2017-03-15 KCDP Minutes Final - Laserfiche WebLink

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Additionally, Committee member Payne noted that the subject Minutes omitted maps and exhibits stated in the Minutes as being attachments thereto, and requested that they be included. NEW BUSINESS Director De Marco distributed copies of a two-page information bulletin from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) regarding its Flood Map Revision program, process and current status as of August, 2015 for Hawaii County. He began the discussion noting he was the Flood Plain Manager for the County during the last mayoral administration period and was very much involved in preparing the Preliminary Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps (DFIRMs) for Hawaii County. He explained the following: His task \[as Flood Plain Manager\] was to improve the existing flood maps of the County. He and his staff reviewed the many FEMA-approved flood studies throughout the island done since the existing Federal FIRMs were established, and found that most of the FEMA-approved map changes had not been incorporated into those existing FIRMs (floodway maps). They systematically reviewed every known watercourse island-wide, including Kona, incorporating digital data, digitizing and then incorporating additional printed data, to try to make the FIRMs better than they were. This compilation, analysis and corroboration or reconciliation of flood studies, LOMRs) and existing FIRMs took several years. He explained the FEMA Flood Map revision process, and that the o (correct or revise) the published Preliminary FIRMs had been during: (1) the now completed two public hearings in August, 2015, (2) a 30-day comment period following those hearings, and (3) a 90-day appeal period after the then-following publication of the Preliminary FIRMs, which may or may not have been revised as a result of public comments. He said that after public comments had been taken into consideration, the Preliminary FIRMs were publicized in the Federal Register, public notices were published in a local newspaper. He said that according to the federal process, there are no more opportunities to revise the new Preliminary FIRMs; these Preliminary FIRMs will become Final in September, 2017, following thth two public informational meetings in July, 2017: July 12 in Hilo, and July 13 in Kona, from 5pm 8pm. The purpose of the meeting is to introduce these maps. He advised that citizens can and looking at the County of Hawaii Preliminary DFIRMs. Thus, he explained that in order to make any changes at this point, one must do a howing that these maps are incorrect, and submit a request to FEMA for a Letter of Map Revision (LOMR). Mr. De Marco stressed the detail and effort his group made to improve the flood maps was done with maximum accuracy possible with current technology, including sophisticated aerial imaging techniques such as LIDAR for accurate ground terrain determinations. Page 2 of 9