carefully following FEMA guidelines. For localities that haven’t had to apply for FEMA funding in recent years, it’s crucial that you fa- miliarize yourself with the agency’s new delivery model. The ways in which FEMA wants information packaged and delivered has changed. It’s wise to review this process before disaster strikes or partner with a consultant that has experience with the new delivery model. Most importantly, though, FEMA is increasingly evaluating requests for funding based on a municipality’s maintenance of their infrastruc- ture before an extreme weather event or other disaster occurs. In short, what you’re doing now will have a significant impact on your ability to access FEMA funds in the future. What is FEMA looking for? The agency prioritizes localities that have established and thorough maintenance plans of their drainage systems. How are you maintaining your system on an annual basis? How are you evaluating the system’s performance and adjusting your proactive maintenance efforts? Maintaining accurate records is crucial as well. Be sure to capture and update routine maintenance in detailed maintenance logs. Demonstrate that your locality has been budgeting money to ensure proper system maintenance as well. These records can make a big difference for mu- nicipalities. A town, city, or county that has an established and well documented record of routine maintenance for its stormwater system is in a much better position to receive FEMA funds compared to a mu- nicipality that is not conducting routine maintenance, such as cleaning out pipes or mowing around drainage systems. The biggest recommendation for municipalities is to ensure that you’re maintaining your drainage systems. Accurately track and log that maintenance while ensuring that you’ve budgeted appropriately to continue that routine maintenance. Although no one has a crystal ball that allows us to see the future, localities around the United States should be prepared for a new real- ity of more extreme rain events that can have destabilizing effects on aging infrastructure, especially water control and stormwater drainage systems. Recognizing this likely scenario, you can act now to prepare by ensuring proper maintenance of your existing systems. This proac- tive approach also will benefit you after a disaster by increasing the likelihood of receiving FEMA funding to repair damage.
Draper Aden Associates’ field staff recording the dimensions of eroded slope protection near a stormwater pipe outfall. Slope protection helps to prevent further erosion that can encroach on residential dwellings or other important infrastructure.
These solutions highlight best practices for localities to consider when repairing and improving stormwater infrastructure that is damaged in extreme rain events. Although these solutions offer valuable lessons, there’s a key consideration that has yet to be addressed: funding. Many localities face a variety of budgetary constraints and the addi- tional money needed to address unexpected repairs and improvements is not always readily available in local budgets. Fortunately, funding support is accessible through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) after extreme weather events, such as a hurricane. Securing FEMA resources for water control repairs and improvements requires both diligence after a disaster and proactive preparation in advance of a disaster. Most localities understand the importance of Draper Aden Associates’ field staff verifying the dimensions of a roadway culvert. High stormwater flows have led to the undercutting of the headwall surrounding this culvert.
MATTHEW BURNETTE, PG, CFM is a Senior Project Manager with Draper Aden Associates, a Mid-Atlantic engineering, surveying, and environmental services firm. Based in the firm’s Raleigh, NC office, he manages water resources and stormwater projects for state and local governments. He can be contacted at mburnette@daa.com.
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csengineermag.com
may 2020
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