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Maine Floodplain Management Newsletter

Volume 1, Issue 2    Forward to a Friend
June 2008
Flooded Parking Lot
In This Issue
LiDAR Seminar
Save $$$ on Flood Insurance
Flooding Update
Mothers Day Flood Final Report
Newsletter Funding

Flooded Train
in
 Van Buren


Vanburen train


Quick Links
:: 207-287-6077
There is still time to register!
LiDAR Illustration

The LiDAR Seminar will take place on June 19th at the Augusta City Center. For more information and to preregister just click on the picture above.
Flooded House
Flood Insurance Premiums To High?

The National Flood Insurance Program's (NFIP) Community Rating System (CRS) is a voluntary incentive program that recognizes and encourages community floodplain management activities that exceed the minimum NFIP requirements. As a result, flood insurance premium rates are discounted to reflect the reduced flood risk resulting from the community actions meeting the three goals of the CRS:

  • Reduce flood losses;
  • Facilitate accurate insurance rating; and
  • Promote the awareness of flood insurance.
For CRS participating communities, flood insurance premium rates are discounted in increments of 5%;

i.e., a Class 1 community would receive a 45% premium discount, while a Class 9 community would receive a 5% discount (a Class 10 is not participating in the CRS and receives no discount).

The CRS classes for local communities are based on 18 creditable activities, organized under four categories:
  • Public Information,
  • Mapping and Regulations,
  • Flood Damage Reduction, and
  • Flood Preparedness.
For more information on the program visit  The CRS Resource Center on line or contact Sue Baker, Maine NFIP Coordinator by e-mail or by phone at 287-8063.
 
Flood Disaster Update

Up to 3.5 inches of heavy rainfall rain fell from April 29-30, 2008 in Aroostook County.  This rain hit rivers already swollen with up to 5 inches of water contributed from snowmelt over the preceding 2 weeks. These conditions caused extensive flooding, especially in areas such as Fort Kent, Wallagrass and Van Buren, Maine with recurrence intervals
Wallagrass
estimated to be between 100 and 500-years.
 
Following the disaster declaration, the Federal Emergency Management Agency opened a joint field office with the state of Maine.  The mitigation branch, at the Winthrop, ME field office, is working on Community Assistance Contacts to several communities in Aroostook County to help community officials with questions and concerns about the administration of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).  The NFIP has been in existence since 1973 and has provided communities across the nation with a means of constructing buildings which are not as prone to damages during times of high water.  The mitigation branch at the JFO is also planning on developing flood recovery information to assist state and community officials in the repair and reconstruction process.  In addition, several buildings are being considered for acquisition or elevation as part of the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.  One other effort at the field office involves the review, for possible mitigation, of projects to help communities repair and replace damaged public facilities (such as roads, culverts and buildings) following the flooding.

For more information and to monitor FEMA activities in you can access our Maine Severe Storms and Flooding web site online .

 
Kennebunk 2006
USGS Publishes Report on York County Flood of 2006

The USGS has published it's final report on the flooding that took place in May of 2006. York county experienced floods well in excess of the 100 year flood levels and public damages of over $7.5 million dollars.

The complete report can be accessed on line at the USGS Web Site.



 
FEMA Logo
Newsletter Funding
This newsletter is funded with a grant provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) 
EMB-2007-CA-0874