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Frequently Asked Questions: Tropical Storm Allison Recovery Project
What is TSARP?
TSARP is the Tropical Storm Allison Recovery Project. It is a joint project between the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Harris County Flood Control District (the District). Originally conceived in June 2001 and officially launched in October 2001, the goal of TSARP is to help local communities continue their recovery from Allison's devastating flooding, and provide area residents with a greater understanding of flooding and flood risks. This project will ultimately result in new Flood Insurance Rate Maps for all 35 National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) communities in Harris County, better engineering tools for the District and local communities to use in planning and building new flood damage reduction projects, and an increase knowledge of the risk of flooding for all the citizens of Harris County.
What will the TSARP study produce?
Most significantly, when completed in 2004, TSARP will produce new Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) with updated Special Flood Hazard Areas. These maps along with new engineering tools will assist citizens in making important home-buying and other property-related decisions and help public agencies responsible for planning and maintaining the watershed infrastructure in Harris County. The end result of TSARP will be a more informed and disaster-resistant community - one that is better prepared for the next "Allison."
Who is providing the money to complete TSARP?
FEMA and the District are jointly funding TSARP, which is estimated to cost $25 million. In 2001, Congress approved a limited FIRM Modernization fund of $15 million nationwide. Updating all of Harris County's FIRMs would have taken 10 years or more if not for Allison and a FEMA initiative called Cooperating Technical Partners, or CTPs.
Why will new floodplains be created?
New floodplains are NOT being created by this project. This project is working to improve the understanding of where the natural floodplains are by using the latest information and technology. Every citizen in Harris County needs to have the most accurate information they can have about their risk of flooding.
Why Does Harris County Need New Flood Insurance Rate Maps, or FIRMs?
New technologies are now commercially available that were not available 20 years ago when the original FEMA Flood Insurance Study and associated Flood Insurance Rate Maps were developed for Harris County. The current FIRMs have been kept up to date over the years, but still using the technology used to develop them originally. The new technologies now being used will result in a more accurate depiction of the floodplains improving our understanding of where the actual floodplains are.
Are all affected communities in Harris County aware of the study?
Yes, all communities in Harris County have been notified of this project. A briefing for each community's Flood Plain Administrator was held on August 2nd, 2001 to announce the initiation of the project. A memorandum of Agreement was sent to each community soliciting their participation in TSARP. Communities also participate through frequent update meetings with FEMA, the District, and the project team.
How many miles of streams will be studied?
Approximately 1,100 stream miles in 22 watersheds will be studied plus an additional 100 stream miles that were not previously studied. However, not all of the 2,500 miles of streams in Harris County were studied because some streams are very short and flooding is controlled by the receiving stream or have capacity well in excess of the 1% (100-year) flood.
Will all watersheds get studied?
Yes, all the watersheds (not all streams) will be studied including 100 miles of new streams that were not previously studied. At the conclusion of the project, all the watersheds in Harris County will have new Flood Insurance Rate Maps.
When will we be able to review the new Flood Insurance Rate Maps?
The current project schedule is to have the preliminary FIRMs available to the public in early 2004. The maps will be delivered to each of the 35 NFIP communities in Harris County and will also be available for the public to view online at www.tsarp.org.
What if I don't agree with the new FIRMs?
Residents will have an opportunity to review the new maps both at public meetings and at www.tsarp.org and, if they desire, appeal the final results. All appeals must be technically based and filed through the community's floodplain administrator. After all the technical comments are addressed, FEMA will issue the final Flood Insurance Rate Maps for each of the 35 NFIP communities to adopt.
How will the result of the new study get delivered to communities?
Paper copies of the FIRMs will be delivered to all 35 NFIP communities in Harris County. In addition, each community will receive several CD's that contain the maps in a digital format and all of the backup data for the project. Public meetings will be held for the general public throughout Harris County and the citizens will be able to view the new preliminary FEMA FIRMs at www.tsarp.org.
When will the new FIRMs and FIS be official and used for insurance and building permits?
It may be as long as one year after the preliminary information is released before it becomes "official." Once the information is released in the form of Preliminary FIRMs, there will be a required 90-day appeals period, followed by time to resolve any appeals, and then there will be a printing and distribution period for the paper maps. This process may take up to one year to complete.
What standard procedures does FEMA follow to ensure the information presented on flood maps and reports is accurate?
Because the flood hazard information presented on FIRMs and in the Flood Insurance Study (FIS) reports forms the technical basis for the administration of the NFIP, FEMA exercises great care to ensure that the analytical methods employed in the FIS are scientifically and technically correct; that the engineering procedures followed meet professional standards; and, ultimately, that the results of the FIS are accurate. Although the FIRMs and FIS reports are prepared according to rigorous technical standards, FEMA recognizes the importance of community participation in the preparation of the reports and maps, and works closely with community officials and other interested parties to ensure the information presented is accurate, up-to-date, and understood.
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