High Water Mark CampaignRaising Community Awareness of Flood Risk

NAFSMA 2013Sally M. ZiolkowskiMitigation Division DirectorFEMA Region 9 December 11, 2013

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Presentation Overview Introduction, High Water Mark Campaign Community Engagement Federal Partner Involvement Pilot HWM Communities Pilot Snapshot: Sacramento/Roseville, CA Event Event Speakers Event Media Coverage Lessons Learned Next Steps: National Roll Out Strategy Development Questions

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High Water Mark (HWM) Campaign The Know Your Line: Be Flood Aware

HWM Campaign is a National initiative to enhance awareness of flood risk

Events encourage communities to: • Work closely with local, State, and

Federal contacts• Post markers to identify how high flood

waters have risen in the past• Hold a high-profile launch event• Reinforce with ongoing outreach

Objectives are to raise awareness of flood risk to drive community mitigation actions

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Community Engagement

Sacramento/Roseville, CA HWM Launch Event Sign Unveiling

Communities launch a High Water Mark Campaign to:

Underscore their commitment to community safety

Galvanize their community to take steps now to reduce the often devastating impact of floods

Earn Community Rating System Rating (CRS) points

Put Federal and State mitigation assistance funds to work

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Federal Partner Involvement

Federal Agency Partners

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

National Park Service U.S. Army Corps of Engineers U.S. Department of Agriculture,

National Resources Conservation Service

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Small Business Administration

Key Activities

Coordinate local and regional partner involvement

Organize planning calls and event details

Implement planning and outreach tactics to create awareness of the event

Communicate with media, speakers, and the public

Orchestrate actual launch event

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Pilot Locations

Frankfort/Franklin County, KY (December 2012)

Harrisburg, PA(April 2013)

Nashville, TN(May 2013)

Orange Beach, AL(September 2013)

Sacramento/Roseville, CA(November 2013)

Five Pilot HWM Communities

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Pilot Snapshot: Sacramento/Roseville, CA HWM eventEvent Highlights Launch Date: Nov. 8, 2013

Participants: Cities of Roseville and Sacramento, USACE, FEMA, USGS, CA DWR, and others

Sign Locations: Garcia Park, Sacramento Fire Department buildings, Roseville city streets, and other locations

Timing: During California Flood Preparedness Week

Special Feature: Engaged local school children to be a part of the event to drive message to family members

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Event Speakers

Central Valley Flood Protection Board: Bill Edgar, President

City of Sacramento: Darrell Fong, Council member

California Department of Water Resources: Keith Swanson, Division of Flood Management Chief

California’s 6th Congressional District: Congresswoman Doris Matsui

Federal Emergency Management Agency: Nancy Ward, FEMA Region IX Regional Administrator

US Army Corps of Engineers: Tambour Eller, USACE Sacramento District Deputy for Programs and Project Management

City of Roseville: Vice Mayor Carol Garcia

Sacramento/Roseville HWM Event Speakers

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Media Coverage Positive media coverage Three local news channels

present Active social media presence Strong tie-ins with California

Flood Awareness Week

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Lessons Learned Value of a High Water Mark Campaign

• Viewed as a new, innovative way for community engagement

• Demonstrated local, State, and Federal partnership• Served as entry point for greater community action• Served as mechanism for communities to explore

becoming part of the Community Rating System (CRS)

Critical Campaign Components• Community ownership is key• Leveraging existing partnerships and contacts broadens

the campaign’s reach• Elected officials drive media coverage• Tying the launch to a major flood anniversary is powerful• Including kids drives coverage and takes the message

home

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Next Steps: National Roll Out Strategy Development With the completion of five pilot campaigns, FEMA is seeking feedback

on the design of a National roll out strategy FEMA seeks to understand:

• The campaign’s value to the community and its partners• The campaign’s strengths and areas of improvement as it is currently administered• The means to further drive community mitigation action using the campaign• The tools and resources needed for successful implementation

FEMA is working with past pilot participants, its Federal partners, FEMA Regions, and others to design a National campaign

35 communities have contacted FEMA to learn more!

Current Proposed Future

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Q&A

For more information contact: Vincent Brown, Senior Program Specialist Federal Insurance and Mitigation AdministrationRisk Analysis DivisionWashington, DC vincent.brown@fema.dhs.govhttp://www.fema.gov/know-your-line-high-water-mark-initiative

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