May 24 FEMA flood update presentation

FEMA Floodplain Changes

in Alexandria

PRELIMINARY Map Revisions Available

Brian Rahal, PE, CFM

T&ES Stormwater Management Division

POTOMAC RIVER / OLD TOWN / WATERFRONT

May 24

, 2021

City outreach meetings:

• May 19, 2021 – Four Mile Run

• May 24, 2021 - Potomac River / Old Town / Waterfront

• June 4, 2021 - Hooff's Run

• June 7, 20201 - Cameron Run, Backlick Run, Strawberry

Run, Taylor Run

• June 15, 2021 - Holmes Run

FEMA Floodplain Changes

in Alexandria

Quick Facts:

• Established in 1968

• Alexandria began participation in 1969

• Alexandria’s first Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) was

published in 1969

• Mandatory Flood Insurance began in 1973

• Alexandria began participation in the Community

Rating System (CRS) in 1992 (Flood Insurance

discounts)

• Last update to Alexandria’s maps became effective on

June 16, 2011

National Flood

Insurance Program

What are the FEMA

Flood Maps?

The regulatory FEMA floodplain, is

officially shown on FEMA’s published

maps, also known as:

FLOOD INSURANCE RATE MAPs

(FIRMs)

Alexandria has 10 FEMA map panels

What are the FEMA

Flood Maps?

What is the FEMA Floodplain?

The regulatory FEMA floodplain, as

shown on the maps, is known as:

Zone AE: An area inundated by 1%

annual chance flood, for which Base

Flood Elevations (BFEs) have been

determined by detailed methods (H&H).

Other zones defined by flooding source.

AKA: Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA),

100-year floodplain.

Alexandria’s Floodplains

Effective June 16, 2011

Digital FIRM – On City GIS Map

Alexandria’s Floodplain

Administration by Ordinance

• Alexandria’s Floodplain District

• Zoning Ordinance: ARTICLE VI – SPECIAL AND OVERLAY

ZONES, Section 6-300 Floodplain District

• Regulation of Development

• Development:

“Any man-made change to improved or unimproved real estate, including, but

not limited to, the construction of buildings or other structures, the placement

of manufactured homes, the construction of streets, the installation of utilities

and other activities or operations involving paving, filling, grading,

excavating, mining, dredging or drilling, the storage of equipment or

materials.”

Regulation of Development

When does the Ordinance apply?

• New Construction in Floodplain

• Always

• Existing Buildings in Floodplain

• Substantial Improvement:

• Any repair, reconstruction, rehabilitation, addition or

other improvement of a building or structure, the

cost of which equals or exceeds 50% of the market

value of the building or structure.

• Any improvements to Substantially Damaged

buildings or structures.

• Historic buildings are exempt.

• Three Major Uses:

• Residential Building

• Any single-family dwelling, two-family dwelling, row or townhouse

dwelling, or multi-family dwelling, and any accessory building or

structure. Floodproofing underground spaces (basement/parking) is

not permitted.

• Nonresidential Building

• Any building or structure which is not a residential building or a mixed-

use building. Floodproofing underground spaces (basement/parking) is

permitted.

• Mixed-Use Building

• Any building or structure that is used or intended for use in a mixture

of nonresidential and residential uses in the same building or

structure. For floodplain management purposes, a mixed-use

building is subject to the same rules and conditions as a

residential building unless all of the provisions set forth more

specifically in Section 6-305(K) are met. Floodproofing is conditional.

Regulation of Development

How often are the maps updated?

• Depends! Alexandria’s maps were last

updated in June 2011.

• Previous map dates:

• 1991

• 1983

• 1981

• First mapped in 1969

NEW MAPS ARE COMING

Schedule:

WE ARE HERE

September 30, 2020

Citywide Impacts

• Based on PRELIMINARY maps (FEMA)

Property Impacts

Properties New to the Floodplain:

• Insurance is mandatory for government backed

mortgages.

• Average annual premium in Alexandria is $1,180/yr.

• Elevation certificates may be required by

mortgage holders.

• $400-$600 One-time expense.

• Any development of property (including

additions, interior work) now subject to

Substantial Improvement floodplain regulations.

• Nonresidential redevelopment may dry-

floodproof.

• Won’t be impacted until maps become Effective

in Fall 2022.

Property Impacts

Basic Floodplain Regulations:

• All New and Substantially Improved

buildings must have the lowest floor

(including basements) at least 1-ft above

the Base Flood Elevation (BFE).

• Substantial Improvement means any

improvement to a building, the cost of

which is 50% or greater than the Value of

the building. (city uses tax assessed data)

Property Impacts

Examples of older buildings with

basements made compliant with

regulations. (Only required if substantially improved).

Property Impacts

Examples of older buildings with

basements made compliant with

regulations. (Only required if substantially improved).

FEMA Floodplain in

Potomac River / Old Town

Waterfront

• Re-Delineation – All

flood data /

information developed

for the 2011 maps

remain the same.

Base Flood Elevations

are the same.

Boundaries re-

delineated on latest

LiDAR mapping

available.

FEMA Floodplain in

Potomac River / Old Town

Waterfront

Mapping methods result in slight changes to boundary.

2011

2020 (Prelim)

FEMA Floodplain in

Potomac River / Old Town

Waterfront

2011

2020 (Prelim)

Mapping methods result in slight changes to boundary.

FEMA Floodplain in

Potomac River / Old Town

Waterfront

Building 2011

Building 2020

(Prelim)

FEMA Floodplain in

Potomac River / Old Town

Waterfront

Building 2011

Building 2020

(Prelim)

More Information?

Resources for more information:

City Website:

https://alexandriava.gov/floodmap

https://alexandriava.gov/933446 (flooding & drainage)

FEMA MAP UPDATE:

https://arcg.is/1L4fXW

Flood Insurance:

• Your Homeowner’s Insurance Provider

• FEMA: https://floodsmart.gov

• Renter’s insurance also available for belongings!

• https://www.floodsmart.gov/flood-insurance/types

FEMA’s RISK Rating 2.0:

https://www.fema.gov/flood-insurance/work-with-

nfip/risk-rating

COMING SOON: Explore City 50% matching

grants for Floodproofing your property! City

reimburses up to $5,000 for qualified projects.

https://www.alexandriava.gov/FloodAction

KEY TAKE-AWAYS

• MAP changes are coming!

• Take steps to protect yourself and your property.

• Get Flood Insurance Now!

• If you are NOW in Zone X, flood insurance policies prior

to map change will be grandfathered in at Zone X rates

when the map change becomes effective.

• Rates will remain if there is continuous coverage by the

same owner.

• 30-day waiting period for policy coverage. Don’t wait!

• Floodproofing 50% matching grants up to $5,000

coming soon from the City. Watch for updates at

https://alexandriava.gov/floodaction

What’s Next?

City continues community outreach through June 2021.

Appeal Period begins Summer 2021 for 90-days. Dates TBD.

FEMA sends Letter of Final Determination (LFD) in Spring

2022.

FEMA makes new maps effective 6-mo following LFD in Fall

2022. Any previous Letters of Map Change/Amendments will

be validated against the new maps at this time, as appropriate

by FEMA.

APPEALS PROCESS

FEMA Issues Public Invitation to Appeal or Comment

(COMING SOON!)

Residents may submit an appeal if they perceive that modeling

or data used to create the map is technically or scientifically

incorrect.

• An appeal must include technical information, such as

hydraulic or hydrologic data, to support the claim.

• Appeals cannot be based on the effects of proposed projects

or projects started after the study is in progress.

• If property owners see incorrect information that does not

change the flood hazard information—such as a missing or

misspelled road name in the Special Flood Hazard Area or an

incorrect corporate boundary—they can submit a written

comment.

More information on dates for the appeals period coming soon.

Questions?

Dangerfield Rd @ Prince St

September 10, 2020