ITEM TITLE:
Report: Lowe River Levee Certification and LOMR Update
SUBMITTED BY: Kate Huber, Interim Planning Director
FISCAL NOTES:
Expenditure Required: N/A
Unencumbered Balance: N/A
Funding Source: N/A
RECOMMENDATION:
N/A - Report only.
SUMMARY STATEMENT:
In October 2016, the City of Valdez submitted a request to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for levee certification for the Lowe River levee system. The process by which FEMA certifies levees is through a Letter of Map Revision (LOMR). The City of Valdez applied for a LOMR based on a 2D flood hazard analysis to revise FIRM #20094, Panel #0075C, along the Lowe River. We are proposing to revise the community’s Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) to reflect levee certification/accreditation.
The FIRM for a community depicts the floodplain, the area which has been determined to be subject to a 1-percent or greater chance of flooding in any given year. (This area is also known as the 100-year flood area or special flood hazard area.) The FIRM is used to determine flood insurance rates and to assist the community with floodplain management.
In July 2019, Planning staff submitted additional data requested by FEMA to complete their review. At the end of the 90-day review period, FEMA requested an additional 45 days to finalize the review. On November 15, 2019, FEMA submitted a second AD letter, again requesting additional data to complete their review. Planning staff will work with the contracted engineers to complete this submission, which includes some changes to the previously submitted topographic workmap, as well as additional modeling for the 10-percent-annual-chance and 2-percent-annual-chance flood events.
After the additional data is submitted, FEMA has 90 days to respond. If approved, the map will not become effective for 120 days, following a 90-day comment period, and 30-day administrative period.