an update from the national committee on levee safety presented to the twca by karin m. jacoby, pe,...
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An update from the National Committee on Levee Safety
Presented to the TWCAby
Karin M. Jacoby, PE, Esq.
June 17, 2011
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Presentation Overview
• Levees in the U.S.
• Creation of the National Committee on Levee Safety
• Overview of Recommendations for a National Levee Safety Program
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Levee History in the US
1600’s – 1920’s •Private levees the norm
•No coordination
•No government involvement
•No oversight
1920’s – 1960’s•Congress declares “flood control” a federal interest•Construction of major systems in CA and along the Mississippi River
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1960’s – Present•NFIP established with “100-year flood” set as the insurance standard•Federal policy change requires local “cost sharing” in flood control projects•Levees built in uncoordinated fashion, by different entities, not as a system, resulting in no typical levee, and no typical levee owner
• Many levees designed for one purpose are now serving another
• There are no national levee standards - construction, maintenance, inspection
• Varying levels of responsibility and maintenance – federal, state, local, special districts, private
• Aging infrastructure & growing risk
Levees Today: Lacking Standards and Leadership
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Recognizing the Risk
1993: Midwest Floods
1997: CA’s Central Valley2005: Gulf Coast Flooding
“The Great Flood” of 1993 (PBS & USACE)
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Levee Safety: A National Concern
Do not know location
or condition of
most of the
nation’s levees
14 million people live
behind 14,000
miles of Corps
levees
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WRDA 2007 – Congress created the National Committee on Levee Safety
“The committee shall develop recommendations for a National Levee Safety Program, including a strategic plan for implementation of the program.”
– Federal, state, local/regional government and private sector representatives
– Includes expertise in:• Engineering
• Levee operation
• Law and policy
• Public administration
– Further expertise and feedback on development of recommendations provided via Review Team
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Vision for Levee Safety in the U.S.
An involved public and reliable levee systems
working as part of an integrated approach
to protect people and propertyfrom floods.
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20 Recommendations in 3 Main Categories
National
Levee Safety
Program
Comprehensive
and
Consistent
Leadership
Strong Levee Safety
Programs in all
States
Aligned
Federal
Programs
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Recommendations for a National Levee Safety Program Implementation
Phase of Work
Comprehensive and Consistent National Leadership 1. Establish a National Levee Safety Commission
2. Expand and Maintain the National Levee Database
3. Adopt a Hazard Potential Classification System
4. Develop & Adopt National Levee Safety Standards
5. Develop Tolerable Risk Guidelines
6. Change “Certification” to “Compliance Determination”
7. Require Peer Review of Levee Compliance Determinations
8. Swiftly Address Emerging Levee Liability Issues
9. Develop & Implement a Public Involvement and Education/Awareness Campaign
10. Provide Technical Materials and Technical Assistance
11. Develop a National Levee Safety Training Program
12. Harmonize Safety and Environmental Concerns
13. Conduct a Research & Development Program
Phase I
Phase I
Phase I
Phase II
Phase II and III
Phase I
Phase I
Phase I
Phase I and II
Phase II
Phase II
Phase II
Phase II
Building and Sustaining Levee Safety Program in All States 14. Design and Delegate Program Responsibilities to States
15. Establish a Levee Safety Grant Program
16. Establish the National Levee Rehabilitation, Improvement, and Flood Mitigation Fund
Phase II
Phase II
Phase II
Aligning Existing Federal Programs
17. Explore potential incentives and disincentives for good levee behavior
18. Risk-Based Flood Insurance in Leveed Areas
19. Augment FEMA’s Mapping Program
20. Align FEMA’s Community Rating System to Reward Safety Programs that Exceed Requirements
Phase II
Phase I
Phase I
Phase I
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Six Key Activities of National Levee Safety Program
1.One-time comprehensive inventory and inspection of levees and maintain a comprehensive National Levee Database2.Develop model state levee safety program and incentives to adopt it3.Establish Levee Rehabilitation, Improvement, & Flood Mitigation Fund so qualified states and communities can reduce significant flood risk and improve public safety
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Six Key Activities of National Levee Safety Program
4.Develop model national levee safety standards and encourage federal agencies, states, and communities to adopt standards appropriate to their region and needs5.Align federal programs for incentivizing state programs and appropriate investments in levees and leveed areas6.Understand and address liability concerns
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Program Governance & Structure
Program Administrator and
support staff
Federal Interagency Committee
on Levee Safety
National Levee Safety
Commission
(or Advisory Board)
Safety & the
Environment
Public Involvement &
EducationTechnical Matters
State Programs
Standing Committees
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Thank you
www.leveesafety.org
Questions
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