FEMA 4-day Course: Introductory Floodplain Management Class to be Offered in Portsmouth, NH 9/28-10/1/2015

ASFPM is co-sponsoring the FEMA Emergency Management Institute (EMI) 273 course in Portsmouth, NH with FEMA Region I and the New Hampshire Office of Energy & Planning in September. This course is designed to provide an organized training opportunity for local officials responsible for administering their local floodplain management ordinance. The course will focus on the NFIP and concepts of floodplain management, maps and studies, ordinance administration, and the relationship between floodplain management and flood insurance.

A separate (optional) CFM exam will be held on Friday, October 2nd. Course attendance is NOT required to sit for the CFM exam. Please see details below for more information.

COST: Course attendance is FREE, but registration is required. Attendees are responsible for their own travel, lodging, and meal expenses.   

COURSE REGISTRATION:  

Registration deadline: September 1, 2015. To register for the course, please follow instructions in the course flyer.

QUESTIONS?
Please contact Jennifer Gilbert at 603-271-1762 or jennifer.gilbert@nh.gov

CFM Exam* (optional)
October 2, 2015, 9:00AM - 12:00PM

Portsmouth, NH

Separate registration and fee required to sit for the CFM Exam. Exam applications and fee must be submitted to ASFPM not later than September 23, 2015 in order to sit for the exam on October 2, 2015.
*CFM exam is optional, and a separate registration and fee are required to sit for the CFM exam.  Note: The 273 course is not a CFM Exam prep course; takers should not expect to pass the exam without additional study of materials found at the CFM Exam Preparation Guide.

ASFPM call for Award Nominations, Due 3/31

A recent announcement from the Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM).  My understanding is that they are still looking for nominations:


Every year at our national conference, ASFPM bestows awards to deserving floodplain managers/programs/outreach activities.

Do you know of a state or local floodplain manager deserving of one of ASFPM's annual awards?

Every year at our national conference, we bestow awards to deserving floodplain managers/programs/outreach activities. We still need nominations for the Tom Lee State Award for Excellence, James Lee Witt Local Award for Excellence, and the Outreach/Media Award. Clickhttp://www.floods.org/index.asp… to learn about the award descriptions, and here http://www.floods.org/awardsform.asp for nomination instructions. Deadline is March 31.

FEMA's Introductory Floodplain Management Class to be Offered in Old Lyme, CT March 9-13

ASFPM is co-sponsoring the FEMA Emergency Management Institute(EMI) 273 course in Old Lyme, CT with FEMA Region I, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT-DEEP), and the Connecticut Association of Flood Managers (CAFM) in March. This course is designed to provide an organized training opportunity for local officials responsible for administering their local floodplain management ordinance. The course will focus on the NFIP and concepts of floodplain management, maps and studies, ordinance administration, and the relationship between floodplain management and flood insurance.

A separate (optional) CFM exam will be held on Friday, March 13th. Course attendance is NOT required to sit for the CFM exam. Please see details below for more information.

LUNCH / REFRESHMENTS 

Lunch and break food/refreshments are available during the Monday - Thursday course for a small (optional) fee:

$25 / person AM & PM breaks, OR  

$80 / person for breaks & lunches 

COURSE REGISTRATION:  

Registration deadline: February 13, 2015. To register for the course, please follow instructions in the course flyer. 

Please contact Diane Ifkovic with questions about the course at diane.ifkovic@ct.gov or call 860-424-3537. 

273 Course
March 9-12, 2015

8:00AM - 5:00PM

Old Lyme, CT

12 CECs for CFMs

Cost: Course attendance is free, registration is required.

--------------------------------

CFM Exam (optional)
Friday, Mar. 13, 2015
9:00AM -12:00PM
Old Lyme, CT

Course attendance is NOT required to sit for the exam.

COST

Separate registration and fee required to sit for the CFM Exam. Exam applications and fee must be submitted to ASFPM not later than March 4, 2015 in order to sit for the exam on March 13th.

*CFM Exam is optional, separate registration and fee are required to sit for the CFM exam. NOTE: The 273 course is not a CFM Exam prep course; takers should not expect to pass the exam without additional study of materials found on the CFM Exam Preparation Guide.

Southern Vermont Floodplain Manager Position: Application due 12/4/2014

Hello all,

We wanted to announce that our Southern Vermont Floodplain Manager position is out-for-hire at this time.  Please note that the on-line application deadline closes 12/4/2014. If you would like more information about this position, please contact Rob Evans at rob.evans@state.vt.us

Environmental Analyst IV AC: General Job ID: 616053 Location: Rutland
				Full/Part Time:
							Full-Time
									Regular Shift:		N/A
				Regular/Temporary:
							Classified
									Hourly Rate:
											21.550000
				Posting Date:
							11/18/2014
									Pay Grade:
											23
				Position Number:
							660401
									Application Deadline:
											12/04/2014
				Department:
							Environmental Conservation

General Information 

This position, (Environmental Analyst IV, Job Opening # 616053), is open to all State employees and external applicants.

Resumes will not be accepted via e-mail.  You must apply online to be considered. http://humanresources.vermont.gov/careers

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Overview 

This position is within the River Corridor and Floodplain Protection section of the Vermont Rivers Program. The Regional Floodplain Manager will provide regulatory support and technical assistance to individuals, municipalities, consultants, and agencies of state and federal government regarding development proposals in river corridors and floodplains in southern Vermont. The position supports multiple regulatory jurisdictions including the State Flood Hazard Area and River Corridor Rule, municipal land use permitting, and Act 250. The position requires working both independently and collaboratively to evaluate development proposals for regulatory compliance and recommend alternative courses of action to minimize conflicts between river/floodplain dynamics and human investments. This position requires strong written and verbal communication skills, and must work well with the public and include education in each interaction.

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Preferred Qualifications 

Preference will be given to candidates with a strong combination of the following: working knowledge of the National Flood Insurance Program; experience reviewing and analyzing site plans, grading plans, and related engineering and surveying schematics; knowledge of riverine hydrology/hydraulics and fluvial geomorphology.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Minimum Qualifications 

 EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Education: Bachelor's degree in a biological-life or physical science, engineering, or an environmental or natural resources field.

Experience: Four years at a professional level in an environmental or natural resources field.

OR

Two years as an Environmental Analyst III.

NOTE: Graduate Degree in an environmental or natural resources field may be substituted for up to two years of experience on a semester for six months basis.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

n/a

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 Submission of Application 

 Should you submit an application for this job opening, you certify that all information entered is correct and complete to the best of your knowledge.  By submitting an application, you acknowledge and understand that the State of Vermont may verify information, and that untruthful or misleading answers are cause for rejection of this application, and/or dismissal if employed with the State of Vermont.

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 Equal Employment Opportunity 

 The State of Vermont is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  Applications from women, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and people from diverse cultural backgrounds are encouraged.

August NFIP Trainings

Hello all,

I’d like to present the upcoming free, online trainings available through STARR. These trainings cover a variety of topics, from the NFIP basics through specifics of elevation certificates, and are presented by STARR staff, FEMA, and State organizations. Many of the courses are eligible for CEC credits for Certified Floodplain Managers.

Please feel free to register for any courses you are interested in attending, and invite or pass information on these courses on to potentially interested communities or organizations in your states. Also, if you are interested in using this online platform for any trainings that your state would like to present, STARR can support you in that effort. Please let me know if you’d like additional information on hosting online trainings.

To register for a course or to check on upcoming courses, navigate to https://atkinsglobalna.webex.com/cmp0401l/webcomponents/calendar/calendar.do?siteurl=atkinsglobalna&serviceType=TC&prepared=true

and click the “Upcoming” tab. Below are the courses offered in August:

August 27, 1:00 pm Eastern – Floodplain Development Permit Review

This 90-minute session will highlight eight basic steps to reviewing development inside the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA). This is beginner training, recommended for those new to the role of floodplain administrator. 1 CEC for ASFPM Certified Floodplain Managers.

August 28, 1:00 pm Eastern – Inspecting Floodplain Development

This beginner two-hour session will highlight special considerations for plan reviewers and building inspectors when evaluating and inspecting development inside the Special Flood Hazard Area, including basic concepts and terminology, minimum construction standards (from the IBC/IRC), and conducting inspections. 2 CECs for ASFPM Certified Floodplain Managers.

In addition, here is a summary of courses currently scheduled in September. Additional courses may be added, so check https://atkinsglobalna.webex.com/cmp0401l/webcomponents/calendar/calendar.do?siteurl=atkinsglobalna&serviceType=TC&prepared=true for the current list:

Sep 4, 2014, 1:00 PM Eastern- NFIP Basics Sep 16, 2014, 1:00 PM Eastern- CRS Webinar Series: Preparing an Annual Recertification Sep 17, 2014, 1:00 PM Eastern- CRS Webinar Series: Drainage System Maintenance Sep 18, 2014, 1:00 PM Eastern- Elevation Certificates

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thank you!

Alex

Alex Sirotek, GISP, CFM
STARR
FEMA Region 1 Service Center
99 High Street, 3rd Floor
Boston, MA 02110
617-574-4402

CRS Webinar Trainings Available

The CRS offers webinars and workshops to help communities with their CRS requirements. If you are interested in having a webinar on the 2013 Coordinator’s Manual, the FEMA Elevation Certificate, or any other activity, contact your ISO/CRS Specialist. The following one-hour topical webinars are on the calendar, and others can be scheduled as needed. Many of these will be recorded, so they can be accessed later.

Registration is free, but required, as space is limited. Some courses provide continuing education credits for Certified Floodplain Managers (CFMs). For more details and to register, go to www.CRSresources.org/training.

            All webinars begin at 1:00 pm EST

--Introduction to the CRS— May 20, 2014; July 15, 2014; October 21, 2014; December 16, 2014

--Activity 430 (Higher Regulatory Standards)—  May 21, 2014

--Preparing for a Verification Visit with the 2013 Coordinator’s Manual—June 17, 2014; November 18, 2014

--Natural Floodplain Functions— June 18, 2014; August 20, 2014

--Activity 540 (Drainage System Maintenance) — July 16, 2014; September 17, 2014

--Preparing for the Annual CRS Recertification— August 19, 2014; September 16, 2014

--Developing Outreach Projects under Activity 330— October 22, 2014

--Activity 610 (Flood Warning and Response) — November 19, 2014

--Developing a Program for Public Information under Activity 330 or a Coverage Improvement Plan under Activity 370, and Using FloodSmart Tools— December 17, 2014

Some of the other webinars anticipated in 2014 and 2015 are

--CRS Credit for Mapping and Regulations: The 400 Series

--CRS Credit for Flood Damage Reduction: The 500 Series

--The CRS and Climate Change.

For more on the CRS webinar series, to register, and to obtain agendas and required materials, go to www.CRSresources.org/training. If you have questions about the CRS Webinar Series or suggestions for future topics, please contact Becca.Croft@atkinsglobal.com.

Even More Free Webinar Trainings

This announcement from Alex Sirotek of STARR, a FEMA service contractor.  Alex's email contains more information about upcoming webinars offered through STARR.  If you have any questions about the webinars, please contact Alex (information at the end of the post).

Hello all,

I’d like to present the upcoming free, online trainings available through STARR. These trainings cover a variety of topics, from the NFIP basics through specifics of elevation certificates, and are presented by STARR staff, FEMA, and State organizations. Many of the courses are eligible for CEC credits for Certified Floodplain Managers.

Please feel free to register for any courses you are interested in attending, and invite or pass information on these courses on to potentially interested communities or organizations in your states. Also, if you are interested in using this online platform for any trainings that your state would like to present, STARR can support you in that effort. Please let me know if you’d like additional information on hosting online trainings.

To register for a course or to check on upcoming courses, navigate to https://atkinsglobalna.webex.com/cmp0401l/webcomponents/calendar/calendar.do?siteurl=atkinsglobalna&serviceType=TC&prepared=true

and click the “Upcoming” tab. Below are the courses offered in March:  

March 12, 12:00 pm Eastern – NFIP Basics

This one-hour session will cover the history of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), basic terminology, governing authority and provide an overview of the community's role in floodplain management through the NFIP.  The target audience are state and local officials who need a general understanding of the ins and outs of the program and guidance on where to go for more training and answers.  Continuing Education and Professional Development Credits are available.

March 13, 1:00 pm Eastern – Elevation Certificates for A Zones

Training on the proper way to complete FEMA Form 81-31 and best practices for using the Elevation Certification in the floodplain development review process. Special consideration to using the form in A Zone without a BFE.  2 CECs for ASFPM Certified Floodplain Managers (CFMs) that register and attend individually and pass the learning objectives quiz at the end of the session.  

March 18, 1:00 pm Eastern – CRS Webinar Series: Introduction to CRS

This one-hour session will introduce FEMA's Community Rating System, how it operates, the costs and benefits for communities, where to get help, and how to apply.  The target audience is local officials, floodplain managers, and members of the public interest in flood protection.  The Community Rating System (CRS) provides reduced premiums for flood insurance policy holders in communities that implement programs and activities that exceed the minimum criteria for participation in the National Flood Insurance Program.  If your community conducts floodplain mapping, regulatory, loss reduction, emergency management, and/or public information activities, you could benefit from this program.  1 CEC for CFMs.

March 19, 1:00 pm Eastern – CRS Webinar Series: Higher Regulatory Standards (Activity 430)

This one-hour session will review CRS Activity 430 (Higher Regulatory Standards).  1 CEC for CFMs.

In addition, here is a summary of courses currently scheduled in April.  Additional courses may be added, so check  https://atkinsglobalna.webex.com/cmp0401l/webcomponents/calendar/calendar.do?siteurl=atkinsglobalna&serviceType=TC&prepared=true for the current list:

Apr 9, 2014, 1:00 PM Eastern- Sandy Recovery Improvement Act of 2013 Apr 15, 2014, 1:00 PM Eastern- CRS Webinar Series: Preparing for a Verification Visit Apr 16, 2014, 1:00 PM Eastern- CRS Webinar Series: Developing Outreach Projects Apr 17, 2014, 1:00 PM Eastern- Elevation Certificates

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thank you!

Alex

Alex Sirotek, GISP, CFM
STARR
FEMA Region 1 Regional Service Center
99 High Street, 3rd Floor
Boston, MA 02110
617-574-4402

(Virtually) Free Trainings at FEMA's Emergency Management Institute (EMI)

I wanted to let everyone know about upcoming trainings at FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute (EMI) located in Emmitsburg, MD.  If you are a local government employee, the courses at EMI are offered at virtually no charge.  The attendee would be given a travel stipend to cover the cost of travel, there is no charge for the class or your room for the week, and EMI provides a shuttle that would pick you up at either the Baltimore or Washington DC airport.  The only cost to the attendee would be a weekly meal ticket that is ~ $100. These courses would be extremely helpful for any local official that works on floodplain management issues.  There are several relevant floodplain management courses that are offered there throughout the year and would be helpful. CFM credit is often available for any of the floodplain management courses offered at EMI.

Also, if you are a community that is currently participating in the CRS program, you can receive CRS credit if staff members completed certain training sessions, which includes almost all of the classes listed below (E194, E273, E278, E282, E284 or E386). 

You can download an application at the EMI website or find out more information about EMI by reading through their Welcome Packet.  Also, feel free to contact Rebecca (rebecca.pfeiffer@state.vt.us) with any questions.

CRS course (E278)

April 7-10
June 23-26
August 11-14

Managing Development through the NFIP (E273)
March 17-20
May 5-8
June 16-19
September 15-18

Advanced Floodplain Management Concepts (E194)

August 25-28

Advanced FPM Concepts II (E282)

April 14-17

Advanced Concepts III (E284)
July 21-24

Residential Coastal Construction (E386)
August 18-21

Retrofitting Floodprone Buildings (E279)

April 14-17

Benefit Cost Analysis: Entry Level (E276)

April 22-24

August 25-27

Week Long Training Available at FEMA's Emergency Management Institute

Maybe it is because school is just on the horizon, but it seems like there are many training opportunities for floodplain management lately.  In addition to the webinars that had been highlighted in the previous post, there are also more immersive training opportunities available.  FEMA provides week-long trainings all year round at their Emergency Management Institute in Emmitsburg, MD that is essentially FREE for all local or state government employees (minus the appr. $100/week meal ticket).  FEMA reimburses you for your travel, has a shuttle van that will pick you up at the airport and does not charge you for your room or the class.  This is a great week-long training opportunity that is free besides your time and your meal ticket.  Link here if you would like to learn more about FEMA's Emergency Management Institute.

Did I also mention that the EMI courses are also pre-approved for Continuing Education Credits (CECs) if you are a Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM)?  The approved CECs are noted after the course title below.

If you are interested in applying for one of the remaining training spots left at FEMA's Emergency Management Institute (EMI), I would encourage you to apply early.  Please contact me (rebecca.pfeiffer@state.vt.us) if you are interested in starting the application process or if you have any questions.  There are a few steps that you will need to take before having your application submitted to the Admissions Office at EMI, such as obtaining a Student Identification Number from FEMA, ensuring that you meet the course pre-requisites and having your application signed off by Vermont DEMHS (Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security).   

Upcoming Courses

E273 Managing Floodplain Development through the NFIP (12 Core CECs)

• October 21-24, 2013 - Seats still available! 
• March 17-20, 2014
• May 5-8, 2014
• September 15-18, 2014 

This is a basic NFIP four day course that lays the foundation for working with the NFIP in application in the field, and is targeted for local, Tribal, State and Federal Floodplain Managers.  Topics covered include outreach, mapping (risk determination), rules and regulations, permitting, elevation certificate, substantial damage and substantial improvement, flood insurance and legal issues as well as other important topics. 

E282 Advanced Floodplain Management Concepts II (12 Core CECs)

• April 14-17, 2014

This advanced floodplain management course is a dynamic and interactive instruction that covers the following four topics in detail: Manufactured Homes & RVs in the Floodplain, NFIP Insurance Principles for FPMs, Higher Standards in FPM, and Hydrology and Hydraulics for FPMs. 

E284 Advanced Floodplain Management Concepts III (12 Core CECs)

• July 21-24, 2014

This advanced floodplain management course is a dynamic and interactive instruction that covers the following five topics in detail: Floodway Standards, Disconnects between NFIP Regulations and Insurance, Common Noncompliance Issues, Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps (DFIRMs), and Substantial Improvement / Substantial Damage. 

E194 Advanced Floodplain Management Concepts (12 Core CECs)

• August 25-28, 2014 

This advanced floodplain management course is a dynamic and interactive instruction that covers the following four topics in detail: NFIP Rules & Regulations in Depth, Letters of Map Change (LOMCs), Roles & Responsibilities of the local FPM, and Preparing for post-disaster responsibilities.

E278 Community Rating System (12 Core CECs)

• April 7-10, 2014  
• June 23-26, 2014
• August 11-14, 2014 

This course covers the Community Rating System (CRS), a nationwide initiative of FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program.  It describes activities eligible for credit under the 2012 CRS Coordinator's Manual, how a community applies, and how a community modifies an application to improves its classification.  
**Since the 2012 updated CRS manual has been released and the changes to the Flood Insurance Program under the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012have occured, there has been quite an increase in interest in this course.  Please sign up early or contact EMI Admissions to see if there are still seats available in the 2014 classes**