A Virginia Mitigation Success Story Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission Bonnie Riedesel Jason DeBord, CFM Rebecca Joyce Virginia Hazard Mitigation.

Shenandoah Valley Project I mpact Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission

112 MacTanly Place Staunton, Virginia 24401

Phone: 540•885•5174 Fax: 540•885•2687

A VirginiaMitigation Success

StoryCentral Shenandoah

Planning District Commission

Bonnie RiedeselJason DeBord, CFMRebecca Joyce

Virginia Hazard Mitigation SummitJune 17, 2004



Phone: 540•885•5174 Fax: 540•885•2687

Agenda

• Success through Mitigation Planning– Bonnie Riedesel

• Successful Construction– Jason DeBord

• Success through Community Involvement– Rebecca Joyce



Phone: 540•885•5174 Fax: 540•885•2687

CSPDC Mitigation Projects

• Nearly $5,000,000 in federal, state and local funds

• 7 localities participated• 59 acquisitions• 24 elevations• 9 relocations• 4 floodproofed• 7 HMGP grant applications pending (Isabel)



Phone: 540•885•5174 Fax: 540•885•2687

Understand Your Flood Problems

• History of Flooding

• Past Damages

• Flooding Characteristics

• Floodplains (FIRM maps)

• Past Projects



Phone: 540•885•5174 Fax: 540•885•2687

Establish Community Goals

• Community input– Surveys– Community meetings– Collect Data

• Agency coordination– FEMA, VDEM, DHCD, NRCS, DCR, etc.

• Political support



Phone: 540•885•5174 Fax: 540•885•2687

Choose the Right Mitigation Strategy

• Property Protection (elevations, relocations, buy-outs)

• Structural Projects (floodwalls, levees, dams)

• Emergency Services (warning systems, reverse-911)

• Public Awareness and Education • Floodplain Management (NFIP, land use,

ordinances)



Phone: 540•885•5174 Fax: 540•885•2687

Funding Success

• Seek Funding– FEMA (HMGP, PDM, FMA)– HUD (CDBG)– Other (COE, EDA, NRCS, DCR)

• Garner Political Support

• Secure Match



Phone: 540•885•5174 Fax: 540•885•2687

Successful Implementation

• Oversight committee and project team

• Project policies, prioritization, and timeframe

• Coordinate with state and federal officials

• Inform the community

• Set up a financial record-keeping system

• Procure services (appraiser, CM, etc.)



Phone: 540•885•5174 Fax: 540•885•2687

Successful Construction

A 3rd Party, Independent Construction Manager is critical!

• Part of the team

• Focused on technical aspects

• Depoliticizes decisions



Phone: 540•885•5174 Fax: 540•885•2687


The goal of the project is to get people out of harm’s way.



Phone: 540•885•5174 Fax: 540•885•2687


Attract qualified contractors– Elevation contractors vs. general

contractors– Risk vs. reward

• Older construction• “Dirty” work• Uncommon (current housing boom)

– Alleviate fears of working with the government on private property



Phone: 540•885•5174 Fax: 540•885•2687


• Construction documents– Expectations– Size of project– Architectural requirements / renderings– Specifications/details tailored to community– Code / building official approval– Allowable costs



Phone: 540•885•5174 Fax: 540•885•2687


• Homeowner meetings

• 3-Party Agreements– Local government– Homeowner– Contractor



Phone: 540•885•5174 Fax: 540•885•2687

Successful Strategies for Working with

Property Owners in Mitigation Projects



Phone: 540•885•5174 Fax: 540•885•2687

Treat Everyone with Respect



Phone: 540•885•5174 Fax: 540•885•2687

Social Worker

vs.

Grant Administrator



Phone: 540•885•5174 Fax: 540•885•2687

Effects of Disaster

on Project Participants



Phone: 540•885•5174 Fax: 540•885•2687

Maintaining

Good Communication



Phone: 540•885•5174 Fax: 540•885•2687

Managing Expectations



Phone: 540•885•5174 Fax: 540•885•2687

Voluntary Project

vs.

Mandatory Project



Phone: 540•885•5174 Fax: 540•885•2687

Documentation



Phone: 540•885•5174 Fax: 540•885•2687

Helping with Mitigation

is a

PrivilegePrivilege



Phone: 540•885•5174 Fax: 540•885•2687

Questions?

A Virginia Mitigation Success Story Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission Bonnie Riedesel Jason DeBord, CFM Rebecca Joyce Virginia Hazard Mitigation.

Documents

mitigation projectstreat

project teamproject

political supportchoose

federal officialsinform

general contractorsrisk

land use

public awareness

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