Following the Administration’s release of the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard and FEMA’s issuance of draft implementing guidelines, FEMA will hold a series of listening sessions around the country to provide the opportunity to listen, ask questions, and provide feedback on how federal agencies should implement the standard. So far, the following listening sessions are scheduled:
March 3, 3:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa
March 5, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Mississippi Recovery Office, Biloxi, Mississippi
March 11, 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., California Office of Emergency Services, Mather, CA
March 11, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA
Additional sessions are expected to be announced in the near future in New York and Washington, DC, as well as a webinar.
The FFRMS will apply to a wide array of federal actions, including federal expenditures, permits, grants, and loans. NWC has expressed several concerns about how the standard was developed as well as the process for implementation, including that the standard was developed without the opportunity for public input, and that it was issued with neither consideration of a complete understanding of the widespread impact of such changes, nor an assessment of the impact on local communities who will bear the burden of the standard. In addition, several U.S. Senators have written to the President with questions and concerns about the FFRMS.
Download full text of NWC FFRMS FactSheet Feb15 (17KB)
Download full text of Letter from 8 U.S. Senators 05FEB2015(376KB)
Download full text of Letter from Sen. Feinstein 12 Feb 2015 (485KB)
Additional information, including details on the listening sessions, is available on FEMA’s website: https://www.fema.gov/federal-flood-risk-management-standard-ffrms