High ground, Vol. 5, no. 2 (Spring 2000)

High Ground
A Publication of the Georgia Floodplain Management Office
Vol. 5, No. 2 Spring 2000
GEMA Press Release
Georgia Awards $8 Million in Disaster Recovery Initiative Grants
On February 25, 2000, the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) announced the award of over $8 million in grants to twenty applicants throughout the state from the Disaster Recovery Initiative (DRI) Grant Program.
The DRI Program provides flexible grants to help cities, counties, and states recover from Presidentially declared disasters, especially in low-income areas.
In March 1998, the State of Georgia experienced widespread flooding due to relentless storm systems. On March 20th, a tornado tore through Hall and White Counties. Tornadoes struck Haralson, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, Bryan, Effingham, Liberty, Long and Gwinnett Counties on April 8-9, killing one person and damaging 24,862 places of residence. As a result of the damages caused in these counties and elsewhere in the state by this severe weather, 119 out of Georgia's 159 counties were declared federal disaster areas under Presidential Disaster Declaration 1209.
"These grants will allow us to provide assistance to low and moderate income families whose homes were significantly damaged and still need help to restore their homes to a safe and decent standard, or who remain in hazardous locations in the floodplain," said GEMA Director Gary W. McConnell.
Funds for the grant program have been made available by the Housing and Urban Development Agency (HUD). The HUD grant funds are being used to supplement federal disaster programs. The grants were selected from an open application process that concluded August 30, 1999.
Recipients of grants, the projects and the grant amounts are as follows:
Mitchell County, Acquisition of 2 Houses, $33,582 Lee County, Acquisition/Elevation of 59 Houses, $1,087,772 City of Albany, Elevation of 31 Houses, $633,903 Dougherty County, Acquisition of 4 Houses, $42,295 City of Newton, Acquisition of 15 Houses, $278,165 City of Albany, Joshua Street Drainage Improvements, $1,141,800 Decatur County, Acquisition of 14 Houses, $542,273

City of Albany, Lines Avenue Drainage Improvements, $253,710 Decatur County, Acquisition of 14 Houses, $924,251 City of Cordele, Acquisition of 12 Houses, $238,120 Terrell County, Acquisition of 3 Houses, $76,944 Dougherty County, Elevation of 12 Houses, $350,247 Dougherty County, Acquisition of Various Structures, $1,140,182 City of Dublin, Alabama Street Pump Station, $406,760 City of Valdosta, West Street Culvert Improvements, $90,830 Coffee County, Old Pearson Road Drainage Improvements, $86,296 City of Cordele, Acquisition of 13 Structures, $280,500 Seminole County, Fish Pond Drainage Improvements, $244,200 City of Ocilla, Drainage Improvements, $259,345 City of Hawkinsville, Acquisitions/Drainage Improvements, $51,833
Georgia's Greenspace Program Offers Protection for Flood Prone Lands in Rapidly Developing Communities
Senate Bill 399 (House Committee Amendment) establishes a framework within which developed and rapidly developing counties, and their municipalities, can preserve community greenspace. The bill promotes the adoption, by such counties and cities, of policies and rules which will enable them to preserve at least 20 percent of their land areas as connected and open greenspace which can be used for informal recreation and natural resource protection. "Greenspace" means permanently protected land and water, including agricultural and forestry land, that is in its undeveloped, natural state or that has been developed only to the extent consistent with, or is restored to be consistent with, one or more listed goals for natural resource protection or informal recreation.
The bill creates a Georgia Greenspace Commission, which reviews and approves community greenspace programs submitted by eligible counties and municipalities. The Commission is administratively attached to the Department of Natural Resources. The bill also creates a Georgia Greenspace Trust Fund, which may include appropriated state funds, federal funds, donated funds, and any interest income.
The monies appropriated to the Fund are reserved for grants to certain counties and cities to defray the costs of acquiring real property or conservation easements that permanently protect greenspace. Counties become eligible to participate in this part of the Program if they (1) have attained a population not less than 60,000 pursuant to the U.S. decennial census of 1990 or later or (2) have experienced average population growth of at least 800 persons per year as measured between the 1990 (or later) decennial census and the most recent U.S. estimate of population. For fiscal year 2001, these rules make the following counties eligible: Barrow, Bartow, Bibb, Bryan, Bulloch, Camden, Carroll, Catoosa, Chatham, Cherokee, Clarke, Clayton, Cobb, Columbia, Coweta, DeKalb, Dougherty, Douglas, Effingham, Fayette, Floyd, Forsyth, Fulton, Glynn, Gwinnett, Hall, Henry, Houston, Jackson, Lee, Liberty, Lowndes, Murray, Muscogee, Newton, Paulding,

Richmond, Rockdale, Walton, and Whitfield. A city becomes eligible to participate if it lies within an eligible county.
All of the above counties currently participate in the National Flood Insurance Program. Grants to the counties as well as to eligible cities participating in the National Flood Insurance Program can provide for the permanent protection of flood prone lands. Local greenspace programs coupled with local flood ordinances will allow communities to adopt long range strategies regarding floodplain management as well as undertake comprehensive mitigation measures.
To obtain a state grant, an eligible county must notify the Commission of its intent, establish a Community Greenspace Trust Fund, and develop a greenspace program which Identifies all currently protected greenspace, Identifies specific parcels of land or water, which have been designated for
acquisition or protection, Identifies any changes, which have been made to the county's comprehensive plan so
it is consistent with the greenspace program, Assigns to a specific subdivision of county government the responsibility to identify
and preserve future greenspace, Documents the preparedness of any eligible municipality to participate in the
county's greenspace program, Certifies that the county has authorized a Community Greenspace Trust Fund, and Describes the county's available sources of funding for greenspace other than the
state greenspace grant funds.
A county's greenspace program must: Promote the permanent protection of greenspace constituting at least 20 percent of the
county's geographic area, Identify legal and structural barriers to the achievement of the 20-percent goal, Propose a ten-year strategy to mitigate or eliminate such barriers by such local actions
as amendment of zoning and land use ordinances, local legislation to be enacted by the General Assembly, and local conservation and preservation ordinances, Identify, and commit to the employment of, existing local land use regulation which will help permanently protect greenspace, and Specify a program and method for allocating greenspace funds to, and cooperating with, any municipalities within the county, which elect to participate.
The existence of the Georgia Greenspace Trust Fund may encourage philanthropic gifts of money and federal grants to preserve greenspace. These monies, and the interest earned on balances in the Fund, are to be made available to all cities and counties in the State for discretionary grants to preserve greenspace.
The Department of Natural Resources is authorized to develop rules to implement the bill's provisions, to audit any Community Greenspace Trust Fund which receives monies from the Georgia Greenspace Trust Fund, and to investigate the use of such moneys or properties obtained in whole or in part with them. The Department is authorized to

match, from funds which it may have available, expenditures from any Community Greenspace Trust Fund which acquires property adjacent to, or in the watershed of, the Altamaha, Chattahoochee, or Flint rivers, or any other river which the Department may designate by regulation as eligible for a match. The Department may by agreement accept and administer as state parks, wildlife management areas, historic sites, natural areas, and similar areas lands which counties or cities have acquired in those watersheds using greenspace trust funds.
For further information on the Greenspace Program, contact the Commissioner's Office Georgia Department of Natural Resources at (404) 656-3500.
Article contributed by Harvey Young
Increased Cost of Compliance (ICC) Procedures For Local Officials
Background: The National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994 states, "The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) ...shall enable the purchase of insurance to cover the cost of compliance with land use and control measures established under Section 1361." ICC is coverage contained in the Standard Flood Insurance Policy and applies to all new and renewed flood insurance policies effective on and after June 1, 1997. ICC must be used for elevation, relocation, demolition, or non-residential floodproofing of structures, which have been declared substantially or repetitively damaged by flood. The limit of ICC coverage of $15,000 will increase to $20,000 effective May 1, 2000. For further information please refer to FEMA Publication #301 (see http://www.fema.gov/mit/icc), or contact your State NFIP coordinator or FEMA Region IV staff. To obtain publication #301, call FEMA's Publication Center at 1-800-480-2520.
In an effort to clarify information that an insurance claims adjuster must obtain in order to initiate an ICC claim, FEMA Region IV has developed the following checklist:
Required information for ICC claims based on substantial flood damage:
_____ 1) Proof of Loss for flood-related damage _____ 2) Written evidence of community official's determination that structure was
substantially damaged by flood _____ 3) Evidence of mitigation measure(s) chosen (demolition, elevation, relocation,
or non-residential floodproofing) _____ 4) Itemized cost estimates for the chosen mitigation measure(s) _____ 5) Permit from the community official to implement the mitigation measures(s)
Required information for ICC claims based on repetitive flood losses:

_____1) Proof of Loss for two or more flood events _____2) Evidence that the community has a repetitive loss provision in the flood damage
prevention ordinance _____3) Evidence of the community official's determination that the building has been
substantially damaged by flooding, and the insured is prohibited from repairing the structure. _____4) Full compliance with all requirements of the community's flood damage prevention ordinance, and other relative building codes must be met. _____5) Evidence of mitigation measure(s) chosen _____6) Itemized cost estimates for the chosen mitigation measure(s) _____7) Permit from the community official to implement the mitigation measure(s) In both instances the Insurance Claims Adjuster will file the ICC claim for the insured. If approved, the insured will receive partial payment (about one-half) of the full ICC claim amount. When the mitigation project is completed, the insured provides a copy of the certificate of occupancy or other evidence from the community to document that the mitigation activity has been completed. Upon receipt of such documentation, the final portion of the ICC claim will be paid.
Great Ideas!
Public Notification of Community Elevation Requirements
During a recent regional floodplain management conference, Georgia Floodplain Management staff participated in a field tour of mitigation projects in several Mississippi coastal communities. This house, located in Pascagoula, MS, was elevated using ICC
Picture by Judy Brock
(Increased Cost of Compliance) funds following Hurricane Georges. Notice the sign in front of the home (see close-up below). To facilitate public knowledge of community

requirements regarding floodplain construction, Pascagoula has developed these signs indicating elevation requirements, which are placed on sites under construction.
BUILD SAFE!!! 13.1' MSL
Pascagoula Elevation Standard
*************
If your community is doing something innovative in regards to floodplain management, send us a picture and/or description to include in our next Great Ideas! column.
New Challenges for a New Millennium: 2000 Governor's Severe Weather Conference
Planning is well under way for the 2000 Governor's Severe Weather Conference, which will be May 1 - 3, 2000, at the Jekyll Island Convention Center on Jekyll Island, Georgia. This year's theme, "New Challenges for a New Millennium," addresses the issues faced by the public safety community when preparing for and responding to severe weather.
Because all forms of severe weather threaten Georgia, it is necessary for emergency management personnel and first responders to be knowledgeable about the most current preparedness and response measures in order to ensure the protection of life and property. Since 1990, Presidential disaster declarations have been issued for all but seven Georgia counties for a variety of hazards, including floods, tornadoes, blizzards and hurricanes.
This year, Governor Roy E. Barnes will address participants on the opening day of the conference. A reception will immediately follow the Governor's remarks. Also, retired Army Brig. Gen. Jack Kelly, director of the National Weather Service, has been invited to deliver the keynote address at the luncheon May 2.
More than 400 public safety officers, educators, meteorologists, volunteers and elected officials are expected to attend 13 workshops. Topics include
Severe Weather Meteorology 101; Lessons Learned: Three Stories Flood, Tornado and Hurricane; Damage Assessments and Needs Assessments The First Steps to Recovery ; How to Meet Short-Term and Long-Term Housing Needs; Hurricane Coordination: Intrastate and Interstate;

The Shelter Business and Feeding the Masses; Where to Find A Helping Hand: Mutual Aid and Other Resources; and Georgia's New School Safety Program (will address severe weather issues in
schools).
Hotel accommodations are available at the following locations: Jekyll Inn (800) 7361046 or (912) 635-2531, Comfort Inn (912) 635-2211, Days Inn and Suites (912) 6359800 and the Ramada Inn (800) 835-2110 or (912) 635-2111. When making reservations, please indicate that you are attending the Governor's Severe Weather Conference.
The registration fee is $125. For additional information regarding the Governor's Severe Weather Conference, please contact Jonna Wheeler or Gracia Szczech, conference cochairs, at (404) 635-7000 or toll-free in Georgia at 1-800-TRY-GEMA.
Article by Jonna Wheeler, Conference Co-Chair
ASFPM's Certified Floodplain Manager Program
The Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM) has inaugurated a national program to professionally certify floodplain managers. The program recognizes continuing education and professional development that enhance the knowledge and performance of local, state, federal and private-sector floodplain managers. A professional certification program is critical at this stage in the flood hazard management industry in order to provide a formal, measurable mechanism for training and developing proficiency in those persons who make decisions to guide development and mitigation in flood hazard areas.
The role of the nation's floodplain managers is expanding due to increases in disaster losses, the emphasis being placed upon mitigation to alleviate the cycle of damagerebuild-damage, and a recognized need for professionals to adequately address these issues. This certification program will lay the foundation for ensuring that highly qualified individuals are available to meet the challenge of breaking the damage cycle and stopping its negative drain on the nation's human, financial, and natural resources.
The formation of a professional certification program is recognized as an effective means to: Formalize a procedure to recognize and provide an incentive for individuals to
improve their knowledge of floodplain management concepts; Enhance individual professional development goals; Promote an understanding of relevant subject matter that is consistent nationwide; Convey new concepts and practices; and Build partnerships among organizations and agencies that share the goal of advancing
sound floodplain management.

To obtain the Certified Floodplain Manager information and application package, you may download it from the ASFPM web site at www.floods.org or contact the Executive Office at asfpm@floods.org; (608) 274-0123.
ASFPM Conference to be Held June 18-23 in Austin, Texas
The 24th Annual Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM) Conference will be held June 18-23, 2000 at the Austin Hyatt Regency in Austin, Texas. The theme of this year's conference is "A New Beginning in a New Millennium."
As the major floodplain management conference in the country, this annual event attracts a broad audience including local, state and federal government officials, engineers, consultants, planners, related non-profit organizations, researchers, educators, and involved citizens. The technical program will run Tuesday through Thursday, with additional training workshops on Monday and Friday. Through technical field tours and breakout sessions, attendees will have ample opportunities to see just how the Austin area has endured its long and colorful flood history. A wide variety of exhibitors will be on hand to showcase their tools for accomplishing many of the programs and projects discussed during the conference. Attendees are also invited to participate in shaping the activities and issues the Association will focus on as we head into the next century by attending the meetings of Policy Committees and the General Membership meeting Monday. In addition, the Certified Floodplain Manager exam will be offered on Monday and Friday.
For more information, contact Ray Sedwick, Conference Director, at (512) 473-3200; rsedwick@lcra.org or access conference information on the ASFPM web site at www.floods.org.
Publications
Open for Business: A Disaster Planning Toolkit for the Small Business Owner. IBHS and the Small Business Administration created this publication to guide small businesses in identifying potential hazards; planning for and reducing the impacts of disasters; continuing to operate after a disaster occurs; and obtaining insurance, disaster supplies, and other necessities. The kit contains worksheets" for contacting creditors, customers, and suppliers; creating a disaster supply kit; developing an emergency contact list; and inventorying business assets. An employee disaster safety poster (17" x 23") outlines employee protection from earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods and flash floods, severe thunderstorms, and wildfires. It also lists the items that should be included in a company's disaster supply kit. 1999. 40 pp. $10.00, printed copies; free, Internet version. To order, contact the Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS), 175 Federal Street, Suite 500, Boston, MA 02110-2222; (617) 292-2003; fax: (617) 292-2022; e-mail: info@ibhs.org; WWW: http://www.ibhs.org.

Protecting Building Utilities From Flood Damage: Principles and Practices for the Design and Construction of Flood Resistant Building Utility Systems. Every year, a large proportion of flood damage is incurred by components of building utility systems such as furnaces, boilers, air conditioning compressors, air ducts, water supply pipes, septic tanks and sewer pipes, electric and gas meters, control panels, electrical wiring, and gas pipes. Flooding of building utility systems impacts people, communities, and businesses through costly repair and replacement, and the creation of additional hazards such as fire and contamination. This recently released FEMA/Project Impact publication is geared to assist developers, architects, engineers, builders, code officials, and homeowners in designing and constructing utility systems that are flood resistant. In addition, this publication discusses flood protection modifications that can be made to existing systems. FEMA Publication No. 348, November 1999. For copies, contact the FEMA Publications Warehouse at 1-800-480-2520.
Upcoming Training Courses
Emergency Management Institute (EMI): The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), through its Emergency Management Institute in Emmitsburg, Maryland, will be sponsoring the following resident courses. The Emergency Management Institute (EMI) serves as the national focal point for the development and delivery of emergency management training to enhance the capabilities of Federal, State, and Local government officials, volunteer organizations, and the private sector to minimize the impact of disasters on the American public.
There are no tuition fees for EMI on-campus courses. All instruction, books, and housing are provided at no cost, and FEMA reimburses airfare. Participants are responsible for the cost of the meals provided and for personal incidental expenses. All persons attending EMI courses are required to purchase a campus meal ticket for the period of their course.
For additional information on the following courses, or to obtain an application, please contact Georgia's Floodplain Management Office at (404) 656-6382. You may also contact EMI at 1-800-238-3358. It is suggested that applications for courses be submitted at least two months prior to the date of the course.
E234 - Digital Hazard Data Course (formerly Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map) August 21-25, 2000
E273 - Managing Floodplain Development Through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) May 15-19, 2000; August 7-11, 2000
E278 - National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)/Community Rating System (CRS) July 31-August 4, 2000

E279 - Retrofitting Existing Floodprone Residential Buildings August 14-18, 2000 (**see note)
E380 Project Impact: Building Consensus in Disaster Resistant Communities June 5-9, 2000 (Participation in this course is limited to Federal, State, or local personnel with responsibility for coordination of Project Impact in their communities.)
**Prerequisite - Participants must successfully complete the independent study course IS-279 before applying for E279. There is no charge for enrollment. Individuals should submit an application form (FEMA Form L173) to:
FEMA Independent Study Program Emergency Management Institute
16825 South Seton Avenue Emmitsburg, MD 21727
Interesting Internet Sites
www.dnr.state.ga.us/dnr/environ/ The web site of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources/ Environmental Protection Division utilizes a menu format allowing the online user access to information by topic. Using the left-hand menu, click on: About EPD to access information about the Environmental Protection Division's
branch programs. The Georgia Floodplain Management Office is located under Water Resources Branch, and then Water Resources Management Program. Technical Guidance to access a hotlink to the FEMA Library and the Georgia GIS Clearinghouse and downloadable FEMA Q3 Flood Data (digital maps). Also, check out our new Photo of the Month! Georgia's Environment to access an online version of HIGH GROUND. Hearing/Meeting to look for information on upcoming Floodplain Management workshops and events.
www.fema.gov/ The Federal Emergency Management Agency's web site has many online technical and informational documents including the Community Status Book which is updated daily.
www.state.ga.us/GEMA/ The Georgia Emergency Management Agency's web site contains updates for Emergency Managers, training schedules, and news releases. Many hotlinks to other Emergency Management web sites are also included.
www.floods.org/

The Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM) web site includes organizational and upcoming conference information, as well as hotlinks to other sites of interest to floodplain managers.
www.floodmaps.net/mit/tsd/DL_comp.htm The latest version of Quick-2 (Version 2.0) can be downloaded at this web site. Quick-2 is a hydraulic analysis program produced by FEMA for computing water-surface elevations in open channels of all types. This Microsoft Windows-based version is more user friendly than its DOS-based predecessor.
www.fema.gov/library/elvinst.htm In August 1999, FEMA released the latest version of the Elevation Certificate. This document along with complete instructions can be downloaded from this site.
HIGH GROUND
A Publication of the Georgia Floodplain Management Office 7 Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. Suite 440 Atlanta, Georgia 30334 (404) 656-6382 fax - (404) 656-6383
Personnel:
Collis O. Brown, State Coordinator e-mail: Collis_Brown@mail.dnr.state.ga.us
Judy Brock, Environmental Specialist e-mail: Judy_Brock@mail.dnr.state.ga.us
This newsletter was supported by funding through the Federal Emergency Management Agency as part of the Community Assistance Program - State Support Services Element of the National Flood Insurance Program. The contents do not necessarily reflect the views of the Federal Government