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2021.02.16 Work Session Packet (2nd) 4141 Douglas Drive North • Crystal, Minnesota 55422-1696 Tel: (763) 531-1000 • Fax: (763) 531-1188 • www.crystalmn.gov Posted: February 12, 2021 City Council Second Work Session Agenda Tuesday, February 16, 2021 Immediately following the City Council meeting Council Chambers/Zoom Meeting Pursuant to due call and notice given in the manner prescribed by Section 3.01 of the City Charter, the second work session of the Crystal City Council was held on Tuesday, February 16, 2021 at ______ p.m. electronically via Zoom and in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 4141 Douglas Drive, Crystal, Minnesota. I. Attendance Council members Staff ____ Cummings ____ Norris ____ Kiser ____ Therres ____ LaRoche ____ Gilchrist ____ Parsons ____ Ray ____ Adams ____ Revering ____ Banks ____ Sutter ____ Budziszewski ____ Serres II. Agenda The purpose of the work session is to discuss the following agenda items: 1. Blue Line Extension update. 2. Central Core Stormwater check-in. 3. New business. * 4. Announcements. * III. Adjournment The work session adjourned at ______ p.m. * Denotes no supporting information included in the packet. Auxiliary aids are available upon request to individuals with disabilities by calling the City Clerk at (763) 531-1145 at least 96 hours in advance. TTY users may call Minnesota Relay at 711 or 1-800-627-3529. __________________________________________________________________________ FROM: John Sutter, Community Development Director TO: Anne Norris, City Manager (for February 16 work session) DATE: February 11, 2020 SUBJECT: Blue Line Extension update __________________________________________________________________________ Metro Transit and Hennepin County (the project team) are exploring alternate routes for the Blue Line Extension that do not require the use BNSF Railway property. Attachments: 1. Previous alignment map 2. Potential new alignment areas map 3. Anticipated project timeline 4. City of Crystal Project Principles 5. Metropolitan Council Project Principles During the next 6-9 months, the project team will evaluate route alternatives using the criteria adopted by the project’s Corridor Management Committee. There will be at least two public review and comment opportunities during this period. By the end of 2021, the project team expects to complete conceptual engineering including a layout and station locations, and an evaluation of project benefits and impacts. In Crystal, the operating assumption is that the new alignment would follow Bottineau Boulevard (County Road 81). • This right-of-way is somewhat constrained and the constraints vary depending the location/segment. • The same is true for land use: From south to north, the Crystal land uses along Bottineau are residential, industrial, commercial, the airport, commercial and residential again. • The layout concept that emerges may not be the same throughout Crystal, in terms of where it is (in the median vs. alongside), what it is (at-grade vs. elevated), and so forth. At the February 16 work session agenda, Councilmembers are encouraged to share any questions or concerns with staff so we can carry those forward in our discussions with the project team and adjacent cities. COUNCIL STAFF REPORT Blue Line Extension 1. Previous Alignment 2. Potential New Alignment Areas 3. Anticipated 2021 Work Timeline Beyond 2021: • Confirm environmental approach and conduct analysis to satisfy federal requirements • Seek municipal consent (2022?) • Develop construction plans and design details (2023-2024?) • Construction (2025-2028?) Note: The out years are a guess by Crystal staff 4. City of Crystal Alignment Principles 5. Metropolitan Council Project Principles Memorandum DATE: February 16, 2021 TO: City Council FROM: Mark Ray, PE, Director of Public Works SUBJECT: Central Core Storm Water Project Check In Council discussion questions At the start of this item in the work session staff will provide a brief update on the work and information gathered since the January work session. The core of the time is intended to be a Council-level policy discussion around these two main questions: 1) How should the City approach balancing reducing flood damage with the impacts associated with potential mitigation projects (such as tree removals)? 2) When properties are impacted due to flooding (potentially in the very distant future or maybe as soon as this summer) and residents come to a Council meeting, what does the Council want to be able to say to the residents? Staff follow up on requested information At the January work session, I was asked to provide additional information on a number of topics; below is the requested information. Native plantings Native planting could be an option, it would add cost to the project and there would be additional maintenance costs. Potential grants are available through the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Great River Greening. That said, Brad Fortin is working on grant applications for other projects using these sources, so that would need to be kept in mind. Brownwood portion of the overall project cost Based on the 50% design, the estimated construction cost of the Brownwood portion of the project is $520,000. Communication with residents in identified potential flood risk areas Attached to this work session packet is a concept letter with various enclosures that could be mailed to the homes in any flood risk area. Council members are asked to review these documents to see if they align with the Council’s thinking. Resident input comments As part of the resident input gathering effort, some great comments have been received that play into the overall policy discussion on the larger scale. Below in italics are the direct comments from residents; my comments follow in regular font to provide additional context. 1) “trees also contribute to the health of the surrounding community by removing carbon from the atmosphere. With climate change threatening our very existence, for this reason alone it would be foolhardy to remove these mature trees.” This comment focuses in on a key issue—impacting natural resources to minimize natural weather impacts. which the impacted natural resources have a role in reducing. As we have discussed, the challenge with storm water mitigation projects is that many of the “easier” areas in terms of storage capacity and constructability are around ponds. This comment applies not only to Brownwood, but many parks and natural areas in the City. 2) “We purchased this house in XXXX after an exhaustive search in Minneapolis netted us nothing. The pond and the woods were major factors in our decision to reside in Crystal.” Clearly, the unprogrammed natural areas are a huge draw and benefit to the community. This comment ties in with comment #1 with regards to potential impacts to natural areas for natural hazard mitigation. 3) “My wife and I bought our property in XXXX. At that time, it was not in the FEMA flood plain and no flood insurance was required. Sometime … the FEMA flood plain map was changed. I became aware of the new map when I applied for a 2nd mortgage … and was told by the mortgage company that flood insurance was required. I convinced them I only needed insurance on the $25000 second mortgage (the first mortgage was paid in full). The premium for that was $400. Had I been insuring the whole value of the property, like a person buying the house, I believe the premium would have been in excess of $2000 annually. I expect this would be a deterrent to anyone purchasing my home and thus I have a financial interest in the pond proposal as to how it affects the flood plain map.” When the new FEMA maps come out in the coming years with the increased rainfall and intensity information, it is very likely that a fair number of property owners in Crystal will have a similar experience as this resident. This is why the City is looking into potentially mitigating storm water flood risks, expanding awareness about the potential of a property to be at risk, and exploring FEMA’s Community Rating System. 4) “many concerns from the neighbors about this project. Mainly, what effects it will have on property values, the visual & audible barrier the foliage provides from 42 and the devastation of a great natural habitat.” The comment raised about property values is important because it is the flip side to the comment regarding the impact on property values of homes (and sale-ability) as a result of properties being added to the mapped FEMA flood plain (see comment #3). FEMA Community Rating System (https://www.fema.gov/floodplain-management/community-rating-system) City staff have talked with DNR and FEMA staff about the Community Rating System (CRS). The program is free as in there are no administrative costs, but considerable City staff time would need to be dedicated to it. Once initiated, it would likely take about two years for the City to complete the process and obtain a CRS rating. FEMA Flood Insurance Policies Crystal participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), which means residents can purchase federal flood insurance. However, flood insurance is required for all buildings in mapped FEMA 100— year flood plains that are financed by federally backed loans or mortgages. Per FEMA, currently only 23 properties in the City have flood insurance. 11 of those are in Zone X, which is minimal risk, and 12 are in areas with varying levels of risk. In April 2021, FEMA will be changing the insurance rates, but the changes are not yet known. Should the City enter the CRS program and complete enough tasks to secure a rate reduction for our residents, FEMA has said we should plan on the premium reduction being at most 10% for the residents in a flood risk area and 5% for those in the minimal risk areas. Watershed storm water modeling work FEMA and the DNR are in the process of updating the FEMA floodplain maps. While this is anticipated to take at least few years before the maps become official, the watersheds (both Bassett Creek and Shingle Creek) have been engaged in this process. Bassett Creek recently completed updated storm water modeling work as part of the process and developed preliminary mapping that identifies new potential risk areas in the City. Although this model is not as detailed as the City’s Central Core model, the outcome identifies a number of potential risk areas. Should the Council want to proceed with the efforts to notify residents of the identified risks, I recommend including properties in the Bassett Creek watershed (as well as Shingle Creek when that modeling work is done) in the education efforts, using the same educational materials consistently across the City (but changing the maps based on the mailing recipient’s location). Requested Council Direction on Potential projects Based on the results of the Council’s policy discussion at the work session, here is a list of the potential projects that need Council direction: 1) Community outreach options (none or all the options are possible) a. Pursue FEMA Community Rating System b. Distribute flood risk informational materials c. Continue to use social media, newsletter, etc. to distribute information 2) Gaulke (Option a and b are currently planned, Option c is possible add-on) a. Relocate and reconstruct the storm water lift station. Estimated construction cost $500,000. b. Perform limited dredging (north end of pond) and limited lowering of Gaulke pond elevation (0.73 feet). Estimated construction cost $310,000. c. Dredge the remainder of Gaulke pond and lower the normal water elevation by up to 2.73 feet. This is a new concept that was developed after the last work session. It assumes that the Brownwood Pond project does not move forward and that project funding is moved to this project. Furthermore, the City would still need to notify neighbors about this potential lowering and collect input. Finally, it assumes the City obtains all the appropriate approvals from regulatory agencies. Estimated construction cost $600,000 (assumes that all of the excavated material is contaminated, which would be worst-case, and that this cost in addition to options a+b). 3) Brownwood (Only Option a, b, or c is possible) a. Fully maximize the storm water storage potential at this location (see 50% design plans). A neighborhood meeting would then be scheduled for later this spring and the design process would continue. Estimated construction cost $520,000. b. Look into scaling-back the project. Not only would this reduce the amount of storm water stored, but significant tree removals would still be needed as many of the trees are around the current pond. To perform any expansion, those trees would need to be removed. A neighborhood meeting would then be scheduled for later this spring and the design process would continue. c. Stop further work on this project. The plan would be saved so that if at some future time the project was of interest or need, futher design efforts could be resumed. A letter would be sent to the adjacent property owners informing them of the project update. 4) Hagemeister (Only Option a or b is possible) a. One very high-level concept drawing of this option was prepared. No funding is allocated for design of this project and no cost estimate was developed. At this time, Council could give direction that this potential project is worth evaluating at a later date. As noted in a previous work session, this project may not be feasible and those issues would need to be worked through. The further consideration of this project would be done through the normal budget process and updates to the storm water long term plan. b. Council could direct staff to continue work on this potential project, but that would require changes to the already-approved storm water long term plan. Attachments 1) Concept resident education letter and materials 2) National Flood Insurance Program – Community Rating System guidebook Attachment 1: Concept resident eduation letter and materials G:\Council Executive Summaries\2021\2.16.21\Worksession\Attachment 1a CONCEPT CRYSTAL LETTER 1.22.21.docx 4141 Douglas Drive North • Crystal, Minnesota 55422-1696 Tel: (763) 531-1000 • www.crystalmn.gov January 21, 2021 Dear Property Owner: The purpose of this letter is to provide you with information on recent storm water and floodplain modeling efforts. You are receiving this letter because your property is located in or near an area that the City’s or Bassett Creek Watershed Management Commission (BCWMC) modeling study shows may be at risk during rare, but very intense rain events. No action is required on your part. However, we wanted to make you aware of this potential risk and provide you with some additional resources for more information. Please note that neither the City or BCWMC changed anything to put your property at risk, we just conducted a more detailed study than ever done before using the most current available rainfall data available. We are providing you with the results for your awareness. New flood model In 2020, as part of an effort to better understand flooding risks and identify potential problem areas, the City completed a storm water study which included storm water modeling through the central portion of Crystal. The City’s effort was more detailed and used more current precipitation data than what goes into the FEMA Flood Maps (available online https://msc.fema.gov/portal/home). In addition to having more detailed storm sewer information and topographic (elevation) information, the analysis also used the most recent rainfall data available from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Due to an increase in precipitation amounts observed and documented by NOAA, precipitation models for this region have been adjusted and show that the Minneapolis/St Paul area receives about 20% more water during heavy rain events than it did in decades past. Prior to the City conducting this work, the BCWMC updated its flood model in May 2017 using the same precipitation data. What can you do? • Review the information in this packet to learn more about the risk in your area • Consider purchasing flood insurance • Visit https://www.ready.gov/floods to learn more about other steps you can make to prepare If you have any questions, please contact Utilities Supervisor Pat Sele at pat.sele@crystalmn.gov or (763) 531-1166. Sincerely, Mark Ray, PE Director of Public Works Enclosures Virginia Cir 33 rd Ave 32nd Ave 33rd Cir32nd Pl Kentucky Cir Brogger Cir38 t h Cir Tw in O ak D r41 1/2 Ave NIdaho Cir Cross La 41stPlMemoryLa 39 1/2 Ave NMaddalynPl RobbinsLndgMildred Pl 40 1/2Ave Orkla DrLowryAve N 27th Ave N Rosalyn Ct39th 1/2 Ave N 27thPl 40th Ave N 41 stAve A d e l lAve B o o n e C i r 40th 1/2 Ave NKentleyAve 30thAve E l m d a l e R d Valders Ave NScottAve3 3 r dPl 42nd1/2Ave N BiesDrRockford Rd 31 stAve W Marie La 33rdPl N FloridaAve NE M a r i e L a JerseyCir Cherokee PlViewcrestLa Ham ptonRd Lake CvWisconsinAve N38 1/2Ave EnsignAve Wynnwood Rd T e r r a L i n d a D r JuneAve N3 7 t h A v e Merr ibeeDr M a n c h e s t er D r GlendenTer Z e a l a n dAv e NIndianaAve NTriton Dr Cu l ve r Rd H ubbard Ave N T winO akLa N 38thAve N WinnetkaAve NNoble AveOrchardAveQuail AveLouisianaAve NRegentAveHill Pl Perry AveXeniaAve N35th Pl N 35th Ave Lee AveWelcomeAve NMajor AveKyle Ave44th Ave N 36 1/2 Cir Vall ey Pl L a mp h e r e D r NevadaAve NCavellAveRailroadAve NValle Vsta CavellAve N2 9 t h A v e N Dra ke Rd 40th Ave Vera CruzAve N34 th Ave N Lakevie w Ave Rose Manr Xylon Ave N39th Ave N LakelandAve N LakelandAveLake Rd43rd Ave NToledo Ave NYatesAve N3 7 t h Av e N 33rdAve N 35 th Ave N 30thAve N 29th Pl N St CroixAveMadisonAve WVirginiaAve 34th Pl N ScottAve NZane Ave NLowry Ter Do na La Orchard Ave N42nd Ave NZealand AveAquila AveRegent Ave NM arkw oo d D rBoone AveH alifax Ave N 32nd Ave N 38th Ave Adair Ave NHampshire AveMajorAve N32nd Pl N Idaho AveDouglas Dr NPennsylvaniaAveLeeAve NDawnview TerUtah AveNobleAve NLake DrNevada AveW isconsinAveWinfield Ave36th Ave 31st Ave N Vale Crest RdXylon AvePerry Ave NSumter Ave3 4 t h A v e Vera Cruz AveColorado AveHopewood La MedicineLake Rd Northern Dr Brookridge AveRhode Island Ave N39th Ave 41st Ave N 36th Ave N 42nd Ave 28th Ave 29th Ave Xenia AveWelcome AveGeorgia AveZane AveEdgewood AveFlorida AveAdair AveDouglas DrYukon AveYates AveOregon AveMaryland AveWinnetkaAveLouisiana AveKyle Ave NQuail Ave NKentucky AveJersey AveNorthwood Pkwy Winpark DrUnity Ave NBrunswick AveQuebec Ave45678 456781 456770 45679 4567102 4567156 100 GoldenValley New Hope Robbinsdale Crystal Barr Footer : ArcGIS 10.7.1, 2021-02-08 10:33 File: I:\Client\City_of_Cr ystal\Work_Orders\23271802_Brownwood_Pond\Maps\Meetings\20210208_Feb2021_TAC_Meeting\100-Year Inundation Extents.mxd User : JRV 100 -YE A R INUN DATIONSCrystal, MNCity of C r ystal FIGURE 1 0 750 1,500 Feet !;N 100-Year Inundation Area Municipal Boundary Bassett Creek Watershed Management Commission DRAFT Imager y : NearMa p, 2020 Brownwood Memory Kentucky Cir Idaho AveMarylandAve41st PlMemory La41st Ave 43rd Ave N Jersey AveKentucky AveGeorgia AveHampshire Ave42nd Ave 44th Ave N Louisiana Ave42nd Ave NNevada Ave45679 New Hope Crystal Barr Footer : ArcGIS 10.7.1, 2021-01-14 15:51 File: I:\Client\City_of_Cr ystal\Work_Orders\23271802_Brownwood_Pond\Maps\Meetings\20210114_Crystal\Figure 3 FEMA and 100 Year Preliminar y Model Results - Memor y - Brownwood.mxd User : JRV ME MORY ANDBROWNWOOD PONDSFLOODPLAIN E X TEN TSCrystal, MNCity of C r ystalFIGURE 3 0 260 Feet !;N PRELIMIN ARY 100-Year,24-Hour In undation Area FEMA 10 0 Year Floodpl ain Building Footprints Municipal Boundary DRAFT Imager y : NearMa p, 2020 Brown wood Gaulke Hagemeister 41st Pl Rockford Rd 39th Ave N 4 0 t h Av e N Georgia AveFlorida AveEdgewood AveDouglas DrZane Ave NAdair Ave NHampshire AveColorado AveBrunswick Ave41st Ave N 45679 4567102 RobbinsdaleCrystal Barr Footer : ArcGIS 10.7.1, 2021-01-14 15:50 File: I:\Client\City_of_Cr ystal\Work_Orders\23271802_Brownwood_Pond\Maps\Meetings\20210114_Crystal\Figure 2 FEMA and 100 Year Preliminar y Model Results - Hag - Gaulke.mxd User : JRV HAGE MEISTE R A NDGAULKE PON DSFLOODPLAIN E X TEN TSCrystal, MNCity of C r ystalFIGURE 2 0 300 Feet !;N PRELIMIN ARY 100-Year,24-Hour In undation Area FEMA 10 0 Year Floodpl ain Building Footprints Municipal Boundary DRAFT Imager y : NearMa p, 2020 General Information Product 106 April 2010 100-Year Flood–It’s All About Chance U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey In the 1960’s, the United States government decided to use the 1-percent annual exceedance probability (AEP) flood as the basis for the National Flood Insurance Program. The 1-percent AEP flood was thought to be a fair balance between protecting the public and overly stringent regulation. Because the 1-percent AEP flood has a 1 in 100 chance of being equaled or exceeded in any 1 year, and it has an average recurrence interval of 100 years, it often is referred to as the “100-year flood”. Scientists and engineers frequently use statistical probability (chance) to put a context to floods and their occurrence. If the probability of a particular flood magnitude being equaled or exceeded is known, then risk can be assessed. To determine these probabilities all the annual peak streamflow values measured at a streamgage are examined. A streamgage is a location on a river where the height of the water and the quantity of flow (streamflow) are recorded. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) operates more than 7,500 streamgages nationwide (see map) that allow for assessment of the probability of floods. Examining all the annual peak streamflow values that occurred at a streamgage with time allows us to estimate the AEP for various flood magnitudes. For example, we can say there is a 1 in 100 chance that next year’s flood will equal or exceed the 1-percent AEP flood. More recently, people talk about larger floods, such as the “500- year flood,” as tolerance for risk is reduced and increased protection from flooding is desired. The “500-year flood” corresponds to an AEP of 0.2 percent, which means a flood of that size or greater has a 0.2-percent chance (or 1 in 500 chance) of occurring in a given year. A flood is any relatively high streamflow overtopping the natural or artificial banks in any reach of a stream. Floods occur for many reasons, such as long-lasting rainfall over a broad area, locally intense thunderstorm-generated rainfall, or rapid melting of a large snow pack with or without accompanying rainfall. Because floods result from many different circumstances, not all floods are equal in magnitude, duration, or effect. Placing floods in context allows society to address such issues as the risk to life and property, and to study and understand the environmental benefits of floods. Trying to place contextual framework around floods is where such terms as “100-year flood” came into being. What is a Flood? So what is a 100-year flood and how is it determined? How accurate are estimates of the 1-percent Annual Exceedance Probability (AEP) Flood (also known as the 100-year flood)? Speaking of chance... The “100-year flood” is an estimate of the long-term average recurrence interval, which does not mean that we really have 100 years between each flood of greater or equal magnitude. Floods happen irregularly. Consider the following: if we had 1,000 years of streamflow data, we would expect to see about 10 floods of equal or greater magnitude than the “100- year flood.” These floods would not occur at 100-year intervals. In one part of the 1,000-year record it could be 15 or fewer years between “100-year floods,” whereas in other parts, it could be 150 or more years between “100-year floods.” The graph above shows how irregularly floods have occurred during the past 98 years on the Embarras River near Ste. Marie, IL. The magnitude of the 10-year flood has been determined through statistical analysis to be approximately 31,100 cubic feet per second (ft3/s). You can see from the graph that the actual interval between floods greater than this magnitude ranged from 4 to 28 years, but the average of these intervals is about 10 years. Admittedly, use of such terms as the “100-year flood” can confuse or unintentionally mislead those unfamiliar with flood science. Because of the potential confusion, the U.S. Geological Survey, along with other agencies, is encouraging the use of the annual exceedance probability (AEP) terminology instead of the recurrence interval terminology. For example, one would discuss the “1-percent AEP flood” as opposed to the “100-year flood.” Current streamflow conditions for the United States are available on the World Wide Web:waterwatch.usgs.gov The accuracy of the 1-percent AEP flood varies depending on the amount of data available, the accuracy of those data, land-use changes in the river drainage area, climate cycles, and how well the data fits the statistical probability distribution. As a demonstration of the uncertainty in the estimates of flood probability, the flood probability relation for the Big Piney River near Big Piney, MO, is plotted in the figure below as the solid black line. Above and below that solid black line are two dashed lines that represent the 90-percent confidence intervals of this relation. These confidence intervals simply mean that we are 90-percent confident that the true flood magnitude for a particular AEP lies between the confidence limit lines; or, there is a 10-percent chance that the true value lies somewhere outside the confidence interval lines. The 1-percent AEP flood (“100-year flood”) for the Big Piney River at this location has an estimated magnitude of 44,300 cubic feet per second (ft3/s). We know that 44,300 ft3/s is an estimate, but by looking closer at the graph, we can say that we are 90-percent confident that the true value of the 1-percent AEP flood is between 36,600 ft3/s and 56,400 ft3/s. Most policy makers and water managers often are more concerned with the height of the water in the river (river levels) than the streamflow quantity. The uncertainty for the streamflow quantity of the 1-percent AEP flood for the Big Piney River can be translated into an uncertainty of the river level. A streamflow of 36,600 ft3/s corresponds to a river level of 20.6 ft, whereas a streamflow of 56,400 ft3/s corresponds to a river level of 22.85 ft. Stated another way, the flood probability analysis reveals that we are 90-percent sure that the river elevation will be between 20.6 and 22.85 on the Big Piney River at Big Piney for the 1-percent AEP flood. Solid line through data indicates fitted frequency curve; dashed lines indicate 90-percent confidence lim- its for the Big Piney River near Big Piney, MO. The 1-percent AEP flood has a 1-percent chance of occurring in any given year; however, during the span of a 30-year mortgage, a home in the 1-percent AEP (100-year) floodplain has a 26-percent chance of being flooded at least once during those 30 years! The value of 26 percent is based on probability theory that accounts for each of the 30 years having a 1-percent chance of flooding. On the river near me, we have had two 100-year floods in 15 years…I really am confused about this 100-year flood stuff. Haven’t we already had one this century? New Information and Additional Data Installation of Flood Controls Urban Development The designation of the “100-year flood” was changed for my river recently—Why? Robert R. Holmes, Jr. and Karen Dinicola Author information For more information on this poster contact: Office of Surface Water 415 National Center Reston, Virginia 20192 703-648-5301 1,000 10,000 100,000 ANNUAL PEAK DISCHARGECUBIC FEET PER SECOND99.5 98 95 90 80 70 50 30 20 10 52 10 .5 0.2 ANNUAL EXCEEDANCE PROBABILITY, PERCENT 56,400 cubic feet per second 44,300 cubic feet per second 36,600 cubic feet per second Upper band of 90-percent confidence interval Lower band of 90-percent confidence interval 100,000 10,000 Annual Peak StreamflowCubic Feet Per Second 1,000 99.5 98 95 90 80 70 50 30 20 10 5 1 .5 .2 Annual Exceedance Probability, Percent Cedar River at Cedar Rapids, IAAnnual PeakThe estimate of the magnitude of the 1-percent AEP (100-year) flood using only the first 20 years of data (1903-1922) is quite different from the estimate using all available data (1903-2008). This is an example of the value of long-term streamflow data. Collecting more data and updating the 1-percent AEP (100-year) estimate provides better information for agencies charged with managing flood-prone areas and protecting life and property. 1-percent AEP (100-year) flood 1-percent AEP (100-year) flood 1903 to 1922 data 1903 to 2008 data Green River near Auburn, WAAnnual PeakFlood control dams on the Green River in Washington State have reduced the magnitude of floods. 1-percent AEP (100-year) flood 1-percent AEP (100-year) flood 1937 to 1961 data 1962 to 2007 data Boneyard Creek at Urbana, ILAnnual PeakUrban development in Champaign-Urbana, IL has increased the magnitude of flooding of the Boneyard Creek. 1-percent AEP (100-year) flood 1-percent AEP (100-year) flood 1948 to 1963 data 1964 to 2007 data Incidence of the 10-year flood for the Embarras River at Ste. Marie, IL (03345500). The variability in time between “10-year floods” ranges from 4 to as many as 28 years between floods. 17 yrs 11 yrs 5 yrs7 yrs7 yrs4 yrs7 yrs 28 yrs “10-year flood” 31,140 CFS 6 yrs6 yrs Annual Peak17 yrs 11 yrs 5 yrs 7 yrs 7 yrs 4 yrs 7 yrs 6 yrs 6 yrs28 yrs 10-year flood 31,100 cubic feet per second yrs = years WHY DO I NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM NEED FLOOD INSURANCE? LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR NFIP POLICY COVERAGE BELOW The NFIP offers building coverage. The following items are a sample of those covered under building coverage: • The building and its foundation • Electrical and plumbing systems • Central air-conditioning, equipment, furnaces, and water heaters • Refrigerators, stoves, and dishwashers • Permanently installed carpeting • Window blinds The NFIP offers coverage for your belongings. Whether you rent or own, make sure to ask your insurance agent about contents coverage. For most standard policies, contents coverage is not automatically included with the building coverage. Contents coverage usually covers items like: • Personal belongings such as clothing, furniture, and electronic equipment • Carpets • Washers and dryers • Food freezers and the food in them • Portable microwave ovens and dishwashers The NFIP offers some basement coverage. While flood insurance does not cover basement improvements (such as finished walls, floors, or ceilings), or personal belongings kept in a basement (such as furniture and other contents), it does cover structural elements and essential equipment kept in a basement, such as hot water heaters and furnaces. Christian White, home insurance adjuster, assesses flood damage inside of a home in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana. For more information about the NFIP and flood insurance, contact your insurer or agent, or call 1-800-427-4661. If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability and use relay services, call 711 from your TTY. F-002 | July 2018 Flood waters remain high in neighborhoods impacted by Hurricane Matthew in Lumberton, North Carolina. Every property is vulnerable to flooding. Flooding can happen anywhere, at any time. In fact, more than 20 percent of the NFIP’s claims come from outside high-risk flood areas. That’s why it’s important to protect the life you’ve built with flood insurance, even if you live in an area with low-to-moderate flooding risk. The NFIP covers flooding resulting from hurricanes or other weather events. The NFIP defines covered flooding as any temporary event where the surface of normally dry land is partially or completely underwater. Flooding can be caused by: • Overflow of inland (lake or river) or coastal waters • Pooling or runoff of surface waters from any source, such as heavy rainfall • Mudflows • Collapse of land along the shore of a lake or other body of water due to wave or water currents Property owners located in low-to-moderate risk areas should ask their agents if they are eligible for the Preferred Risk Policy, which provides flood insurance protection at a lower cost than a standard policy in a high-risk area. The low-cost Preferred Risk Policy is ideal for homes and other properties currently mapped in low-to-moderate risk areas—and it costs homeowners an average of $439 a year. You can purchase flood insurance at any time. There is usually a 30-day waiting period before the policy goes into effect. There are some exceptions: • If you initially purchased flood insurance while securing, adjusting, or renewing a loan for your property, there is no waiting period. Coverage goes into effect when the loan is closed. • If you live in an area newly affected by a flood risk map change, review your options with your insurance agent. Additionally, the 30-day waiting period may not apply if your property experiences flood damage caused by wildfire in your community. Learn more about the Post- Wildfire Exception at fema.gov/wildfires- you-need-flood-insurance. Keeping these exceptions in mind, plan ahead so you are not caught without insurance. The policy does not cover losses caused by a flood that occurred prior to the policy becoming effective. In addition, you cannot increase your insurance coverage once a flood has begun. DID YOU KNOW? The government requires that homes in high-risk flood areas are protected by flood insurance if they are backed by a federally regulated lender. Lenders must notify borrowers of their flooding risk, prior to closing, if their property is in a high-risk flood area. And remember, most homeowners insurance does NOT cover flood damage. Unfortunately, many property owners do not find out until it’s too late that their policies do not cover flooding. The NFIP offers a separate policy that protects your single most important financial asset— your home or business. You can insure your condominium unit or home with flood insurance for up to $250,000 for the building and up to $100,000 for the contents. Property owners can insure their commercial properties for up to $500,000 for the building and $500,000 for the contents. In the event of a flood, federal disaster assistance may be limited or unavailable. Federal disaster assistance is available only if the president declares a disaster. Your home is covered by flood insurance even if a disaster is not declared. Disaster assistance comes in two forms: A U.S. Small Business Administration loan, which must be paid back with interest, or a FEMA disaster grant, which is about $5,000 on average per household. Both programs have strict eligibility requirements based on individual need and many disaster survivors may not qualify. By comparison, the average flood insurance claim is nearly $30,000 and does not have to be repaid. Flood insurance is available for individuals in participating communities. Today, more than 22,000 communities participate in the NFIP and most people who live in participating communities, including renters and condo unit owners, can purchase NFIP flood insurance. Flood insurance coverage is not limited to properties in a high-risk flood area. That’s why it’s important to secure flood insurance; because everywhere it can rain in these communities, it can flood. Those living in Coastal Barrier Resources Systems (CBRS) or other protected areas are not eligible for NFIP coverage. Rupi Prasad purchased flood insurance for peace of mind during her retirement years. With help from the NFIP, she’s rebuilding after Hurricane Harvey. Learn more about Preferred Risk Policies here: fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/17576 Attachment 2: National Flood Insurance Program – Community Rating System guidebook National Flood Insurance Program Community Rating System A Local Official’s Guide to Saving Lives, Preventing Property Damage, and Reducing the Cost of Flood Insurance FEMA B 573 / 2018 FEMA The Community Rating System Works Every year, flooding causes hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of damage to homes and businesses around the country. Standard homeowners and commercial property insurance policies do not cover flood losses. To meet the need for this vital coverage, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) administers the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The NFIP offers reasonably priced flood insurance to all properties in communities that comply with minimum standards for floodplain management. The NFIP’s Community Rating System (CRS) credits community efforts beyond those minimum standards by reducing flood insurance premiums for the community’s property owners. The CRS is similar to—but separate from—the private insurance industry’s programs that grade communities on the effectiveness of their fire suppression and building code enforcement efforts. CRS discounts on flood insurance premiums range from 5% up to 45% (see Table 1), based on CRS credit points that are awarded to communities. The discounts provide an incentive for communities to implement new flood protection activities that can help save lives and property when a flood occurs. The CRS provides credit under 19 public information and floodplain management activities described in the CRS Coordinator’s Manual. You’re probably already doing many of these activities. To get credit, community officials will need to prepare documentation that verifies these efforts. The CRS assigns credit points for each activity. Table 2 lists the activities and the possible number of credit points for each one. The table also shows the average number of credit points communities earn for each activity. These averages may give you a better indication than the maximums of what your community can expect. To be eligible for a CRS discount, your community must do Activity 310, Elevation Certificates. If you’re a designated repetitive loss community, you must also do Activity 510, Floodplain Management Planning. All other activities are optional. Based on the total number of points your community earns, the CRS assigns you to one of ten classes. Your discount on flood insurance premiums is based on your class. premiums. If your community earns as little as 500 points, it’s in Class 9, and property owners in the SFHA get a 5% discount. If a community does not apply or fails to receive at least 500 points, it’s in Class 10, and property owners get no discount. Table 1, below, shows the number of points required for each class and the corresponding discount. For example, if your community earns 4,500 points or more, it qualifies for Class 1, and property owners in the in the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) get a 45% discount on their insurance Table 1. How much discount property owners in your community can get Rate Class Discount for SFHA* Discount for Non-SFHA** Credit Points Required 1 45% 10% 4,500 + 2 40% 10% 4,000–4,499 3 35% 10% 3,500–3,999 4 30% 10% 3,500–3,499 5 25% 10% 3,000–2,999 6 20% 10% 2,500–2,499 7 15% 5% 1,500–1,999 8 10% 5% 1,000–1,499 9 5% 5% 500–999 10 0 0 0–499 * Special Flood Hazard Area ** Preferred Risk Policies are available only in B, C, and X Zones for properties that are shown to have a minimal risk of flood damage. The Preferred Risk Policy does not receive premium rate credits under the CRS because it already has a lower premium than other policies. Although they are in SFHAs, Zones AR and A99 are limited to a 5% discount. Premium reductions are subject to change. Table 2. What You Can Do to Get Credit The CRS grants credit for 19 different activities that fall into four series: Series 300 Public Information Maximum Points* Average Points * This series credits programs that advise people about the flood hazard, flood insurance, and ways to reduce flood damage. The activities also provide data insurance agents need for accurate flood insurance rating. 310 Elevation Certificates 116 38 • Maintain FEMA elevation certificates for new construction in the floodplain. (At a minimum, a community must maintain certificates for buildings built after the date of its CRS application.) 320 Map Information Service • Provide Flood Insurance Rate Map information to those who inquire, and publicize this service. 90 73 330 Outreach Projects • Distribute outreach projects with messages about flood hazards, flood insurance, flood protection measures, and/or the natural and beneficial functions of floodplains. 350 87 340 Hazard Disclosure • Real estate agents advise potential purchasers of flood-prone property about the flood hazard. • Regulations require notice of the hazard. 80 14 350 Flood Protection Information • The public library and/or community’s website maintains references on flood insurance and flood protection. 125 38 360 Flood Protection Assistance • Give inquiring property owners technical advice on how to protect their buildings from flooding, and publicize this service. 110 55 370 Flood Insurance Promotion • Assess flood insurance coverage within the community and implement a plan to promote flood insurance. 110 39 Series 300 Total 981 3448 *Maximum and average points are subject to change. See the current CRS Coordinator’s Manual for the latest information. Series 400 Mapping & Regulations Maximum Points* Average Points * This series credits programs that limit floodplain development or provide increased protection to new and existing development. 410 Floodplain Mapping •Develop new flood elevations, floodway delineations, wave heights, or other regulatory flood hazard data for an area not mapped in detail by the flood insurance study. •Have a more restrictive mapping standard. 802 60 420 Open Space Preservation •Guarantee that currently open public or private floodplain parcels will be kept free from development. •Zone the floodplain for minimum lot sizes of 5 acres or larger. 2,020 509 430 Higher Regulatory Standards •Limit new buildings and/or fill in the floodplain. •Require freeboard. •Require soil tests or engineered foundations. •Require compensatory storage. •Require coastal construction standards in AE Zones. •Have regulations tailored to protect critical facilities or areas subject to special flood hazards (for example, alluvial fans, ice jams, subsidence, or coastal erosion). 2,042 270 440 Flood Data Maintenance •Keep flood and property data on computer records. •Use better base maps. •Maintain elevation reference marks. 222 115 450 Stormwater Management •Regulate new development throughout the water­ shed to ensure that post-development runoff is no greater than pre-development runoff. •Regulate new construction to minimize soil erosion and protect or improve water quality. 755 132 Series 4 00 Total 5,841 1,086 Series 500 Flood Damage Reduction Maximum Points* Average Points * This series credits programs that reduce the flood risk to existing development. 510 Floodplain Management Planning • Prepare, adopt, implement, and update a comprehensive flood hazard mitigation plan using a standard planning pr ocess. • Prepare an analysis of the repetitive flood loss areas within the community. Note: category C repetitive loss communities must receive credit for either the floodplain management plan or the repetitive loss area analysis, above. • Prepare, adopt, implement, and update a plan to protect natural functions within the community’s floodplain. 622 175 520 Acquisition and Relocation • Acquire and/or relocate floodprone buildings so that they are out of the floodplain. 2,250 195 530 540 Flood Protection • Protect existing floodplain development by floodproofing, elevation, or minor flood control projects. Drainage System Maintenance • Have a program for and conduct annual inspections of all channels and detention basins; remove debris as needed. 1,600 570 73 218 Series 5 00 Total 5,042 661 Series 600 Flood Preparedness Maximum Points* Average Points * This series credits flood warning, levee safety, and dam safety projects. 610 Flood Warning and Response • Provide early flood warnings to the public, and have a detailed flood response plan keyed to flood crest predictions. 395 254 620 Levees •Annually inspect and maintain existing levees; have a system for recognizing the threat of levee failure and/or overtopping, disseminating warnings, and providing emergency response; and coordinate with operators of critical facilities. 235 157 630 Dams •Have a high-hazard-potential dam that could affect the community; have a system for recognizing the threat of dam failure, disseminating warnings, planning and practicing emergency responses; and coordinating with operators of critical facilities. 160 35 Series 6 00 Total 790 446 All Series Total 12,654 2,537 Additional Credit Your community can get additional credit for regulating development outside the SFHA to the same standards as development inside the SFHA. There is also credit for assessing future flood conditions, including the impacts of future development, urbanization, and changing weather patterns. See the CRS Coordinator’s Manual for full details. Many communities can qualify forwhat the CRS calls “state-based credit,” based on the activities orregulations a state or regional agencyimplements within communities. For example, some states have disclosure laws eligible for credit under Activity340 (Hazard Disclosure). Any community in those states can receive the state-based credit. Your community may want to consider floodplain managementactivities not listed in the CRS Coordinator’s Manual. You should evaluate these activities for their ability to increase public safety,reduce property damage, avoideconomic disruption and loss, and protect the environment. In addition,you can request a review of these activities to determine whether theycould be eligible for CRS credit. FEMAwelcomes innovative ways to preventor reduce flood damage. How to Apply Participation in the CRS is voluntary.If your community is in fullcompliance with the rules andregulations of the NFIP, you mayapply. There’s no application fee, andall CRS publications are free. Your community’s chief executiveofficer (your mayor, city manager, orother top official) must appoint a CRScoordinator to serve as the liaison between the community and FEMA.The coordinator should know the operations of all departments that deal with floodplain management andpublic information. And thecoordinator should be able to speakfor the community’s chief executive officer. To begin the application process, your community submits a letter of interest to your FEMA Regional Office and documents that you are implementing floodplain management activities that warrant at least 500 CRS credit points. On the CRS Resources website (www.CRSresources.org) you can find a sample letter; the CRS Quick Check, a tool that helps you assess your community’s possible credit points; and further instructions. You may also want to download fromthat website a copy of the CRS Coordinator’s Manual, which describes the program in full andprovides specific information,including eligible activities, requireddocumentation, and resources forassistance. Help is also available through the contact information below. CRS-related materials and many more resources are available at the CRS Resources website and on FEMA’s website (https://www.fema.gov/ national-flood-insurance-program-community-rating-system). After your community applies for a CRS classification, the CRS will verify the information and arrange for flood insurance premium discounts. For more info, write, phone, or fax: NFIP/CRS P.O. Box 501016 Indianapolis, IN 46250-1016 (317) 848-2898 Fax: (201) 748-1936 e-mail: nfipcrs@iso.com [blank page]