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Home My WebLink AboutIR 9596 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 9596 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council October 7, 2013 Page 1 of 4 SUBJECT: COMMUNITY RATING SYSTEM PROGRESS REPORT FOR N73 CONTINUED PARTICIPATION IN NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM This report is the annual Progress Report required for the City of Fort Worth's continued participation in the National Flood Insurance Program's (NFIP) Community Rating System (CRS). As required by NFIP the content of this report will also be published in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and will be made available to the public on the City's website. Paper copies of this report will be available to the public at Fort Worth City Hall, 1000 Throckmorton Street. CRS is a program to evaluate the performance of communities who participate in the NFIP, and reward those communities that exceed the NFIP minimum standards. The City of Fort Worth participates in the CRS as a Level 8 community, and this achievement enables some flood insurance policy holders living in Fort Worth to receive up to a 10% discount on annual flood insurance premiums. In 2013, this resulted in a potential savings of $280,481 city-wide. For reference, total premiums paid were $1,863,273 for $541,605,400 of insurance in force. Because the Floodplain Management Plan required for CRS participation was included in the Fort Worth Hazard Mitigation Action Plan (Plan), this report also provides updates to the hazard mitigation activities associated with seven of the other identified natural hazards that may affect the City of Fort Worth. The Plan was adopted January 13, 2009 by city Resolution No. 3707-01-2009, "A Resolution for Approval of the Fort Worth Hazard Mitigation Action Plan". A copy of the Plan is available to the public on the City's website. The Plan identified two flood mitigation projects that were critical for reducing and preventing flood damages in the City. 1. Status of Fort Worth Flood Mitigation Projects Identified in the Plan Project#1:Develop "Flood Preparedness Brochure" to include the following topics: • Description of Tarrant County flood hazards • "Case Studies" of previous flood events in Tarrant County • Preparedness and "self-help" mitigation information • Benefits of city participation in the NFIP • Advantages of flood insurance • Risks of not having flood insurance • Warnings that typical homeowner's insurance does not cover rising water • Solicit input for the Fort Worth Hazard Mitigation Action Plan ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 9596 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council October 7, 2013 Page 2 of 4 SUBJECT: COMMUNITY RATING SYSTEM PROGRESS REPORT FOR N73 CONTINUED PARTICIPATION IN NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM Status: Complete. The Transportation and Public Works Department developed this brochure as a yearly outreach project to be mailed out to the residents of Fort Worth in the Storm Water Management newsletter Runoff Rundown. The 2013 mail out to residents was completed in September 2013. Copies of the Runoff Rundown are made available to the public at Fort Worth City Hall. Individual letters discussing several of these topics were mailed in September 2013 to residents living in identified repetitive loss areas to make them aware of the flood risk in their neighborhood. These topics are also included on the City's website. Project#2:Lebow Channel Watershed Improvements Status: This is an active, on-going project. The four low water crossings identified in the Fort Worth Hazard Mitigation Plan have been closed and completely removed or blocked from traffic flow. The 281' Street roadway crossing project was completed May of 2011. The Dewey Street roadway crossing project is currently under construction and is 60% complete. The Brennan Avenue roadway crossing project is under design. The anticipated construction date for the project is being delayed due to right-of-way acquisition negotiations, funding priorities, and Section 404 environmental permitting issues. The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USAGE)is requiring the City of Fort Worth to obtain an individual 404 Permit for the entire Lebow watershed improvement project prior to construction of the Brennan Avenue roadway crossing. The environmental evaluation is underway to revise and submit the 404 Permit application through USAGE. The Brennan Avenue project is currently scheduled to go to construction in 2016. It is anticipated that upon completion of construction of the Brennan Avenue roadway project, a Letter Of Map Revision (LOMR) will be submitted to FEMA to revise the floodplain boundaries in the lower watershed to reflect these improvements. 2. Goals for CRS Improvement and Flood Hazard Reduction: 1. Develop a city-wide Floodplain Management Plan. 2. Continue to raise awareness of flood risk and the availability of flood insurance through yearly public outreach projects. 3. Submit a LOMR to FEMA upon completion of construction of the Brennan Avenue roadway project to revise the floodplain boundaries to reflect the roadway and channel improvements in the lower portions of this watershed. ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 9596 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council October 7, 2013 Page 3 of 4 SUBJECT: COMMUNITY RATING SYSTEM PROGRESS REPORT FOR N73 CONTINUED PARTICIPATION IN NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM 3. Updates to Other Hazard Mitigation Actions Identified in the Plan In addition to the flood hazard, this report provides updates to other action items in the Plan. Please note that all actions were identified as being subject to availability of federal and local funding as well as availability of local staff to administer the project. DAM FAILURE Fort Worth Dam Failure Mitigation Conduct Breach Analyses for all High Hazard Dams Action#1 in Fort Worth. PROGRESS —Breach Analyses have been developed for Lake Worth Dam, Lake Como Dam, Fosdic Lake Dam, French Lake Dam, Lake Greenbriar Dam, Luther Lake Dam, White Lake Dam, and Willow Creek Lake Dam Fort Worth Dam Failure Mitigation Develop Emergency Action Plans for all High Action#2 Hazard Dams in Fort Worth. PROGRESS —Emergency Action Plans have been developed for Lake Worth Dam, Lake Como Dam, Fosdic Lake Dam, French Lake Dam, Lake Greenbriar Dam, Luther Lake Dam, White Lake Dam, and Willow Creek Lake Dam Fort Worth Dam Failure Mitigation Conduct a search for previously unidentified High Action#3 Hazard Dams in Fort Worth. PROGRESS —A list of all known dams in the area has been obtained from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). The Fort Worth Office of Emergency Management is working with Texas Division of Emergency management to identify high hazards dams on the TCEQ list. DROUGHT Fort Worth Drought Mitigation Participate in the design and implementation of the Action#1 Tarrant County specific water conservation public education efforts to complement existing programs. PROGRESS —The Fort Worth Water Department offers several water conservation programs with local information including SmartFlush, SmartWater Audit Program, Smart Irrigation Program, and Water Management Tips. ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 9596 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council October 7, 2013 Page 4 of 4 SUBJECT: COMMUNITY RATING SYSTEM PROGRESS REPORT FOR N73 CONTINUED PARTICIPATION IN NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM LEVEE FAILURE Fort Worth Levee Failure Develop a Levee Failure Emergency Action Plan Mitigation Action#1 (EAP)with the Tarrant Regional Water District (TRWD). PROGRESS —Fort Worth Office of Emergency Management works with the Tarrant Regional Water District (TRWD) on a regular basis and is in preliminary discussions with TRWD staff on developing EAPs. SEVERE WINTER STORMS Fort Worth Severe Winter Storm Increase public education concerning winter storm Mitigation Action#1 preparedness and mitigation. PROGRESS —A regional public emergency preparedness program, KnoWhat2Do, was developed as an all-hazards approach to public preparedness. KnoWhat2Do includes winter storm preparedness measures. Fort Worth Severe Winter Storm Purchase additional street sanding capacity Mitigation Action#2 PROGRESS —Additional sanding capacity was purchased in 2010. TORNADO Fort Worth Tornado Mitigation Assist citizens with funding for building tornado Project#1 safe rooms or in-ground shelters. PROGRESS —A safe room rebate program administered by Tarrant County ended in 2012. A new safe room rebate program administered by NCTCOG began in 2013. WILDFIRE Fort Worth Wildfire Mitigation Increase public education on how to reduce the risks Action#1 from wildfires (construction, landscaping, etc.) PROGRESS —A regional public emergency preparedness program, KnoWhat2Do, was developed as an all-hazards approach to public preparedness. KnoWhat2Do includes wildfire preparedness measures. If there are any questions about this report, please contact Clair Davis, the City's Floodplain Administrator at extension 5981. Tom Higgins City Manager ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS