New York Five-Year Plan Summary
Community Assistance Program – State Support Services Element
DECEMBER 2005
DRAFT

Projected Flood Insurance Rate Map
Effective Dates in New York*
[Figure 1: A bar graph showing the expected number of communities involved in the Multi-Year Flood Hazard Identification Plan by Federal Fiscal Year 2005-10.]

*Currently includes both participating and non-participating communities from Multi-Year Flood Hazard Identification Plan sequencing, Version 1.5, June 2005.

Purpose
This report is an outcome of the review of the Federal Fiscal Year (FY) 2005-2009 Floodplain Management Work Plans by the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). It is intended to show the relationship of Community Assistance Program – State Support Services Element (CAP-SSSE) activities, and resource allocation, the State is undertaking in response to the flood mapping production schedule of Flood Map Modernization, and to highlight the efforts that are underway to achieve the flood loss reduction goals of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

State Vision for Floodplain Management
The goal of the NFIP and of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) is to reduce threats to life and property through improved flood hazard information, enforcement of flood damage reduction regulations, and promotion of flood damage reduction activities including, and also exceeding, minimum NFIP standards. The challenge is to provide appropriate outreach in a State with over 1,400 NFIP participating communities, approximately one million people living within a Special Flood Hazard Area, the area subject to inundation by the base (1-percent-annual-chance) flood, and over $350 million in NFIP paid claims.

State Floodplain Management Authority
On January 12, 1970, the Governor announced that he was designating the Conservation Department (Now the Department of Environmental Conservation) as the State agency responsible for coordinating Federal, State, and local aspects of floodplain management activities as required under the provisions of the NFIP. This was codified into State Law in 1974, as amended in 1992, under Article 36 of the Environmental Conservation Law. 
Article 36 states that “Providing for the availability of flood insurance for all residents of the state is the policy of the state.” It further states, “All publicly owned facilities within any identified area of special flood hazard must be in compliance with the National Flood Insurance Program requirements.” Article 36-0111 states that “The department (of Environmental Conservation), pursuant to designation by the governor, shall act as the State coordinating agency for the NFIP in order to assist in its review of state agency activities and to serve as a resource to local governments.”

Significant Accomplishments, Strengths or Success Stories of the Floodplain Management Program
NYSDEC’s strength is in the regional office setup. Most communities know that they can call an office that is not far from their location and reach someone who knows the area and can advise them not only about floodplain issues, but about other environmental issues as well. Another strength is the strong Central Office team. There are four full time staff who are either experts on NFIP issues or mapping and planning issues. Thus, the part time regional staff are kept updated on NFIP issues and provide guidance for difficult issues, while coordinating NFIP programs with other flood, environmental, and natural hazard programs in the State of New York.

Over the Next Five Years, Where Does New York Foresee a Shortage of Resources?
There is insufficient staff to provide the outreach that is needed for all communities. For many communities, years separate contract periods. While the NYSDEC tries to reach out to larger communities, there are many smaller communities without professional staff who are largely unaware of floodplain construction requirements. Many of these communities experience little development. However, with the growth of second home development (often next to shorelines), and the continued spreading of urban areas into the countryside, development often occurs that is not compliant with flood protection requirements. The NYSDEC is often unaware of such development until there is a flood disaster or an opportunity to have contact with a community arises. 
Another shortage is the Community Rating System (CRS). The State of New York has relatively few communities in the CRS, even though many communities could easily generate points to achieve a Class 9 or Class 8 rating in the CRS. The problem is that because land use authority is on the village, town, or city level, most of New York’s communities are small and lack sufficient staff to undertake a CRS application. The NYSDEC staff is busy solving problems and reaching out to communities that require assistance. NYSDEC staff, then, is unable to take sufficient time with communities to bring them into the CRS.

Significant Cooperative Efforts with Federal, State, or Local Partners in Support of Floodplain Management
The NYSDEC works closely with the State Emergency Management Agency, including their Mitigation Division, to assist with mitigation programs such as the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, the Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program, and the Flood Mitigation Assistance Program. In particular, the NYSDEC assists the New York State Emergency Management Office (NYSEMO) to review and rank grant applications, and review applications for consistency with floodplain development standards. The NYSDEC also provides engineering assistance when needed for review of projects in waterways or floodways. The NYSDEC Floodplain Management Section coordinates this with other NYSDEC flood related programs, including dam safety, coastal erosion, and flood-control projects.

According to the FY 2005-2009 Work Plan, New York will perform the following activities in FY 2005**:
4% - Ordinance Assistance
1% - Develop the 5-Year Plan
3% - Post-Disaster Assistance
3% - Coordination 
29% - Mapping Assistance
29% - GTA
3% - Workshops & Other Training
1% - SMO Research
2% - CIS Data Entry
23% - CAVs/CACs
2% - Other Floodplain Management Activities

**Percentages may have been rounded to the nearest whole number. The pie chart shows the CAP-SSSE activities the State agency responsible for floodplain management is undertaking in relation to other activities. 

Gap Analysis
***How many Full Time Equivalents (FTEs) are employed for floodplain management in the State agency: 4.75
How many additional FTEs are needed to perform floodplain management activities: 3
What percent/number of floodprone communities participate in the NFIP: 98%/1,400
What percent/number of NFIP communities participate in the Community Rating System: 2%/35

***Referenced from the Association of State Floodplain Managers' Floodplain Management 2003, State and Local Programs

[Table 1: Federally Declared Disasters/Emergencies by Calendar Year
New York
Federally Declared Disasters:
2004 - Tropical Depression Ivan – October 1; Severe Storms and Flooding – October 1, August 3 
2005 - Severe Storms and Flooding – April 19
Federally Declared Emergency Declarations:
2004 - Snow – March 3
2005 - N/A]

[Table 2: Flood Insurance and Loss Summary from 1978 to September 30, 2005
National Rankings* 
Total Current Policies: 103,720 (8th)
Total Premium ($)**: $74,395,025 (6th)
Number of Claims***: 69,419 (5th)
Total Dollars Paid ($)****: $398,708,365 (11th)

*National ranking based on NFIP NextGen data; ranked from highest to lowest.
**The total amount of premiums for policies in-force.
***The total number of claims reported.
****The total amount paid on claims.]

Additional Contacts

FEMA Regional CAP-SSSE Coordinator
Kimberly Rizzo
FEMA Region II
26 Federal Plaza
New York, NY 10278
Phone: (212) 680-3609
E-mail: Kim.Rizzo@dhs.gov

State NFIP/Map Modernization Management Support Coordinator
William Nechamen, CFM
New York Department of Environmental Conservation
625 Broadway
Albany, NY 12233-3507
Phone: (518) 402-8146
Fax: (518) 402-9029
E-mail: wsnecham@gw.dec.state.ny.us

State Hazard Mitigation Oficer
Susan Bergmann
New York State Emergency Management Office
1220 Washington Avenue, Suite 101
Building # 22
Albany, NY 12226
Phone: (518) 457-9983
Fax: (518) 457-7528
E-mail: susan.bergmann@semo.state.ny.us
Web Page: www.nysemo.state.ny.us

State GIS Coordinator
R. Bruce Oswald, LA
Director
Center for Geographic Information
New York State Office for Technology
State Capitol
Albany, NY 12224
Phone: (518) 473-5622
Fax: (518) 473-3153
E-mail: bruce.oswald@oft.state.ny.us