Title
Briefing on FEMA Levee Accreditation Process
Recommended Action
Information only. No action requested
Report
Issue:
Briefing on the FEMA levee accreditation process.
Staff Contact:
Natalie Weiss, Climate Resilience Coordinator, City Manager’s Office, Climate Program, 360.570.5828
Presenter(s):
Natalie Weiss, Climate Resilience Coordinator
Background and Analysis:
The Olympia Sea Level Rise Response Plan identified “Understanding the Implications of FEMA Accreditation” as a near-term informational adaptation strategy. On page 102 of the SLRP, it states: “In its flood hazard and risk mapping, FEMA only recognizes those flood protection systems that meet, and continue to meet, minimum design, operation, and maintenance standards that are consistent with federal requirements and local floodplain management ordinances. The implications of achieving FEMA accreditation, including cost, freeboard criteria, flood gate criteria, drainage, foundation requirements, and maintenance requirements, need to be understood and evaluated.”
The primary benefit of FEMA levee accreditation is reduced flood insurance costs for property owners within the affected Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA). However, accreditation is a time and cost-intensive process, which requires ongoing management and certification to maintain the accreditation over time.
The existing FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) for Olympia show a small number of structures within the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), the area where the National Flood Insurance Program's (NFIP's) floodplain management regulations must be enforced. All structures within the SFHA are mandated to purchase flood insurance. Under current conditions, there are 16 properties, representing 13% of structures that are projected to be impacted by 2050 high-range sea level rise projections, who would benefit from the cost savings associated with accreditation and flood insurance reductions. The FEMA FIRM maps are not updated regularly and do not account for future sea level rise, meaning the full benefits of accreditation are currently minimal and will likely stay that way well into the future.
The cost and effort of pursuing FEMA accreditation - particularly at this stage - may not be justified given the limited number of properties that would benefit. Instead, staff recommend prioritizing resources toward the actual construction and enhancement of flood protection infrastructure, which would benefit a larger number of properties, infrastructure, and community members. The focus should be on building the physical protection needed to address sea level rise, with FEMA accreditation potentially pursued in the future once infrastructure is in place. The decision to not pursue accreditation does not affect the level or quality of flood mitigation that the Collaborative will be implementing.
During this briefing, staff will present the background information and staff recommendation included within the attached memo. In future meetings, the Executive Committee will be asked to make a recommendation to the Sea Level Rise Response Collaborative members about whether to pursue FEMA accreditation at this time.
Climate Analysis:
This item is not expected to impact climate mitigation strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. While FEMA accreditation may reduce flood insurance costs for affected property owners, it does not affect the level or quality of flood mitigation strategies that may be implemented.
Equity Analysis:
It is likely that the SLR Collaborative partners would be responsible for all costs associated with pursuing and maintaining FEMA accreditation. However, the accreditation benefits would be limited to a small number of properties currently within the FEMA designated Special Flood Hazard Areas in downtown Olympia.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
There is considerable community interest in sea level rise planning and implementation of flood protection measures in downtown Olympia.
Options:
Information only. No action requested.
Financial Impact:
While the exact costs are unknown, pursuing FEMA levee accreditation is anticipated to be a time and cost-intensive process, involving significant staff time and investment to achieve and maintain accreditation.
Attachments:
FEMA Levee Accreditation Memo