Maryland’s Data Download Tool –Now it’s Your Turn

Robert Pierson, CFM

Project OfficerFEMA Region IIIRobert.Pierson@fema.dhs.gov

Matt Breen, PE, CFM

Water Resources EngineerAmec Foster Wheelermatt.breen@amecfw.com

Agenda

Introduction – What is our challenge?

Mdfloodmaps.com

Outreach

Flood Risk Application

Data Download

Interagency Collaboration

Data Utility

eLOMA support

Opportunities for enhancement

Questions

The Challenge

1. Convey map changes to citizens

2. Manage new data as it becomes available

3. Distribute data back to stakeholders

4. Leverage data for utilization by citizens, local

floodplain mangers, planners, and engineers

for better decision making

5. Develop workflow for maintaining data over

time

Mdfloodmaps.com - Outreach

Outreach tailored for Home Owners/Tenants

Flood Risk Guide

Insurance/Floodplain Fact Sheets

Regulatory Products

Flood Risk Application

Outreach tailored for Communities

Model ordinance/ordinance support

Production Scheduling

FAQs

NFIP/FEMA Resources

Mdfloodmaps.com - Outreach

Mdfloodmaps.com - Outreach

Tool targeting Citizens of

Maryland to aid in determining

their flood risk

Provide local floodplain

managers with additional tools

to assess flood risk

Create mechanism for

distributing flood-related data

Export maps and reports

Mdfloodmaps.com – Flood Risk

Application

Mdfloodmaps.com – Data

Download

Data available for Download

HEC-RAS Models

Stream Centerlines

BFEs

Cross Sections (approximate and

detailed)

Floodplain Boundaries

Bridge Inventories

Discharge Points

Additional Risk MAP Data

WSEL Grids

Depth Grids

Hazus Estimates

Changes Since Last FIRM

Interagency Collaboration

One Maryland - One Map The Vision for MD iMap

MD iMap is a diverse and flexible “system” that provides

a wide variety of products and services to the citizens

and government employees. These products and

services assist in capturing, storing, analyzing,

managing, and presenting data linked to a location.

imap.maryland.gov

Interagency Collaboration

Interagency Collaboration

Hydrology Panel – Application of Hydrologic Methods in Maryland

Hydraulics Panel – Standardization of Bridge/Culvert Modeling; Sharing information

Maryland Emergency Management Agency – Hazus upgrades to include building

specific and critical facilities

Maryland Environmental Service/West Virginia GIS Technical Center – Sharing

Source Code

U.S. Fish & Wildlife – Water Resources Registry – Stream Stability Index Model

Maryland Historical Trust – Mapping/Protecting Historic Properties

Stream Stability Index Model

Leveraging Data

Modeling for Engineers

Elevation Certificates – BFEs in approximate zones

Hazard Mitigation Planning (Risk MAP)

Scenario planning

Bridge/Culvert Replacement

Cut/Fill

Freeboard Analysis

Inter-agency Continuity

MDE/SHA

MDE/MEMA

FEMA

Modeling for Engineers

Elevation Certificate Information

Living Floodplain

Flexible Hydrology and

Hydraulics

New development

Model sensitivity

Letters Of Map

Revision/Conditional

Letters Of Map

Revision

(LOMR/CLOMR)

support

Using publically available Approximate BFE values for eLOMA’s?!

How did this idea come about? Surveyors in MD and WV started using the approximate BFE’s found on the MD and WV Flood Tools for the BFE field in eLOMA applications.

This was in reaction to presentations given at state conferences encouraging their use for traditional LOMA applications.

The LOMA processing team questioned the use of these sites for the BFE value asking how the values were derived off of the interactive tools.

The discussion began! Why can’t they be used?

The discussion is ongoing but it seems as though the submitters will have to provide additional information than what is usually provided in an eLOMA application.

Some possible additional data that may need to be uploaded and provided:

Upstream and downstream cross sections, the discharge, screenshot of the area after clicking, and latitude longitude.

eLOMAs Processed

National eLOMAs –

Since eLOMA Launch (2006) – 25,584

Calendar Year 2014 – 4,849

Almost 20% of all eLOMA’s ever processed by FEMA were in the calendar year 2014.

With the use of interactive websites such as the MDE flood tool and the increased functionality of the eLOMA tool itself (enhancements launched early 2015) the # of eLOMAs is expected to steadily increase every year as the current trend has been since 2006.

Saving time and money for the NFIP and property owners!

How long does LOMA and eLOMA processing take??

eLOMAs = Instant printable determination. If audited and passes audit takes about 5 business days. If audit fails it goes into regular LOMA process.

Online LOMC Tool – 30-60 days but saves in mailing times. May save up to 15 business days vs paper submission.

Paper MT-EZ and MT-1 submissions – 30-60 days

***These times imply all necessary data is supplied to complete the application.

How does e-LOMA make a

determination?

eLOMA will compare the submitted BFE to the submitted Lowest Adjacent Grade (LAG) or Low Lot Elevation (LLE)

eLOMA application will ensure all required information has been entered

Natural Ground

What data is needed to do an

E-LOMA?

User will enter all applicable

data:

Legal property description

Requester information

Community information (CID

number, etc…)

Map panel information

Latitude and longitude

coordinates

Elevation information (LAG)

BFE (calculated using FIS

text/profile in AE,

mdfloodmaps.com, or

generated BFE)

Added benefit of eLOMA Tool

Opposed to the communication exchange of requesting and submitting additional documentation via email as is the case in traditional LOMA applications, users upload additional supporting documents as requested within the eLOMA tool, as well as complete other required action(s) triggered by the eLOMA Auditor.

This is where submitters will provide the additional information that may be required by the LOMA processing team for users of state flood tool websites.

MD Flood Tool - Region III’s perspective:

Increasing risk awareness by making all Risk MAP products easily accessible.

Builds state, local, and federal relationships.

Decreases time and cost for the program and for staff in the following instances:

Engineering data requests

LOMA processing

Less direct phone call and email inquiries

Encourages States to have more of a sense of ownership to the products the RiskMAPprogram is producing.

Closer coordination between the NFIP Coordinator and the State Hazard Mitigation Officer through data development and the website for distribution

Risk Assessment data will be better utilized and distributed to use in Mitigation Hazard Planning.

Coming Soon

Profile Viewer

Cross Section Viewer

Risk MAP download (depth/WSEL grids, Hazus)

Joint Permit Application Notification Alerts

Floodplain

Building

Waterways

Section 401 Wetlands

Additional Help

For additional assistance with using the MD DFIRM Outreach Flood Risk Application, please contact:

Dave Guignet, PE, CFM

Water Resources Engineer/State NFIP Coordinator

MD Department of the Environment

dave.guignet@maryland.gov

- Or -

Email: flood.maps@maryland.gov

Questions & Discussion

Robert Pierson, CFM, PMP

Project OfficerFEMA Region IIIRobert.Pierson@fema.dhs.gov

Matt Breen, PE, CFM

Water Resources EngineerAmec Foster Wheelermatt.breen@amecfw.com