SUBJECT: Motion to approve the 2016 City of Houston Floodplain Management Plan.
RECOMMENDATION: (Summary) It is recommended that City Council pass a motion to approve the 2016 City of Houston Floodplain Management Plan.
BACKGROUND: The City of Houston is a participant in the Community Ratings System (CRS) of the National Flood Insurance Program, which recognizes communities with floodplain management practices that exceed minimum federal requirements. Participating communities are awarded class ratings ranging from 10 (lowest) to 1 (highest) based on their degree of compliance and documentation with CRS recommended activities. As a community’s class rating improves the amount of flood insurance premium discount available to the policy holders also improves.
The City entered the CRS program with a Class 8 rating effective May 2001. The City improved its floodplain management practices over time and was awarded a Class 7, Class 6 and a Class 5 rating in 2006, 2007 and 2009 respectively. The City’s Class 5 rating affords the City’s flood insurance customers in the 100 year floodplain and floodway a 25% discount on premiums. Flood insurance customers in more moderate risk areas with standard rate policies receive a discount of 10% on premiums. As a result of the City’s Class 5 rating, Houston flood insurance customers save an estimated total of $12,829,000 per year on flood insurance premiums.
Communities with more than 10 repetitive loss properties participating in the CRS are required to institute a Hazard Mitigation Action Plan or Floodplain Management Plan. The City has 5,550 unmitigated repetitive loss properties and is required to maintain a current Hazard Mitigation Action Plan or Floodplain Management Plan to continue participation in the CRS. Both types of plans expire 5 years after approval. The Floodplain Management Plan is prepared by the Department of Public Works and must be approved by City Council. The Hazard Mitigation Action Plan is prepared by the Office of Emergency Management and must be approved by the Texas Water Development Board and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The City used the 2001 Floodplain Management Plan to fulfill the CRS requirement from 2001 to 2006. Starting in 2006, the City used the 2006 Hazard Mitigation Action Plan to fulfill the CRS requirement. The City has used the 2012 Floodplain Management Plan to fulfill the CRS requirement from 2012 to 2015. The 2016 Floodplain Management Plan has been prepared to obtain additional CRS credit. This additional CRS credit is needed to maintain the City’s standing under recent changes to FEMA’s CRS requirements. Once approved by City Council, the attached 2016 Floodplain Management Plan will fulfill the CRS requirement from 2016 to 2021.
2016 Floodplain management plan: The Floodplain Management Plan documents the City’s existing floodplain management practices, planned projects and activities. Significant topics include: efforts to reduce flood losses and impact from flooding; efforts to improve protection of the floodplain’s natural and beneficial functions; evidence of support of flood mitigation activities; promotion of awareness of the City’s flooding problems and floodplain management activities and engagement of the public and other stakeholders in the planning process.
A public meeting was held on September 19, 2016 as part of the Transportation, Technology, and Infrastructure Council Committee Meeting. This meeting is a necessary step prior to City Council’s consideration of support.
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Dale A. Rudick, P.E., Director
Department of Public Works and Engineering