 | Welcome to the Flood Zone is a nationally distributed resource for those interested in flood zone issues, land surveying, real estate, history, and educational opportunities. This newsletter has been proudly featured by the Association of State Floodplain Managers, the National Society of Professional Surveyors, and the Maine and New Hampshire Floodplain Management Programs. Please feel free to share with your friends and colleagues! If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter, simply click the unsubscribe link in the footer of this message. | In this Issue of Welcome to the Flood Zone: Message from Jim
Maine NFIP Corner: A message from Sue Baker, the State NFIP Coordinator
In the News: "Biden Reinstates Obama-Era Federal Flood Protection Standard"
Resources: "NFIP Changes - Effective January 1, 2021" and "Maine Sea Level Rise Ticker + Maine Sea Level Rise Dashboard"
Climate Corner: "Sustainability Matters"
NFIP Terminology: Dry vs. Wet Floodproofing
Real Estate Corner: "Moving? 6 Questions To Ask About Flood Risk In A Changing Climate" and "A Real Estate Professional’s Guide to Discussing Flood Insurance" Banner Image: A home is surrounded by floodwaters in Bartlett, Iowa, where flooding along the Missouri River stretched on for over seven months in places. Image from "Prolonged Missouri River Flooding Could Last All Winter" (AP Photo/Nati Harnik, October 22, 2019) | Message from Jim In simple terms, a hazard is something that can cause harm such as an earthquake, hurricane, faulty electrical wires, or even a school bully. Risk is the chance of something bad happening as it pertains to a specific hazard and is often conveyed mathematically as a percentage of probability. Since many hazards are not stated as a percentage of risk, or identified as having a low probability of occurrence, they are often overlooked as being worthy of any preparedness or mitigation strategies to further reduce risk. Interestingly, a much less dangerous hazard having a high risk of probability often garners much more attention than a dangerous, high-consequence hazard with low probability, such as the wide range of flooding events which occur in our country. Conveying flood risk as only a “1% annual chance” supports the cognitive biases of disinterested parties to prepare for an eventual flooding occurrence. Without accepting the hazard will eventually occur, regardless of percent of probability, concepts such as resiliency and sustainability will not be considered. This is extremely troublesome as the worldwide population continues to grow, combined with the need for all countries to sustain or increase economic growth. Without modification, global atmospheric carbon dioxide levels will continue to increase; they were at a new high in 2019, and have increased 100 times faster over the past 60 years than previous natural increases, such as at the end of the last ice age 11,000-17,000 years ago (Climate.gov, 2021). An agitated climate, resulting in an increase in probability and intensity of a flooding event, should be expected without modification of behavior. With the understanding that not everyone believes our climate is changing, an argument certainly can be made for the many personal benefits of implementing resiliency and sustainability strategies outside of climate change. Mitigation strategies should not be limited to short-term preparedness and post-disaster assistance. Do not allow a cognitive bias to make a poor decision for you. Resiliency and sustainability removed from the need to address climate change appropriately still results in protection of human life and monetary assets, lowers living cost, and improves our care for the environment. Prepare for the anticipated increase in flood risk, but until the hazard enters into your life, enjoy the many benefits you will gain as a more resilient and sustainable person. | Maine NFIP Corner Sue Baker, CFM, State NFIP Coordinator FEMA is transitioning from a county-wide mapping format to mapping watersheds as evidenced by the recent mapping projects being undertaken. Click the link below to learn more about mapping updates for communities in the Lower Penobscot Watershed, Oxford County, Hancock County, Aroostook County, Upper Androscoggin Watershed, York and Cumberland Counties, and the Dead River, Lower Kennebec, Piscatquis, and Saco Watersheds of Oxford County. Download the Maine Floodplain Management Program's "Update on FEMA's Flood Hazard Mapping" | In the News Biden Reinstates Obama-Era Federal Flood Protection Standard By Joel Scata, National Resources Defense Council, January 22, 2021 In a sweeping Executive Order issued on the first day, President Biden reinstated the Obama-era Federal Flood Risk Management Standard. This flood protection standard had required federally funded infrastructure, like public housing, hospitals, fire stations, and water treatment plants, to be built with a higher margin of safety against extreme floods and sea level rise. Click here to read the article! | NFIP Changes - Effective January 1, 2021 ▪ Preferred Risk Policies (PRPs): Premiums will increase 14.9 percent, with a total amount billed increase of 12.5 percent.
▪ A99 and AR Zone Policies eligible for the PRP: Premiums will increase 14.9 percent, with a total amount billed increase of 12.2 percent.
▪ Properties Newly Mapped into the SFHA: Newly Mapped policies receive PRP premiums during the first year following the effective date of the map change. Annual increases to these policies result from the use of a “multiplier” that varies by the year of the map change; this multiplier is applied to the base premium before adding the Increased Cost of Compliance premium. As a result of increases to the multiplier that will be effective January 1, 2021, premiums for Newly Mapped policies will increase 14.8 percent, with a total amount billed increase of 12.5 percent.
| ▪ | Preferred Risk Policies (PRPs): Premiums will increase 14.9 percent, with a total amount billed increase of 12.5 percent. | | ▪ | A99 and AR Zone Policies eligible for the PRP: Premiums will increase 14.9 percent, with a total amount billed increase of 12.2 percent. | | ▪ | Properties Newly Mapped into the SFHA: Newly Mapped policies receive PRP premiums during the first year following the effective date of the map change. Annual increases to these policies result from the use of a “multiplier” that varies by the year of the map change; this multiplier is applied to the base premium before adding the Increased Cost of Compliance premium. As a result of increases to the multiplier that will be effective January 1, 2021, premiums for Newly Mapped policies will increase 14.8 percent, with a total amount billed increase of 12.5 percent. | Click here to learn more about these 2021 changes, and others that became effective as of April 1, 2020, from the FEMA Bulletin W-19014, dated October 1, 2019. | Maine Sea Level Rise Ticker + Maine Sea Level Rise Dashboard Maine Geological Survey has released tools to help the public understand past and projected ocean and tide levels. The Ticker provides short-term (1995-present) sea level rise rates and monthly water level rankings for each of Maine’s five tide gauges from Wells to Eastport in a simple interface. Click here to view the Sea Level Rise Ticker. The Sea Level Rise Dashboard provides in-depth data and visual summaries on short- and long-term sea level rise. In addition, you can find recent monthly trends. The Dashboard shows information on nuisance and storm flooding, and how sea level rise scenarios might make nuisance flooding more common in 2030 and 2050. Click here to view the Sea Level Rise Dashboard. In addition to the Maine Geological Survey's sea level rise tools described above, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) also has an interactive Sea Level Rise Viewer that allows you to visualize the impact of rising seas in cities around the country using a sliding simulator. Check out the NOAA Viewer! | Climate Corner Sustainability Matters By Russell DeConti, February 2, 2021
Russell DeConti is an Associate Broker with Keller Williams Realty and a Member of the Greater Portland Board of Realtors' Sustainability Advisory Group. Change is inevitable, as the saying goes, and this past year really upped the ante. A perfect storm of sorts, where a near simultaneous eruption of complicated social, political, economic and environmental circumstances came to a head to become front burner issues for the nation and the globe. Of course, the pandemic and related economic downturn remain front and center, but racial tensions, political division and global climate change all demand urgent attention. Difficult problems in turbulent times call for decisive action, creative thinking and steadfast leadership. Sweeping change is called for and business as usual simply won’t cut it anymore. As Realtors, we’re trained to find solutions to problems, to seek the opportunities out of seemingly intractable situations, find the common ground and bring opposing sides together to close a deal. That skill set has traction right now. The need for balance, call it equity if you prefer, has never been more pronounced. Many are turning toward the principles of sustainability for guidance and potential solutions. Click here to read the full article. | NFIP Terminology Dry vs. Wet Floodproofing From: "Floodproofing of Non-Residential Buildings", FEMA Publication 936, July 2013. Floodproofing is defined as any combination of structural or nonstructural adjustments, changes, or actions that reduce or eliminate flood damage to a building, contents, and attendant utilities and equipment. Floodproofing can prevent damage to existing buildings and can be used to meet compliance requirements for new construction of non-residential buildings. The concepts of the floodproofing measures are defined as follows: | Dry floodproofing A combination of measures that results in a structure, including the attendant utilities and equipment, being watertight with all elements substantially impermeable to the entrance of floodwater and with structural components having the capacity to resist flood loads. | Wet floodproofing The use of flood-damage-resistant materials and construction techniques to minimize flood damage to areas below the flood protection level of a structure, which is intentionally allowed to flood. Flood vents which allow flood waters to enter and exit a building are an example of a wet floodproofing measure. | Real Estate Corner Moving? 6 Questions To Ask About Flood Risk In A Changing Climate By Rebecca Hersher, NPR, October 18, 2020 In most parts of the country, it is easy to move into a flood-prone building and not even know you're in harm's way. Despite the risk, 21 states do not require that any information about flooding be disclosed to potential home buyers, and the vast majority of tenants in the U.S. receive no flood-related information at all. So, what questions should you ask about flood risk before you move? And how easy is it to find answers? NPR talked to flood experts and put together this guide. Click here to download the article and learn what questions to ask, why you should ask them, and where to start. | A Real Estate Professional’s Guide to Discussing Flood Insurance This FEMA brochure provides helpful tips on how to address flood risk with your real estate clients. Your clients trust you to help them navigate the exciting—
yet sometimes overwhelming—home-buying process. Being
informed and sharing information on ways your customers
can protect their investments builds your credibility and
eases their minds. Click here to view the brochure. More information can be found at the official site of the National Flood Insurance Program, FloodSmart.gov |  Image by Christian Adams, from the "Daily Telegraph", highlighting a rise in flooding events occurring as house prices in the UK rose by 8.4% | | | |
