Funding: Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Committee Engaged: Floodplain Regulations.
Most of the materials FEMA has related to higher standards are located in guidance related to the Community Rating System (CRS) and building code standards (i.e., ASCE24), but standards are more than just building codes. They can include technical, zoning, subdivision, and other land use standards, which is especially important if a community does not have a building code official. Additionally, Risk Rating 2.0 has recast what higher standards may be relevant not only to reduce flood losses but also to reduce flood insurance rates.
The ASFPM Floodplain Regulations Committee has a higher standards guide that was developed and is maintained via a volunteer effort; however, the last comprehensive review and update of the guide dates back to 2013. With FEMA currently planning to hold a road show related to higher standards and talking about a codes and standards initiative, the timing is right to delve into research around higher standards and update the “Guide for Higher Standards in Floodplain Management” for more expanded use and wider distribution.
ASFPM will research higher standards to feed into the above described efforts as they relate to communities and how communities can mitigate with higher standards. Research could include exploring a benefit cost analysis of higher standards and, depending on which information ASFPM is able to gain access to and how, the impact of higher standards on insurance savings, looking at relevant flood insurance rating factors under Risk Rating 2.0 (e.g., distance-to-water and building setbacks). ASFPM members, including members of the Floodplain Regulations Committee, will be engaged throughout the process via roundtable discussion(s) and a session and/or booth at an ASFPM national conference. The results of this research will feed into the development of a “Higher Standards Guide.”
The objective of this project is to:
- Gather and analyze data to show the benefits of higher standards; and
- Develop an updated “Higher Standards Guide.”