Floodplain Related Events

A Coastal Construction Workshop will be held on January 18th, 2012. This course will be focused for designers, contractors, and building officials in coastal Rhode Island to address issues such as construction in V and A Zones, designing for flood and wind loads, construction and maintenance issues, utility issues, and septic systems in the flood zone. The goal is to provide guidance and assistance on specific coastal construction issues to reduce future damages to residential buildings in coastal areas. (register here)

A Floodplain Management 101 course will be held on November 16th, 2011. This course is designed for newcomers to the field of Floodplain Management(FPM). This workshop covers the basic tenets of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and the minimum administrative requirements to successfully implement a community FPM Program. Participants will learn fundamentals of individual and local responsibilities for managing flood risks and loss through proper permitting and planning. How to read a floodplain map and Flood Insurance Study (FIS), and to read/complete and Elevation Certificate will be covered in detail and through exercises. (register here)

OTHER TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES:

Hazard Training for Local Officials

A community can improve its ability to prepare for and respond to storm events by taking advantage of available training for municipal officials. The following is a list of some of the best sources for (generally free) training.

Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency (RIEMA) Trainings

RIEMA offers various courses on disaster management for local officials. Contact the RIEMA Training Officer for information on class availability and schedules.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) - Emergency Management Institute (EMI) Trainings

FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute offers training for local officials, ranging from free online classes to multi-day classes at their campus in Emmitsburg, Maryland. Depending on the course, FEMA may cover airfare, housing, and tuition for local government employees. Participants may receive professional or college credit. Emergency Management Institute courses include:

• Independent study (online)
• Disaster Basics
• A Citizen’s Guide to Disaster Assistance
• Engineering Principles and Practices for Retrofitting Flood-Prone Residential Structures
• Introduction to Residential Coastal Construction
• Introduction to Hazard Mitigation
• Protecting Your Home or Small Business from Disaster
• On-site (Emmitsburg, Maryland) training
• Advanced Floodplain Management Concepts
• National Flood Insurance Program/Community Rating System (NFIP/CRS)
• Residential Coastal Construction

Additional FEMA's Flood Insurance Workshop and Training Opportunities

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Coastal Services Center Trainings

The Coastal Services Center, which is part of NOAA, offers training options either at their home office in Charleston, South Carolina, or wherever they’re requested (so long as a minimum number of people can be assembled). Available courses include technical training on various computer programs (they specialize in Geographic Information Systems), coastal hazard management, project design and evaluation, and conflict management. See the NOAA Coastal Services Center training website for more information.