1995-10-26_AgendaPacket - Laserfiche WebLink

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age 20 TALK rin -Summer 1 5 it 'tl tl The Federal Emergency Management Agency is holding up post-flood mitigation assistance money to 14 Illinois communities that were hit by the "Great Flood of 1993" and one community flooded in the Spring of 1994. Local ordinances and the federal regulations treat a substantially damaged building the same as a new building. The same holds true for improvements which total 5096 of the market value. If repair of damage and further improve- ments are cummulatively in excess of the 509'0 threshold, the combination would also be treated as if the structure were new. This means: Four of the communities were identified as in "serious non-compliance". FEMA is withholding their remaining funds. The other 11 are having their money "metered out" as FEMA monitors their progress. - The primary reason for FEMA's concern is the lack of an effective enforcement program to regulate reconstruction of substantially damaged buildings. Some communities had no records of checking to see if buildings were substantially damaged, others were only enforcing it if people applied for a permit, and other communities had no permit system at all. The substantial damage requirement is a very tough one to enforce. Substantial damage occurs when structures are damaged whereby the cost of restoring the structure to its pre- damaged condition would equal or exceed 500x6 of the market value of the, building before the damage occurred. • A substantially damaged/improved residential building must be elevated above the flood protection elevation or relocated out of the floodplain, • A substantially damaged/improved .nonresidential building must be elevated, floodproofed or relocated out of the floodplain. In Minnesota, Community Assistance visits (CAVs) or Community Assistance Contacts (CACs) help maintain communities eligibility in the program. The DNR has strongly suggested that local zoning officials and/or building inspectors complete inspections of each structure which has been affected by flooding. Inspection notes will greatly aid in the calcula- tion of substantial damage and/or other improvements. i i l i i The Federal Emergency Management Agency fs looking for people to fill temporary full-time positions on an intermittent basis as Disaster Assistance Employees (DAEs) for the duration of a disaster and its follow-up activities. DAEs fill a variety of positions - immediately after a major disaster declaration by the President. They work full-time or nearly #'ull-time for several weeks or months and are released but may be called up again in the #uture. so the ability to leave an existing job, family, and home for an extended period of time is essential. These positions include administrative, clerical, flood insurance and floodplain management. hazard mitigation, outreach and community services, and public affairs. Curnntly, the FEMA Region V Chicago office is seeking hazard mitigation, flood insurance. and floodplain management recruits. Backgrounds in building inspection, zoning administration, plaruzing, civil or structural engineering, public administration, natural resources, or physical sciences will help pre-qualify applicants. Previous experienct with. the National Flood insurance Program and related building and zoning cocks will help. DAEs are paid according to their experience and must be available to report to a disaster field office or disaster application, center (often in a remote Oanftnwd on a 21...