Safety CollaborationIncentives/DisincentivesFlood InsuranceEvacuation PlansHazard Mitigation Plans
Flood Risk Management
Activities
Land Use PlanningLevee CertificationBuilding CodesEmergency ManagementSystems Planning
Status of a National Levee Safety Program
• Submitted Report to Congress in January 2009 (completed in 3 months)
• Continuing to engage stakeholders for feedback
• National Committee on Levee Safety is working to raise awareness of levee situation and need for national program
• 12 recommendations need new legal authorities
• Ongoing coordination with Army Corps of Engineers and Federal Emergency Management Agency
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Status of a National Levee Safety Program
• Submitted Report to Congress in January 2009 (completed in 3 months)
• Engaged stakeholders until November 2011 in gathering feedback about the implementation of the program and raising awareness of the levee situation and need for a national program
• Since March 2012, NCLS has been on a “strategic pause” due to a legal opinion of the legislation from USACE
• 12 recommendations need new legal authorities
• Non-federal partners on the NCLS have been coordinating and discussing next steps
Until there is a National Levee Safety Program…
• Expanding the National Levee Database (USACE)
• Study to align federal programs with the Federal Interagency Floodplain Management Task Force (NCLS)
• NFIP Reform (FEMA)• Developing standards via the
International Levee Handbook (USACE)
• Developing Tolerable Risk Guidelines (USACE)
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Until there is a National Levee Safety Program…
Activities ongoing in the agencies that supports a National Levee Safety Program
• Expanding the National Levee Database (USACE)
• NFIP Reform (FEMA)• Developing standards via the International
Levee Handbook (USACE)• Developing Tolerable Risk Guidelines
(USACE)