2018 Hazard Mitigation Stakeholder Workshop - Building Tomorrow's Resilient Communities - FEMA
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2018 Hazard Mitigation Stakeholder Workshop Building Tomorrow’s Resilient Communities March 12 – March 16, 2018
Facilities Map
Auditorium J
J
S121, S122,
S123, S125, S
S127
Dining Hall
K302, K308, K318
K
Auditorium E
M202 M E
B
A C
Pub &
Student
Center
Registration
1
Announcements Dining Hall hours
• Most breakout session presentations will be posted to Breakfast Mon–Fri 6:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.
the Workshop Event Mobi App in pdf format after the Sat 6:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
workshop.
Lunch Daily 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
• Do not park in NETC staff parking spots (marked by
blue or red signage). Do not park in handicapped Dinner Mon–Sat 5:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
parking spots unless you are authorized. Your car may
be towed.
• The photos taken at the workshop will be used to
• Workshop certifcates for participants that complete a promote future workshops and hazard mitigation on
119 form will be distributed after the closing remarks the FEMA website.
on Friday afternoon.
• Please use the Workshop App to “check in” to
• ASFPM will award 12 CECs for attendance at the the workshop breakout sessions you attend. Your
workshop for all fve days. Submit your workshop feedback helps us gauge interest in certain topics and
certifcate to ASFPM with the ASFPM CEC Verifcation plan for the next workshop.
form to be awarded the CECs.
• We are collecting feedback electronically this year with
• A photo release form was provided in the blue EMI the Workshop App. Your feedback is important to us,
folder on Day 1, please complete it and give it to a please rate each breakout session you attend.
FEMA room ambassador in any breakout session.
• Dinner will be served in the Student Center on
• Still photography will be taken throughout the Thursday, March 15
workshop. If anyone has a concern about this, please
let the photographer know and you will not be the • The NETC wi-f signal is verdandi, the wi-f password is
subject of the photo. N7P2!Cre
Installing the Workshop App:
• Go to your phone’s app store (Google Play for Android, App Store for Apple).
• Search for “Event Mobi”.
• Install the app.
• Launch the app and enter the event
code: FEMAHMSW2018
If you don’t have a SmartPhone, you can
access the desktop version at:
https://eventmobi.com/femahmsw2018
LOGIN
To login, click “Login”, the silhouette in
the upper right hand corner. Enter the
email you provided when registering for
the event. If you did not provide an email,
you can still view all pages on the app
but will have limited capabilities.
2
Welcome to the 2018 Hazard Mitigation
Stakeholder Workshop
Building Tomorrow’s Resilient Communities
Table of Contents
The workshop is devoted to strengthening the partnerships
between our community of hazard mitigation professionals Day 1: Monday, March 12 4
through the sharing of ideas and experience. Day 2: Tuesday, March 13 8
The workshop brings hazard mitigation professionals together Day 3: Wednesday, March 14 13
in a welcoming environment to discuss success stories and Day 4: Thursday, March 13 17
challenges associated with the delivery of the FEMA mitigation
programs. The goal is to advance mitigation strategies Day 5: Friday, March 14 20
nationwide and improve capacity to: address the impacts of Biographies 22
natural hazards, effectively manage foodplains, implement HMA
Save The Date 2019 30
program requirements; and to provide tools and guidance to
support decision-making at all levels.
Detailed descriptions for each day begin
on page 5 of this document.
The workshop includes 5 days of plenary and breakout sessions
devoted to sharing program best practices and project case
studies. Topics include:
• Panel discussions that encourage in-depth discussion of
critical issues related to mitigation
• Mitigation best practices
• A keynote address by Leslie Chapman-Henderson at
FLASH
• HMA subject area and Regional meetings with State
partners
• Hot topics and challenges with the HMA grants process
• Mitigation approaches from Other Federal Agencies
• The Community Rating System (CRS) in the post-disaster
environment
• Elevation, insurance, grants and mitigation
• Use of available food hazard information to guide
recovery
• Enhancing the customer experience
This workshop provides an invaluable opportunity for Federal,
State, Territorial, and Tribal offcials to come together to advance
mitigation opportunities by: promoting foodplain management,
adding value to existing partnerships, and forging new strategic
relationships, all of which are critical to reducing risks from
natural hazards nationwide.
Welcome, we are glad you are here.
3
Workshop at a Glance
Color Key Plenary Sessions Breakout Sessions Social Activity Listening Sessions
4
Day 1: Monday, March 12
8:30a to 10:15a Plenary Room: Auditorium E
– Welcome and opening remarks from Mike Grimm, FEMA HQ Keynote Speaker: Leslie Chapman-Henderson,
Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH)
– Logistics announcements by Steve Heidecker, NETC
Leslie Chapman-Henderson is the president and chief executive offcer
– Keynote Address by Leslie Chapman-Henderson,
of the nonproft Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH), the country’s
Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH)
leading consumer advocate for strengthening homes and safeguarding
As the nation’s leading consumer advocate for strengthening homes families from natural and manmade disasters. FLASH was founded in
and safeguarding families from disasters, the nonproft Federal 1998 and brings together more than 100 diverse partners that share a
Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH) ® has been at the forefront of vision of making the United States a more disaster-resilient nation. Leslie’s
the disaster safety and resilience movement for twenty years. experience and expertise span creative, technical, and public policy
From the beginning, FLASH and its legacy partnerships with FEMA initiatives. One of her recent projects includes the creation of the award-
and the greater emergency management community have been winning National Hurricane Resilience Initiative – #HurricaneStrong,
the cornerstone of their successful effort to increase mitigation presented by FEMA, FLASH, NOAA, and The Weather Channel. She
public awareness, evolve mitigation policy and practices, and foster promotes resilience through public speaking, testimony, publication of
change through collaboration. commentary papers, the Road to Resilience blog, and by bringing together
The keynote presentation will feature FLASH President and disaster safety thought leaders to leverage collaboration on behalf of
CEO Leslie Chapman-Henderson who will share insights on the the cause. In 2016, she and her team organized the landmark National
organization’s groundbreaking programs and lessons learned, as Earthquake Conference that inspired worldwide news coverage and $10
well as her outlook on the challenges of establishing resilience as a million in additional funding for the Earthquake Early Warning
social value in a changing world. research effort.
10:15a-10:45a – 30 minute break
10:45a to 11:30a Breakout Sessions (6 choices)
Tribal Disaster Mitigation: Protecting Our People, Safeguarding Our Future. Room: S125
Alaskan Native communities have a long history of varied and intense impact from natural disasters, which can fnancially devastate already vulnerable
economies and destroy abilities to sustain themselves from the land and the seas. Most native communities have few resources to respond, recover, or even
mitigate those impacts despite having adapted to cyclic changes and surviving for thousands of years in isolated geographical areas. We will discuss how
the Alutiiq Tribe of Old Harbor is marrying traditional knowledge and western science to create a resilient community for its people. We are reaching out to
Tribal communities and Tribal Nations as partners in disaster mitigation and emergency management, which can provide additional support for local and
State governments in the development of local comprehensive plans, increasing the number of trained responders, and opening other Federal sources for
mitigation strategy implementation.
Speakers: Jim Cedeno, Alutiiq Tribe of Old Harbor, Emergency Manager and Hazard Mitigation Offcer
Willmer Andrewvitch, Alutiiq Tribe of Old Harbor, Alaska Native Elder and Emergency Management Program Volunteer
Voices of State Silver Jackets Teams: What Works for Us. Room: K308
State and Federal Silver Jackets team representatives will share how their teams operate and how they develop interagency efforts, including opportunities
to leverage varied resources to achieve mitigation. Representatives will present best practices for team formation, expansion, leadership, operation, focus,
interagency project development, execution and open discussion with the audience about their challenges and successes.
Speakers: Paul Sclafani, USACE, Floodplain Manager
Phetmano Phannavong, District of Columbia, NFIP Coordinator and Silver Jackets Co-Leader
Manuela Johnson, State of Indiana, State Disaster Relief Fund Administrator
Jennifer Dunn, USACE, Silver Jackets Program Manager
Emerging Resilience Concepts to Increase Mitigation Investment. Room: K302
An experienced resilience and risk reduction executive will discuss how to engage ideas and products from fnancial backers of community investment like
insurance and banks (bonds) which are signifcant drivers of development/redevelopment at the local level and could be signifcant sources of funding and
ideas in mitigation and resilience investment considerations. The discussion will address the value of risk transfer in insurance and reinsurance to drive
mitigation and an emerging concept called the Resilience Bond which could be a new way to fnance mitigation and resilience projects as well as other
innovative concepts such as Reef and Beach Resilience and Insurance Fund to insure a coral reef that provides storm surge protection.
Speakers: Lawrence Frank, Atkins, Resilience Program Manager
Alex Kaplan, Swiss Re, V.P. of Global Partnerships
Behind the Scenes of Mitigation Success: What Makes Mitigation Happen? Room: M202
FEMA Region 10 will showcase the process of four communities that have implemented seismic mitigation. The discussion will explore their decision
making process, what the path to funding looked like (triggering event/opportunity, sources, timing, application, etc.), and how political support
was fostered.
Speakers: Angie Lane, Oregon SHMO
Tim Cook, Washington SHMO
Amanda Siok, FEMA Region X, Mitigation Planner
5
Day 1: Monday, March 12 CONTINUED
Phasing Projects Is a Blessing and a Curse: Lessons Learned from Sandy 404 Mitigation. Room: Auditorium J
Big disasters = more damage = more money available for hazard mitigation. To better capitalize on available funds, many of the Sandy Hazard Mitigation
Grant Program (HMGP) projects were phased. This allowed subapplicants time and money to perform the necessary studies and design work needed
to implement better-than-traditional mitigation strategies. While overall a good strategy, the practice of phasing projects led to many unforeseen
complications, including challenges with spending plans, cost-effectiveness, and period of performance.
Speakers: Anni Shelton, FEMA Region II, Sandy HMGP Crew Lead
Ashley Hilton, FEMA Region II, Sandy HMGP Crew Lead
Virginia’s HMA Stakeholder Engagement Process. Room: Auditorium E
Virginia revised the review and prioritization of HMA applications. Virginia Department of Emergency Management created a stakeholder group to create
criteria and invoke a peer review process. The goal was to bring transparency and gain input from key local and regional stakeholders to drive the process.
Speaker: Robbie Coates, Virginia SHMO
11:30a – 1:00p Lunch
Tribal Luncheon. Today, all Tribal meeting attendees are invited to sit together in the dining hall at a reserved table at lunch.
1:00p to 1:45p Breakout Sessions (6 choices)
The breakout sessions from 10:45a to 11:30a will repeat.
1:45-2:15p – 30 minute break
2:15p to 3:15p Breakout Sessions (6 choices)
Florida’s CRS/CAV Pilot Program: Getting Return on Investment. Room: S125
Florida’s CRS/Community Assistance Visit (CAV) Pilot Program, as designed by the State Floodplain Management Offce, was approved as a 30-month
project by FEMA/Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration (FIMA) to encourage all communities in Florida to participate in the CRS. The program
targeted communities not participating in CRS and required them to be compliant and adopt seven performance measures. The program produced dynamic
results in improved foodplain management with documented return on investment despite some communities not joining the CRS.
Speakers: Steve Martin, Florida State NFIP Coordinator and Floodplain Manager
Teaming to Reduce Flood and Erosion Hazards after Wildfres. Room: K302
While most of the country has focused on the hurricanes that struck the southeastern United States, wildfres have affected signifcant acreage in the
northwestern and western portion of the country in the past several years. While signifcant information about post-wildfre recovery and assistance
opportunities is available, identifying appropriate resources and coordinating activities to effectively mitigate the risks can be challenging for local
jurisdictions and the public. The panel will share lessons learned from a FEMA-led post-wildfre response in Washington State supported by a Washington
Silver Jacket Team. This multi-agency effort showcases an effective model for coordinated risk reduction that can be used in other watersheds to assist
local jurisdictions and the public in identifying appropriate resources, reducing redundancies by sharing data and analytical results, and increasing
community awareness of risks.
Speakers: Ellen Berggren, USACE, National Silver Jackets Deputy Program Manager
Katherine Rowden, National Weather Service, Service Hydrologist
Dennis Staley, US Geological Survey, Landslide Hazards Research Scientist
Craig Nelson, Okanogan Conservation District, Washington, District Manager
Travis Ball, USACE, Hydraulic Engineer
Planning to Action. Room: K308
The session will explore the connection between Mitigation Planning, Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA), and the CRS to demonstrate how local
communities can incentivize resilient development and mitigate the long-term risks to people and property from the effects of fooding by cross-walking
program requirements to improve foodplain management programs at the local level.
Speakers: Paul Brewster, Thurston Regional Planning Council, Senior Planner
Nicole LaRosa, FEMA HQ, Senior Policy Specialist
Kate Skaggs, Michael Baker, Natural Hazard Mitigation Planner
Amanda Sharma, FEMA HQ, Mitigation Planner
Turning Water into Groundwater: Salinas Aquifer Storage and Recovery. Room: Auditorium J
Puerto Rico received the frst ever HMA grant for aquifer storage and recovery in the FY2017 grant cycle. The project consists of a combination of new
and old infrastructure that provides a cost-effective solution to mitigate drought hazards in the region. The aquifer project will provide water for 31,000
residents of Salinas, agricultural and industrial users, and the Camp Santiago National Guard base. The session will end with a debut video FEMA made
about this project.
Speakers: Sonny Beauchamp, FEMA Region II, Emergency Management Program Specialist
Carel Velazquez-Pola, Puerto Rico Hazard Mitigation Offcer
Gregory Morris, GLM Engineering, Partner
6
Day 1: Monday, March 12 CONTINUED
Why Duplicate Efforts? Integration of the Hazard Mitigation Plan Risk Assessment and Threat and Hazard Identifcation and Risk Assessment
(THIRA) in Wisconsin. Room: M202
FEMA requires that State hazard mitigation plans include a risk assessment of all natural hazards that affect the State. States must also complete a
THIRA, which identifes risks to the State’s core capabilities from natural, technological, and human-caused hazards. For its 2016 State plan update, the
State of Wisconsin combined these two risk assessments into one document. This session will explain the process used, and challenges and opportunities
encountered along the way.
Speakers: Christine Meissner, FEMA Region V, Mitigation Planner
Vincent Parisi, FEMA Region V, Regional Preparedness Offcer
Katie Sommers, Wisconsin SHMO
Status of Grants Management Modernization (GMM). Room: Auditorium E
FEMA’s GMM program is a multi-year effort to simplify and coordinate the Agency’s business management approaches to grants and establish a common
grants life cycle. The ideal grants modernization solution will improve staff productivity and allocation of resources across the Agency. The GMM effort is a
user-centered, business-driven approach that engages with stakeholders to fully capture needs, gaps, and transformation opportunities. The GMM effort
will streamline a data architecture currently managed by nine primary information technology (IT) systems into a single grants management platform.
An integrated approach will improve oversight and monitoring of funding allocations and support integrated data analytics across the program areas for
improved effciencies.
Speakers: Oz Turan, FEMA HQ, GMM Program Manager
3:15-3:45p – 30 minute break
3:45p to 4:45p Breakout Sessions (6 choices)
The breakout sessions from 2:15p to 3:15p will repeat.
7
Workshop at a Glance
Color Key Plenary Sessions Breakout Sessions Social Activity Listening Sessions
8
Day 2: Tuesday, March 13
8:00a to 8:30a Plenary Room: Auditorium E
HMA update from FEMA Headquarters.
Speaker: Kayed Lakhia, FEMA HQ, HMA Division Director
8:30a-9:00a – 30 minute break
9:00a to 10:00a Breakout Sessions (6 choices)
Government-to-Government Protocols: How It Works with Indian Nations. Room: M202
Government offcials often lack understanding of how to work with Tribal governments. By sharing Declarations of Sovereignty Treaties with Tribal Nations
(Public Law 280), we can better understand the government-to-government relationships and how the law applies.
Speaker: Dan Martinez, Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, Tribal Emergency Manager
Post-Disaster Coordination. Room: S125
In the aftermath of numerous disaster declarations across FEMA Region III, many communities received Federal assistance; however, many of these
communities did not invest in safer, smarter, and stronger rebuilding. The overwhelming permit and enforcement procedures hindered the ability to rebuild
stronger and safer. FEMA Region III recognized that post-disaster coordination between disaster recovery programs could promote safer and stronger
rebuilding. In 2015, the Region formed a Post-Disaster Work Group of subject matter experts from different divisions to identify courses of action to improve
post-disaster coordination.
Speakers: Craig “Julius” Lockhart, FEMA Region III, Floodplain Management and Insurance Specialist
Nicole Lick, FEMA Region III, Floodplain Management and Insurance Branch Chief
National Surveys of Local and State Floodplain Managers. Room: K308
In 2016 and 2017, the Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM) surveyed the Nation’s local and State foodplain managers to better understand
current capabilities, demographics, and issues. The local offcial’s survey is the Nation’s frst and provides important insights as to the identity of the
Nation’s local foodplain managers and their needs. The State survey is the sixth, with the frst survey reported in 1989. In this session, ASFPM will discuss
the results of both surveys.
Speakers: Chad Berginnis, Association of State Floodplain Managers, Executive Director
Bill Brown, Association of State Floodplain Managers, Flood Science Center Director
Rising from the Floodwaters: Louisiana’s Regional Watershed Approach to Project Development. Room: K302
This discussion-based session will provide an opportunity for attendees to share ongoing regional approaches to identifying and solving water control
issues within HUC-8 watersheds. Topics for discussion include the Louisiana Watershed Study initiative and the Louisiana Resilient Recovery Pilot
(activities). A representative from the Louisiana Governor’s Offce of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness will discuss how the jurisdictions
within the watersheds are combining efforts to promote resilient mitigation activities to enhance protection and regionalize group mindsets to effectively
and effciently utilize funding.
Speakers: Jeffrey Giering, Louisiana SHMO
Shona Gibson, FEMA Region VI, RISKMap Engineer
Capacity-Building for Resilience: A Regional Approach. Room: Auditorium E
Strategies to plan for and respond to natural disasters and a changing climate must provide multiple benefts, promote equity, and protect communities
and the assets that underpin their well-being. Successful strategies are built on strategic partnerships across public and private sectors. This session will
focus on local- and regional-level approaches that demonstrate effective resilience-building and collaborative efforts centered on high-impact practices and
transformational change.
Speaker: Kristin Baja, Urban Sustainability Directors Network, Climate Resilience Offcer
Mitigation Café: Improving and Innovating HMGP through Private Sector Investment. Room: Auditorium J
The Mitigation Café is a facilitated forum where a panel of relevant subject matter experts will engage participants in a two-way dialogue. Each topic will be
presented once.
This session will focus on exploring creative approaches for increasing investment in mitigation and how various roles (e.g. Floodplain Manager, Hazard
Mitigation Offcers, local businesses and organizations) may contribute to achieving the Mitigation Moonshot.
Speakers: Stephanie Schmelz, US Department of the Treasury
Julie Shiyou, Smart Home
Michael Grimm, FEMA
10:00a-10:30a – 30 minute break
9Day 2: Tuesday, March 13 CONTINUED
10:30a to 11:30a Breakout Sessions (6 choices)
The breakout sessions from 9:00a to 10:00a will repeat except for the Mitigation Café, which will be replaced with the topic below.
Mitigation Café: Exploring Connections between Floodplain Management and Mitigation Programs. Room: Auditorium J
The Mitigation Café is a facilitated forum where a panel of relevant subject matter experts will engage participants in a two-way dialogue. Each topic will be
presented once.
This session will focus on exploring how the relationship between foodplain management and mitigation is being strengthened, especially post-disaster,
and what works well in places where these efforts are integrated.
Speakers: Robbie Coates, Virginia SHMO
Chad Berginnis, ASFPM
Jason Hunter, FEMA Region IV
11:30a – 1:00p Lunch
1:00p to 1:45p Breakout Sessions (6 choices)
Regional Planning Organizations as a Tribal Resource for Hazard Mitigation Planning. Room: M202
The Oneida Nation in Wisconsin has formed a strong benefcial hazard mitigation planning partnership with its regional planning organization (RPO). RPOs
are quasi-governmental agencies that coordinate work between Federal, State, and Tribal partners and can be useful partners to assist tribes with hazard
mitigation planning. The Oneida Nation has tapped into the resources of the RPO to get help with submitting FEMA Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) grant
applications and developing its hazard mitigation plan and updates. The Oneida Nation’s current Pre-Disaster Mitigation Plan is used as an example in
Emergency Management Institute’s core Tribal Curriculum for Tribal pre-disaster planning.
Speakers: Angela Kowalzek-Adrians, Bay-Lake Regional Planning Commission, Natural Resources Planner
Kaylynn Gresham, Oneida Tribe of Indians, Emergency Management Director
Mitigation Plan Implementation: Opportunities and Challenges. Room: Auditorium E
The Hazard Mitigation Planning Program can demonstrate aspects of program delivery effectiveness, as identifed in 44 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)
Part 201 Mitigation Planning, in terms of compliance (i.e., plan approval status and population coverage), but currently lacks a mechanism to capture
how mitigation planning leads to direct or indirect long-term risk reduction for communities (i.e., plan implementation). FEMA Mitigation Planning is
seeking input on how to demonstrate the benefts associated with mitigation planning by capturing the linkage between planning and mitigation strategy
implementation.
Speaker: Leslie Tomic, FEMA HQ, Mitigation Planning Specialist
Preserving Our Historic Building Stock Using Nonstructural Measures and Green Infrastructure. Room: Auditorium J
This inter-agency panel will address potential impacts of fooding on historic buildings, discuss opportunities to mitigate future food damages, and weigh
concerns over preserving those architectural features that are important to our American heritage. The panel will initiate a discussion on the importance of
implementing food risk adaptive measures, such as elevation, relocation, food proofng, rain gardens, and green spaces, to reduce the effects of fooding
while protecting and preserving structures of historic signifcance.
Speakers: Randall Behm, USACE, National Nonstructural Committee Chairman
Stephen O’Leary, USACE, National Nonstructural Committee Executive Secretary
Beth Burgess, Howard County, Maryland, Resource Conservation Division Chief
Rebuilding with Greater Resiliency: The Incident Resource Inventory System (IRIS) Viewer and the Compilation of Data Behind It. Room: K302
Following Hurricane Irene and Superstorm Sandy, resilience became a priority for many New Jersey municipalities and provided an opportunity to begin the
tough conversations with communities understanding their risks to future storm events. A team at Rutgers University, with acknowledgements to the New
Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and the New Jersey Offce of Emergency Management, developed a three-dimensional elevation model of
all homes, businesses, and infrastructure in Ocean County shoreline communities located within Zones A and V on Preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps.
An online viewer was developed to visualize the mobile-based LiDAR collected in these areas. First foor elevations were estimated and examined against
elevation certifcates. These data can be viewed alongside previous damage data (collected by the National Flood Insurance Program [NFIP] and FEMA
Substantial Damage assessments) and projected food hazard data to understand which properties are at risk from future storm events.
Speakers: Jennifer Whytlaw, Rutgers University, GIS Manager
Jie Gong, Rutgers University, Assistant Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering
HMA Grant Applications Reviews: Lessons Learned from a Federal and State Perspective. Room: K308
In December 2017, the engineering and construction company CDM Smith reviewed project applications for FMA and PDM grants on behalf of FEMA as
part of the National Technical Review process. Several applications were not recommended for further consideration due to technical and/or beneft-
cost analysis defciencies. Since 2014, the State of Florida has successfully utilized the Program Administration by States authority to establish a more
streamlined grant approval process, allowing communities to get the hazard mitigation funds they need faster. Since being delegated grant approval
responsibilities, the State of Florida has approved hundreds of projects and helped obligate millions of dollars in Federal funding. This session will include
a summary of lessons learned, common problems, recommended potential fxes, recommended resources for application development, and examples of
“Best in Class” applications. The goal is to provide guidance on improving applications submitted, thereby increase their funding potential.
Speakers: Eric Kenney, CDM Smith, Senior Project Manager
Manny Perotin, CDM Smith, Senior Project Manager
10Day 2: Tuesday, March 13 CONTINUED
Fast and Furious: Use of Remote Damage Assessments during Harvey, Irma, and Maria. Room: S125
The 2017 hurricane season has been intense, with three major hurricanes hitting the United States over a 4-week span. FEMA contracted with Dewberry to
develop rapid inundation and other geospatial products that the Agency could use for decision-making, including payment of $17 million in expedited rental
assistance within 10 days of Hurricane Harvey. This session will describe the process and data sources used to create these products and how they were
applied for remote damage assessment. The session will also cover how FEMA and its State and local partners could use these products for mitigation and
resilience, including early outreach, substantial damage assessment targeting, project identifcation, and loss avoidance studies.
Speaker: Catherine Bohn, Dewberry, Associate Vice President
1:45p-2:15p – 30 minute break
2:15p to 3:00p Breakout Sessions (6 choices)
The breakout sessions from 1:00p to 1:45p will repeat.
3:00p-3:30p – 30 minute break
3:30p to 4:15p Breakout Sessions (6 choices)
Mitigation Planning Training: Let’s Educate and Train! Room: Auditorium J
This session will showcase the implementation, revision, and adjudication of training for Mitigation Planning partners. The presenters will explore the
current training environment, areas for growth and development, system access/adjudication, and what works well. They will also discuss the future of
training and the process for continuing professional development within the Mitigation Planning Program, including upcoming events and opportunities,
resources, and timeframes.
Speakers: Bronwyn Quinlan, FEMA HQ, Mitigation Planner
Cathleen Carlisle, FEMA HQ, Mitigation Planner
Christine Caggiano, Resilience Action Partners, Senior Mitigation Strategist
Mark James, Michael Baker, Planner
North Carolina No-Rise Guidance Document. Room: Auditorium E
North Carolina has prepared a detailed guidance document to assist engineers and permitting offcials with the preparation, certifcation, and review of No-
Rise Certifcations used to demonstrate compliance with foodway encroachment regulations under 44 CFR 60.3(d)(3). Recent updates include guidance for
small stream restoration projects.
Speaker: Dan Brubaker, North Carolina, NFIP Engineer
BCAs Can Be Easy, I Promise: A Crash Course in the Fundamental Concepts That Drive Beneft-Cost Analysis. Room: S125
This session will use fun examples to give participants a better understanding of the fundamental concepts that drive FEMA’s Beneft-Cost Analysis (BCA)
software. The primary goal is to dismantle preconceived notions that BCA is diffcult to understand by making it more relatable to those working in HMA.
Speaker: Anni Shelton, FEMA Region II, Sandy HMGP Crew Lead
How Hurricane Matthew Helped North Carolina Think Differently about Recovery and Resilience Planning. Room: M202
This session will discuss recent recovery efforts initiated by the North Carolina Division of Emergency Management (NCEM) in the wake of Hurricane
Matthew to help 50 counties develop resilient redevelopment plans. The plans identify projects centered on four pillars of resilience: Housing, Economic
Development, Infrastructure, and Environment. These plans are helping NCEM to prioritize needs and obligations across multiple funding sources.
Speakers: Stacy Wright, Atkins, Senior Technical Manager
Ryan Cox, North Carolina, Hazard Mitigation Planning Supervisor
HMA Core Competencies: Do They or Don’t They Exist? Room: K302
This discussion is based on the collaboration of States, local governments, tribes, and territories, and the work of our Federal partners. Given past
catastrophic events and anticipated future climate disruptions, HMA Core Competencies are more important for affected areas that will need these types of
resources, which will come from a wide variety of capable elements via Federal missions and the Emergency Management Assistance Compact. Core task
identifcation, training, exercises, task booklets, shadowing, and documentation are key to HMA Core Competencies.
Speakers: Tom Hughes, Pennsylvania SHMO
Chris Blinzinger, City of Provo, Utah, Emergency Manager
Karen Helbrecht, FEMA HQ, HMA Grants Implementation Branch Chief
Efforts to Maximize 404/406 Mitigation in Region 7. Room: K308
This session presents the efforts of Region 7 to maximize mitigation to build a resilient community. The Mitigation Division hired a 406 engineer (406PE) in
the HMA Branch. The HMGP Resource Coordinator trained the 406PE on BCA methodology and sent him to do Preliminary Damage Assessments (PDAs) for
the spring 2017 fooding event in Missouri (DR 4317 MO). The HMA Branch Chief deployed a team, including the 406PE, to “front-load” mitigation efforts
by making them part of the PDA team. The 406PE was deployed to the disaster and was immersed in recovery scoping meetings and site inspections. This
session will examine what was involved and what gains, if any, were made.
Speakers: Stacy Robarge-Silkiner, FEMA Region VII HMA Branch Chief
Elizabeth Weyrauch, Missouri SHMO
Ashok Samuel “Sam” Sunderraj, FEMA Region VII, Program Manager
11Day 2: Tuesday, March 13 CONTINUED
4:15p-4:45p – 30 minute break
4:45p to 5:30p Breakout Sessions (6 choices)
The breakout sessions from 3:30p to 4:15p will repeat.
6:30p to 7:30p Trivia Night. Location: Student Center
So you think you’re smarter than a mitigator? All are invited to join a fun night of trivia that will test your knowledge of all things mitigation and resilience
and how these topics intersect with pop culture, geography, and history. This informal competition will pit teams against each other for bragging rights the
rest of the week. Gather a team or join one there.
LET’S TAKE
12Workshop at a Glance
Color Key Plenary Sessions Breakout Sessions Social Activity Listening Sessions
13Day 3: Wednesday, March 14
8:00a to 8:45a Plenary – Room: Auditorium E
Remarks from FIMA Deputy Associate Administrator.
Speaker: Roy Wright, FEMA HQ, Deputy Associate Administrator for Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration
8:45a-9:00a – 15 minute break
9:00a to 10:00a Breakout Sessions (6 choices)
Cover Your Arts: Incorporating Arts and Culture into Comprehensive Planning. Room: M202
Emergency managers are accustomed to planning to protect hard assets and infrastructure. But how do you plan to protect intangible cultural heritage,
the artistic expression of what it means to be human? It begins with the acknowledgment of the arts as an integral and necessary component of our
communities. A vibrant arts sector contributes to the health and welfare of a community in the best of times. In the wake of a disaster, art can offer comfort
and connection, helping a community heal, move forward, and become more resilient.
Speakers: Lori Foley, FEMA HQ, Heritage Emergency National Task Force Administrator
Thomas Song, FEMA Region II, Outreach Consultant
Contour Land Stewardship for Habitat Regeneration, Flood Mitigation, and Groundwater Recharge. Room: K308
In 2010, a juniper-clearing project began on Joint Base San Antonio Camp Bullis Training Area to convert 2,800 acres of dense woodland into an open
savanna. No signifcant soil disturbance and no digging was allowed. Three different treatments were chosen: using Skid Steer equipment to make large
brush-piles, using a forestry mulcher to mulch the trees in-place, and using “beaver biomimicry” and ancient contour farming practices to lay the forestry
debris down in contour lines. The brush piles were then mulched to form long contour mulch piles that signifcantly slow the movement of runoff and allow
water to infltrate into the soil. These mulch berms have required little maintenance, are still functioning quite well after 7.5 years, and may provide a beneft
to the landscape and the hydrologic cycle for 25 years or more.
Speaker: Bryan Hummel, USEPA, Sustainability Advisor
From Drought to Flood and Back Again: Using HMGP to Address Climate Change through Groundwater Recharge. Room: S125
California Governor Jerry Brown has directed all State agencies to prioritize climate change into all funding decisions and requested that the Governor’s
Offce of Emergency Services (Cal OES) be more creative with disaster funding. In response, Cal OES used the disaster grant funding from three federally
declared disasters this past winter to fund a novel drought resiliency project. A small internal team collaborated with FEMA to engage State and Federal
subject matter experts to discuss groundwater recharge project feasibility using HMGP funding. This project is an example of how a small team in any State
can create community resiliency to future droughts exacerbated by climate change. This session will explore the State/Federal collaboration to encourage
similar projects in other States.
Speakers: Nicole Meyer-Morse, California, Science and Technology Advisor
Jeff Lusk, FEMA Region IX, Mitigation Division Director
BRA2C2E (Building Resilience through Advocacy, Action, Convening, Collaboration and Education). Room: Auditorium E
Using its BRA2C2E model, Smart Home America increased resiliency in Alabama through building code and policy adoptions and outreach and education,
and empowered the creation of a State-based mitigation program. This session will present an in-depth analysis of how and why Alabama leads the Nation
in FORTIFIED Home designations, which increases resilience and mitigation activities so communities can better withstand a high-wind and water event
and recover more quickly after a disaster.
Speakers: Julie Shiyou-Woodard, Smart Home America, President and CEO
Alexandra Cary, Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety, Manager of the FORTIFIED Coastal Program
Creating Wildfre Resilience with HMA Grants. Room: K302
As droughts intensify and wildfre impacts continue to increase across the Nation, more communities are seeking assistance to mitigate their wildfre risk.
The National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy, or Cohesive Strategy, offers an all-hands, all-lands framework for addressing wildfre risk.
Project and planning activities eligible for funding under the HMA program align closely with the Cohesive Strategy, and can assist communities in achieving
wildfre resilience. Join Federal and local experts as they describe current initiatives and share successes and challenges in achieving community wildfre
resilience using HMA funding.
Speakers: Patti Blankenship, FEMA US Fire Administration, Technical Advisor
Ed Keith, Deschutes County, Oregon, County Forester
Brett Holt, FEMA Region X, Mitigation Planning Program Manager
Kristen Meyers, FEMA Region X, HMA Branch Chief
Mitigation Café: Increasing Flood Insurance Coverage. Room: Auditorium J
The Mitigation Café is a facilitated forum where a panel of relevant subject matter experts will engage participants in a two-way dialogue. Each topic will be
presented once.
This session will focus on considering innovative approaches for increasing food insurance coverage, ways that various roles (e.g. Floodplain Managers,
Hazard Mitigation Offcers, local offcials) may contribute to achieving the Insurance Moonshot, and the impact of increased food insurance coverage on
community recovery.
Speakers: Paul Huang, FEMA, FIMA Flood Insurance Directorate
Angie Gladwell, FEMA, FIMA Risk Management Directorate
Eric Letvin, FEMA, FIMA Mitigation Directorate
14Day 3: Wednesday, March 14 CONTINUED
10:00a-10:30a – 30 minute break
10:30a to 11:30a Breakout Sessions (6 choices)
The breakout sessions from 9:00a to 10:00a will repeat except for the Mitigation Café, which will be replaced with the topic below.
Mitigation Café: Partnerships with Other Federal Agencies. Room: Auditorium J
The Mitigation Café is a facilitated forum where a panel of relevant subject matter experts will engage participants in a two-way dialogue. Each topic will be
presented once.
This session will focus on examining the benefts, challenges, and impact of coordinating and partnering with other federal agencies. This session will also
focus on understanding where partnerships with other federal agencies has previously worked well and how that can be leveraged moving forward.
Speakers: Kristin Ransom, NOAA Offce for Coast Management
Tracy DePew, Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians
11:30a – 1:00p Lunch
1:00p to 1:45p Breakout Sessions (6 choices)
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loan Program and Mitigation Assistance. Room: M202
The SBA provides low-interest, long-term disaster loans to homeowners, renters, and businesses of all sizes following a declared disaster. In addition to
providing affordable loan assistance for uninsured or uncompensated private property losses, SBA also provides mitigation assistance. Private property
owners may be eligible for up to 20 percent of the total physical damages, as verifed by SBA, to complete mitigation measures. SBA mitigation assistance
can also include the construction of safe rooms and storm shelters.
Speaker: Alejandro Contreras, US Small Business Administration (SBA) Offce of Disaster Assistance, Program Analyst
Use of Stream Restoration to Build Resilient Natural Communities. Room: S125
Fluvial geomorphology is the science behind how rivers and streams shape the earth’s surface. Streams naturally form to be stable and resilient such that
the stream system can transport the water and sediment being delivered by the watershed. The science of stream restoration focuses on principles of
fuvial geomorphology to design stream systems and their associated foodplains to function naturally and be self-sustaining. This session will present the
principles of fuvial geomorphology along with case studies of designing streams to be resilient.
Speakers: George Athanasakes, Stantec, Ecosystem Restoration Service Leader
Rich Pfngsten, Stantec, Senior Restoration Ecologist
The ASFPM CRS Green Guide. Room: Auditorium E
The CRS can be daunting for community offcials wanting to enroll in the program, and some communities are undertaking activities to protect their
foodplain, coastal, and water resources. The Green Guide, an interactive, web-based resource, is a point of entry into the CRS that focuses on activities and
elements that have co-benefts of earning points in the program and doing something good for the environment.
Speaker: Chad Berginnis, Association of State Floodplain Managers, Executive Director
Mitigation Reconstruction: Building a Resilient Housing Stock. Room: Auditorium J
Jefferson Parish, Louisiana has been awarded over 60 mitigation reconstruction projects. Each project and owner is unique; however, each mitigation
project has evolved to enable owners to build new houses that exceed minimum food code requirements as well as create an overall beneft for sustainable
housing in the community. The implementation model for our reconstruction programs could beneft other communities by helping them understand how
new construction may be an alternative to acquisition or elevation.
Speakers: Michelle Gonzales, Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, Director of Floodplain Management and Hazard Mitigation
Mike Stewart, Bryant Hammett and Associates, Hazard Mitigation Manager
Melonie Ellzey, Disaster Resilience Specialists, Owner and Technical Specialist
National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD) and Mitigation: Survivor Assistance. Room: K302
Repair and rebuild organizations within NVOAD provide assistance in a number of ways and want a collaborative initiative with FEMA to enhance services
to survivors. The organization can provide volunteer labor, donated building supplies, and case management services. Some States track in-kind donations
and volunteer labor for cost-matching purposes for Public Assistance (PA) grants.
Speakers: Tom Vencuss, United Methodist Committee on Relief, Volunteer
Jerry Grosh, Mennonite Services, Volunteer
Liz Gibson, FEMA HQ, Voluntary Agency Coordination Section Chief
Mitigation (MT) eGrants Live Help Desk: An Informal Chat and Q&A Session. Room: K308
Join Shawn Servoss from FEMA HQ to discuss the ins-and-outs of the Mitigation eGrants system in an informal setting.
Speaker: Shawn Servoss, FEMA HQ, MTeGrants Sustainment Lead
1:45p-2:15p – 30 minute break
15Day 3: Wednesday, March 14 CONTINUED
2:15p to 3:00p Breakout Sessions (6 choices)
The breakout sessions from 1:00p to 1:45p will repeat.
3:00p-3:30p – 30 minute break
3:30p to 4:15p Breakout Sessions (5 choices)
Morton Street Channel Restoration/Flood Reduction. Room: K308
This session highlights a multi-agency and multi-departmental project for the City of Lincoln, Nebraska and the Lower Platte South Natural Resources
District. In addition to infuencing the 5-, 10-, and 20-year food levels, this channel restoration and food reduction project for an industrial part of Lincoln is
adding riparian benefts and restoring the channel to a natural state with the removal of debris and other obstacles.
Speaker: Mary Baker, Nebraska SHMO
Designing for the Future: New York City’s Climate Design Guidelines. Room: K302
New York City (NYC) released preliminary guidelines on how to integrate forward-looking climate data into design processes to increase the resiliency of
City facilities. This session will discuss results of an assessment of the preliminary guidelines in eight pilot projects and how the guidelines interact with
NYC Building Code and design standards.
Speakers: Mat Mampara, Dewberry, Associate Vice President
Rahul Parab, Dewberry, Associate
Optimizing the SDE Process to Streamline Compliance-Driven Recovery. Room: M202
After Hurricane Harvey FEMA established a Substantial Damage Estimation (SDE) Task Force and supporting Geo-Analytics Cell to quickly design, pilot
and deploy a data-driven process to identify structures that were likely substantially damaged. This presentation will show how the SDE Task Force and
Analytics Cell achieved their objectives, helped expedite the rebuilding process, and will provide recommendations for how to deploy this approach for
future disasters.
Speaker: Quentin Cummings, FEMA HQ, Program Analyst
Implementing Hazard Mitigation Measures for Water and Wastewater Utilities. Room: S125
The District of Columbia Water and Sewerage Authority (DC Water) serves as the sole water and wastewater provider in the District of Columbia and
processes wastewater from the wider metro area in Maryland and Virginia. During recent FEMA PDM program application cycles and with HMGP post-
disaster allocations, DC Water pursued and was awarded funding to harden and protect stormwater, water, and wastewater facilities against fooding and
power failure. The hardening of these facilities serves the dual purpose of protecting critical assets from damage and ensuring that the service population
receives continuous potable water, stormwater, and wastewater services during and after future natural hazard events. In this session, a representative
of DC Water will discuss the method used by the team to identify funding strategy elements and the importance of hazard mitigation measures for critical
infrastructure.
Speakers: Jonathan Reeves, D.C. Water, Offce of Emergency Management Chief
Edward Fernandez, Arcadis, Senior Planner
Stories of Shared Coastal Resilience: Making Progress on Mutual Goals. Room: Auditorium J
Coastal communities are vital to the national economy, yet they are vulnerable to natural hazards such as sea level rise and fooding events. It is now
more important than ever for coastal communities to be resilient to dynamic coastal and climatic processes. With the goal of “bouncing forward” as we
face natural hazards, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) provides science, stewardship, and education to States and local
communities. NOAA’s Offce for Coastal Management administers the National Coastal Zone Management Program, and provides data, tools, training, and
technical assistance to help communities prepare for coastal hazards and recover in ways that make them stronger.
Speakers: Kristin Ransom, NOAA, Coastal Management Specialist
Brett Holt, FEMA Region X, Mitigation Planning Program Manager
Jennifer Kline, Georgia, Coastal Hazards Specialist
4:15p-4:45p – 30 minute break
4:45p to 5:30p Breakout Sessions (5 choices)
The breakout sessions from 3:30p to 4:15p will repeat.
16Workshop at a Glance
Color Key Plenary Sessions Breakout Sessions Social Activity Listening Sessions
17Day 4: Thursday, March 15
9:00a to 10:00a Breakout Sessions (6 choices)
“Ready-to-Use” Resilience Planning Approaches: Lessons from EPA Partnerships. Room: Auditorium E
This session highlights approaches developed in EPA partnerships to enable effective inclusion of environmental and social resilience into hazard mitigation
planning. This session will cover EPA’s role in mitigation, what a Regional Resilience Framework can look like, “what” and “where” clean water protection
might best ft in a hazard mitigation plan, how to work with a community to design a nature-based hazard mitigation project, and how to focus resources
for drought emergency management. Regional Resilience Framework pilots are underway with FEMA Region IX, EPA, and the Bay Area Metro, incorporating
hazard mitigation, adaptation, sustainability, and equity into a single-process action plan. Although structured to ft California planning requirements, the
Framework is transferable to any State, territory, or tribe, to facilitate implementation with site-specifc requirements and funding streams.
Speakers: Abby Hall, USEPA, Policy Analyst
Jason Bernagros, USEPA, Landscape Architect
Brian Pickard, USEPA, Team Leader
Laura Bachle, USEPA, Offce of Water
Brett Holt, FEMA Region X, Mitigation Planning Program Manager
Lessons Learned Related to Building Performance and Building Codes Following the 2017 Hurricanes. Room: M202
The FEMA Mitigation Assessment Team (MAT) Program is managed by the Building Science Branch at Headquarters. Following a natural disaster, the
team conducts feld assessments and makes technical observations on the performance of buildings subjected to the effects of the natural hazard event.
The MAT’s observations are used to recommend changes to building codes and standards groups, prepare recovery advisories, gather information to
improve guidance and infuence construction practices during repair, support the integration of hazard mitigation measures into the repair process, provide
technical assistance related to codes and standards, and contribute to research efforts. In this session, a representative of the Building Science Branch will
summarize lessons learned with respect to building performance and also illustrate the impact that code adoption and enforcement has had on reducing
damage.
Speakers: Dan Bass, FEMA HQ, Mitigation Assessment Team Program Manager
Manny Perotin, CDM Smith, Senior Project Manager
Stuart Adams, Stantec, Associate
406 Mitigation Panel Discussion. Room: K302
This panel session will include a discussion of recent initiatives, policy, and doctrine guiding the implementation of 406 Hazard Mitigation (HM) as well as
feld implementation issues. The session will introduce 406 HM as a means of mitigating damage to public facilities and will allow for an open conversation
between participants with a focus on clarifying policy. Participants will leave with a better sense of what can be done through 406 HM and how it
supplements and complements other disaster recovery and mitigation efforts. Participants are also encouraged to share their concerns about how 406 HM
is executed in their jurisdiction. The session is intended to further the dialogue for building a better and more consistent 406 HM program throughout the
country.
Speakers: Brian Willsey, FEMA HQ, Hazard Mitigation Specialist
Sam Capasso, FEMA HQ, Hazard Mitigation Specialist
Megan Wallowak, FEMA HQ, Hazard Mitigation Training Administrator
Jennifer Goldsmith-Grinspoon, FEMA HQ, Physical Scientist
Sarah Mulligan, FEMA HQ, Policy Analyst
Obtaining Community Input into the Flood Hazard Identifcation Process. Room: Auditorium J
FEMA, Cooperating Technical Partners, States, and communities work together to achieve one common goal: producing accurate food hazard maps.
Because food risk is always best managed at the local level, it is imperative that local community stakeholders are part of the process and that they
understand what they can contribute to develop the most precise food hazard information with the resources available. This presentation will describe
some new communication tools that seek to enable this kind of community engagement.
Speakers: David Ratté, FEMA Region X, Regional Flood Engineer
Michael DePue, Atkins, Vice President
Choices and How They Can Impact the National Flood Insurance Program. Room: S125
This session will touch on numerous aspects of the NFIP and the choices that have been problematic in achieving the overarching goal of food risk
reduction. A representative of the Montana Department of Natural Resources will identify areas of concern and explain how to communicate options to
elected offcials whose choices impact communities and vulnerable areas. The emphasis will be on enforcement and land use activities before, during, and
after an event.
Speakers: Traci Sears, Montana State NFIP Coordinator
Nadene Wadsworth, Montana SHMO
Dam-Related Flood Risks: Engaging the Dam Safety Community to Meet New Challenges Room: K308
The National Dam Safety Program (NDSP) is a partnership of States, Federal agencies, and other stakeholders that encourages and promotes the
establishment and maintenance of effective Federal and State dam safety programs to reduce the risks to human life, property, and the environment from
dam-related hazards. Dam risk information should be communicated and shared to support a community’s efforts in conducting THIRAs, and developing
dam hazard mitigation strategies, emergency preparedness and response plans, and recovery plans. This interactive breakout session will address how the
dam safety community and the NDSP can meet challenges posed by dam-related food risks.
Speakers: James Demby, FEMA HQ, Senior Technical and Policy Advisor
Preston Wilson, FEMA HQ, Planner
18Day 4: Thursday, March 15 CONTINUED
10:00a-10:30a – 30 minute break
10:30a to 11:30a Breakout Sessions (6 choices)
The breakout sessions from 9:00a to 10:00a will repeat.
11:30a – 1:00p Lunch
1:00p to 1:45p Breakout Sessions (4 choices)
Ensuring that an HMA Plan is also an Excellent CRS Plan. Room: K302
The NFIP’s CRS provides substantial credit for foodplain management planning efforts within CRS Activity 510 (Floodplain Management Planning). HMA
plans can be credited in CRS if they meet the CRS planning step requirements. With a number of considerations at the start of an HMA planning effort and
the consideration of a range of mitigation strategies during the HMA planning effort, HMA plans can score very well in the CRS. This session will highlight
the CRS plan considerations and review available CRS resources for Regional, State, and local offcials.
Speakers: Bill Lesser, FEMA HQ, NFIP Community Rating System National Coordinator
Sherry Harper, Insurance Services Offce, Senior Technical Coordinator
BCA Toolkit Modernization. Room: S125
The current generation of FEMA’s BCA Toolkit—Version 4.0—was launched in 2007. Subsequent updates to the software have brought us to the current
Version 5.3, released in early 2017. However, rapidly changing technology and IT security requirements means that it’s time for the next generation of the
BCA Toolkit. Unlike previous versions, which were designed as standalone software applications, BCA Toolkit 6.0 is built on a Microsoft Excel platform. This
session will discuss the features of the new Toolkit and provide a live demonstration of one or more of the modules.
Speakers: Rebecca Carroll, FEMA HQ, BCA Program Lead and Data Analyst
Jody Springer, FEMA HQ, Senior Data Analyst
Maximizing the Benefts of the State Mitigation Program Consultation. Room: Auditorium E
At least two rounds of State Mitigation Program Consultations have been completed since the new Consultation requirement was established in the State
Mitigation Plan Review Guide. Initial guidance was provided through the Consultation Toolkit; however, considerable fexibility has been given to the Regions
and States to customize the Consultations to their needs. In this session, FEMA Region IV will share the different ways that the Consultations have been
conducted to gather ideas to increase the value of the Consultation to all participants. The panel discussion will include panelists from the States and FEMA
who have participated in the Consultations.
Speakers: Lillian Huffman, FEMA Region IV, Mitigation Planning Program Analyst
Jacky Bell, FEMA Region IV, HMA Branch Chief
Brett Holt, FEMA Region X, Mitigation Planning Program Manager
Laurie Bestgen, FEMA Region VII, Mitigation Planner
Tim Cook, Washington SHMO
Tom Morey, Kansas State Floodplain Manager
Ryan Cox, North Carolina, Risk Mitigation Planning Supervisor
Protecting Infrastructure the “Green” Way. Room: Auditorium J
Opportunities abound in a post-disaster environment to repair and replace food-damaged infrastructure in an environmentally friendly manner. Traditional
methods of armoring with rock, commonly known as riprap, may not work. Bioengineered bank stabilization has gained traction over the years as an
alternative and acceptable method of repair. By mimicking Mother Nature’s design through incorporation of living materials, this method can often provide a
stronger, longer-lasting, and less costly repair. This session will address various types of bioengineered bank stabilization used in the Pacifc Northwest, the
pros and cons associated with their design and construction, and their applicability to HMA grants.
Speakers: Mark Eberlein, FEMA Region X, Environmental Offcer
Ken Sessa, FEMA Region VII, Environmental Offcer
1:45p-2:15p – 30 minute break
2:15p to 3:00p Breakout Sessions (4 choices)
The breakout sessions from 1:00p to 1:45p will repeat.
3:00p-3:30p – 30 minute break
3:30p to 5:30p Poster Session Mixer. Room: Student Center
A variety of best practices and success stories will be presented as static poster displays for this networking event. The mixer is an opportunity for meeting
attendees to ask questions of people who are familiar with the projects in a casual one-on-one setting.
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