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5.0             ACTION PLAN

Early in this plan (Section 1.3) the following community mitigation planning goals were established:

Goal 1:           To increasingly reduce repetitive flooding in the Parish and incorporated areas.

Goal 2:           To facilitate responsible development in the Parish and incorporated areas so as to reduce or eliminate the potential impacts of disasters.  

Goal 3:           To enhance public awareness and understanding of disaster preparedness.

Goal 4:           To extend and increase public awareness of flood insurance as a mitigative measure.

Goal 5:           To enhance post-disaster response and recovery activities.

This section identifies specific actions to achieve these goals, an appropriate lead person for each action, a relative schedule and funding sources.  More information on funding sources is provided in Appendix E.

 

5.1       Reduction of Repetitive Losses

The repetitive loss areas described in Section 3.2 of this plan should be targeted as priorities to eliminate or greatly reduce the probability of a flood occurrence and to reduce the potential for future losses to life and property in Ouachita Parish.  Alternatives that will benefit the residents of the flood-prone structures should be considered and evaluated according to the necessary level of protection and the benefit cost ratio.  It is important to analyze each possible alternative to ensure the result will not adversely affect surrounding structures.

 

Task # 1 Identify Repetitive Loss Structures within Ouachita Parish

Action:            Review the current FEMA NFIP Repetitive Loss List for Ouachita Parish to identify the correct, updated address and exact location of each individual structure.  As stated in Section 3.2, 98 structures on the list are not mapped due to inaccurate or outdated addresses.  Purge the list of any repetitive loss structure that is located within an incorporated area of the Parish.  Submit any corrections to the State Floodplain Manager of Louisiana and FEMA Region VI.

Lead:              Parish Floodplain Coordinator

Schedule:       Ongoing

Budget:           Potential funding sources include:

7        Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) Project Funds

7        Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) Funds

7        Project Impact (PI) Funds

7        Existing Parish Budget

 

Task #2 Establish a Property Flood Mitigation Priority Program
Action:            Establish a property priority system that ranks each repetitive loss structure in an order of priority for mitigation activity. 

Lead:              Parish Floodplain Coordinator

Schedule:       Ongoing

Funding:         Potential funding sources include:

7        Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) Project Funds

7        Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) Funds

7        Project Impact (PI) Funds

7        Existing Parish Budget

 

Task #3 Identify Project Structures

Action:            Survey additional owners of repetitive loss structures in Ouachita Parish to determine interest and eligibility to pursue mitigation measures.

Lead:              Parish Floodplain Coordinator

Schedule:       Ongoing, as funding for projects becomes available.

Budget:           Potential funding sources include:

7        Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) Project Funds

7        Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) Funds

7        Project Impact (PI) Funds

7        Existing Parish Budget

Task #4 Determine Mitigation Measure for Each Repetitive Loss Structure

Action:            Identify the most appropriate mitigation measure, structural or nonstructural, for each repetitive loss structure using the priority established in the Property Flood Protection Program.

Lead:              Parish Floodplain Coordinator

Schedule:       Ongoing

Budget:           Potential funding sources include:

7        Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) Project Funds

7        Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) Funds

7        Project Impact (PI) Funds

7        Existing Parish Budget

 

Task #5 Mitigate Flood Disaster Potential for Repetitive Loss Structures

Action:            Implement nonstructural techniques on each individual structure using the established priority to mitigate future damage.  Applicable techniques include:

7        Elevation of structure in place above the Base Flood Elevation,

7        Flood-proofing structure above the Base Flood Elevation,

7        Relocation of structure outside of the floodplain, and

7        Acquisition and removal of structure.

Lead:              Parish Floodplain Coordinator

Schedule:       Ongoing, as funding is available.

Budget:           Possible funding sources include: 

7        Local Drainage Millage

7        Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)

7        Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP)

7        Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) Project Funds

7        Small Business Administration (SBA)

7        U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Section 205, and

7        State Capital Outlay

 

Task #6 Conduct Floodproofing Demonstration Project

Action:            Elevation and acquisition are two primary methods of reducing or eliminating damage from flooding, but they are not always the best alternative for low-level repetitive flooding.  The parish will identify one or more sites to use as demonstration projects of the technique of dry floodproofing.  The homeowners, who must be willing to exhibit their home to other interested citizens, will be required to pay 25% of the floodproofing costs.

Lead:              Parish Floodplain Coordinator

Schedule:       Calendar Year 2000

Budget:           Project Impact (PI) Funding

 

Task #7 Develop a Master Drainage Plan

Action:            Develop a drainage plan that will provide future protection for areas in the Parish that experience interior drainage problems.  The drainage plan will help to plan and prioritize those small-scale projects that can provide large benefits to areas that flood in 10 to 25 year storm frequencies.

Lead:              Parish Engineer

Schedule:       By 2001

Budget:           Project Impact (PI) Funding

Task #8 Reduce Flood Potential in each Repetitive Loss Area

Action:            Implement a localized interior drainage project in each repetitive loss area to reduce its flood potential. 

Lead:              Parish Floodplain Coordinator

Schedule:       Ongoing, as funding is available.

Budget:           Possible funding sources include: 

7        Local Drainage Millage

7        Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)

7        Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP)

7        Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) Project Funds

7        Small Business Administration (SBA)

7        U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Section 205, and

7        State Capital Outlay

 

5.2       Public Education and Flood Insurance

A proactive public education and awareness program should be implemented Parish-wide to notify the citizens of the potential flood threat and actions that may be taken to protect themselves.  The education program should not be limited to property mitigation, but should also include emergency preparedness activities to protect life and safety.  Furthermore, when the Parish is aware of the potential flood threat, the public must be educated on the benefits, affordability, and the necessity of flood insurance.  ome useful techniques on advertising the National Flood Insurance Program

Task #9 FEMA Increase Public Awareness of Flood Hazards and Flood Hazard Areas

Action:            Distribute public awareness information regarding the flood hazards, Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHA), and potential mitigation measures using the daily newspaper, utility bill inserts, inserts in the phone book, a Parish hazard awareness website, an educational program for school age children and how to classes in retrofitting by local merchants.

Lead:              Parish Floodplain Manager

Schedule:       Implement within three months.

Budget:           Possible funding sources include: 

7        Project Impact (PI) Funding

7        Existing Parish Budget

 

Task #10 Promote the Purchase of Flood Insurance

Action:            Advertise the availability, cost, and coverage of flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

Lead:              Parish Floodplain Manager

Schedule:       Ongoing

Budget:           Possible funding sources available to Ouachita Parish are: 

7        Local Drainage Millage

7        Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP)

7        State Capital Outlay

7        Existing Parish Budget

 

Task #11 Educate Insurance Agents, Home Realtors, and Leaders Regarding Flood Insurance and the NFIP.

Action:            Host educational workshops regarding flood insurance and the NFIP for insurance agents, home realtors, and leaders in Ouachita Parish.

Lead:              Parish Floodplain Coordinator

Schedule:       Conduct workshop on an annual basis as funding is available.

Budget:           Possible funding sources include: 

7        Project Impact (PI) Funding 

7        Existing Parish Budget

5.3       Enforcement and Strengthening of Current Building Codes

Growth will continue throughout the Parish with concentrations to the north and west.  In order to avoid and minimize the impacts of natural disasters, continued enforcement and strengthening of building codes should be pursued.

 

Task #12 Request a New Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM)

Action:            The Parish is in need of a new FIRM due to the extent of recent development as well as several problem areas with the current FIRM.  Discuss mapping issues with FEMA and propose a timeline for the re-mapping of the Parish.

Lead:              Parish Floodplain Coordinator

Schedule:       Calendar Year 2000

Budget:           Project Impact (PI) Funding

 

Develop Base Map of Parish

Action:            The Parish will work with ESRI, the State of Louisiana and aerial data firms to prepare a digital base map of the Parish.  This base map will allow preparation of accurate maps of repetitive loss structures, flood control projects and future land-use plans in combination with existing parish data such as drainage maintenance, building permits, elevation data, road inventories, etc.  This base map will be made available to public and private entities for use in coordination of parish-wide activities.  The Parish is contemplating a partnership with the local University of Louisiana at Monroe (ULM) to act as the repository of the data base.

Lead:              Parish Floodplain Coordinator

Schedule:       Calendar Year 2000

Budget:           Project Impact (PI) Funding

Existing Parish Budget

 

Task #14
Task #13 Conduct Elevation Certificate Training

Action:            Prepare and conduct a training class for all persons involved in preparing elevation certificates in order to ensure thorough and correct certificates are prepared.

Lead:              Parish Floodplain Coordinator

Schedule:       Calendar Year 2000

Budget:           Project Impact (PI) Funding

 

Task #15 Conduct CRS Activities

Action:            Ongoing activities required under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) will be identified, scheduled, and conducted in order to maintain the Parish flood insurance premiums.

Lead:              Parish Floodplain Coordinator

Schedule:       Calendar Year 2000

Budget:           Existing Parish Budget

 

Task #16 Enforce the Local Floodplain Ordinance

Action:            Enforce the existing regulations of the Ouachita Parish Flood Hazard Area Ordinance.  See Appendix C.

Lead:              Parish Building Official

Schedule:       Ongoing

Budget:           Existing Parish Budget

 

Task #17 Strengthen Current Building Code Regulations

Action:            Identify appropriate ways to strengthen and enhance existing building codes.  Seek Police Jury approval.

Lead:              Parish Building Official

Schedule:       Ongoing

Budget:           Existing Parish Budget

 

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