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Kathy C. Hopkins, CFM

Mitigation Specialist, SRL-Lead

Jeff Ward

Jeff Ward and Associates,

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*Elevation reduces the flood risk to a structure and its contents.

*The structure is elevated to or above the Base Flood Elevation (BFE) - allows a substantially damaged or substantially improved house to be brought into compliance with your community's floodplain management ordinance or law.

*Elevation techniques are well known, and qualified contractors are often readily available.

*Elevation reduces the physical, financial, and emotional strain that accompanies floods.

*Elevation may provide additional parking and storage space beneath the structure.

*Unlike acquisitions, Community keeps the tax base

*Elevation, in most cases, reduces flood insurance now and in the future (based on risk based policy premiums – risk is significantly reduced)

Advantages to elevating include the following:

Non-Actuarial

$2,235/yr

$2,235/yr

$2,235/yr

$819/yr

$25,000+/y

r

$5,623/yr

Actuarial

Building- $200,000 Contents- $80,000 (2012 Rates)

Rate Comparison

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*Structures will still remain in a special flood hazard areas.

Personal property below BFE remains at risk

*Community may need to provide emergency services during a flood event.

*Elevation of a structure can be very complex and difficult

Foundation type drives complexity.

Disadvantages of elevations

*All mitigation options were consider first prior to selection of elevation.

*A community must decide what mitigation options will be supported and under what conditions.

*NFIP compliance and mapping issues

*Community FIRM and Mapping status

Elevate to the highest current or future (prelim) requirement

*Know the history of flooding for structures and the area- know the source, high water marks, etc…

*Good understanding of the communities permitting process.

*Know Community’s compliance requirements (ordinances). Know the difference between structural requirements and aesthetic requirements.

Consideration of Elevation as Mitigation option

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From FEMA’s HMA Guidance

* FEMA P-55, Coastal Construction Manual

* FEMA P-259 Engineering Principle and Practices of Retrofitting Flood prone

Structures

* FEMA P-499, Home Building Guide to Coastal Construction Technical Fact

Sheet Series

* ASCE/SEI 24-05, Flood Resistant Design and Construction

* FEMA Technical Bulletin 5: Free-of-Obstruction Requirements

* FEMA P-347, Above the Flood: Elevating your Floodprone House

Important FEMA Publications/Helpful Guides

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* Community should have a preapproved/vetted elevation contractor pool

*Understand the complexity of the structure being elevated. (Multiple slab,

size, weight, decks, stairs (if required), etc..)

*Understand utilities companies requirements

* Elevation of detached garages with breezeways share a common roof line.

*Understanding the insurance rating requirements for the flood zone.

* The main purpose of elevating a structure is to elevate it above the BFE, it

is not for aesthetic/updating purposes

Make certain your homeowners understand this up front

* Educate yourself on ADA requirements

EVERYONE wants an elevator!

Lessons Learned

Hazard Mitigation Grant Programs

Grants

Texas

Agency

Key

Pre-

Disaster

Mitigation

Flood

Protection

Planning

Flood

Mitigation

Assistance

Hazard

Mitigation

Grant

Program

Texas Division

of Emergency

Management

Texas Water

Development

Board

State Grant

Program

HMA

Grant-Federal

Grant Program

*Application development

*Get knowledgeable contractor assistance

when developing budget estimates

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A community must submit AW-501 form for all

structure mitigate regardless of the mitigation

action.

https://www.fema.gov/media-

library/assets/documents/13146

FEMA Form AW-501

Pictures are worth a 1000

words

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*Questions?

Prepared by Jeffery S. Ward and Associates, Inc.