FYI
From: Bonard, Nicholas (DOEE) <Nicholas.Bonard@xxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, June 29, 2021 3:26 PM
To: Iwuoha, Chioma J. (SMD 7B01) <7B01@xxxxxxxxxx>; Brown, Tiffany L. (SMD
7B02) <7B02@xxxxxxxxxx>; Botts, Lindsey (SMD 7B03) <7B03@xxxxxxxxxx>; Nash,
Cydne (SMD 7B04) <7B04@xxxxxxxxxx>; Robinson, Donna (SMD 7B05)
<7B05@xxxxxxxxxx>; Brown, Kelvin (SMD 7B06) <7B06@xxxxxxxxxx>; Humphrey,
Lynnell (SMD 7B07) <7B07@xxxxxxxxxx>; Malloy, Patricia (ANC 7C01)
<7C01@xxxxxxxxxx>; Fields, Yolanda (SMD 7C02) <7C02@xxxxxxxxxx>; Van, Vince
(SMD 7C03) <7C03@xxxxxxxxxx>; Green, Anthony Lorenzo (SMD 7C04)
<7C04@xxxxxxxxxx>; Gaffney, Mary L. (ANC 7C05) <7C05@xxxxxxxxxx>; Clark,
Victoria (SMD 7C06) <7C06@xxxxxxxxxx>; Holmes, Antawan (ANC 7C07)
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<7D05@xxxxxxxxxx>; Morris, Rebecca (SMD 7D06) <7D06@xxxxxxxxxx>; Felder,
Wendell (SMD 7D07) <7D07@xxxxxxxxxx>; Rasheed, Veda (SMD 7E01)
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Cc: Bey, Genie (DOEE) <genie.bey@xxxxxx>; Bonard, Nicholas (DOEE)
<Nicholas.Bonard@xxxxxx>; Koch, Martin (DOEE) <martin.koch@xxxxxx>;
Schnitzlein, Joshua (DOEE) <Joshua.Schnitzlein@xxxxxx>; Ukpolo, Victor (DOEE)
<victor.ukpolo@xxxxxx>; Upchurch, Meredith (DOEE) <meredith.upchurch1@xxxxxx>;
Criner-Brown, Allyson (DOEE) <allyson.criner-brown@xxxxxx>; Peterson, Brent
(DOEE) <Brent.Peterson@xxxxxx>
Subject: Ward 7 Input Needed: New Safety Rules for Floodplain Properties
Dear Ward 7 ANC Commissioners,
The District Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) would like to invite
you and your residents to our upcoming information sessions on proposed changes
to the District's Flood Hazard
Rules<https://doee.dc.gov/publication/title-20-chapter-31-flood-hazard-rules>.
These rules set development standards (such as requiring elevated first floors
and utilities) in the District's regulated floodplains that help to protect
life and property from flooding. In Ward 7, these rules primarily affect homes
near Watts Branch, and areas near Kenilworth Park and along the Anacostia
River. You can see the locations of the floodplains at
dcfloodrisk.org<http://dcfloodrisk.org/>.
The information sessions will be on July 29th at 5:30 p.m. and August 3rd at
6:30 p.m. Both meetings will feature the same content - so please attend
whichever date and time is most convenient for you. At these two information
sessions, DOEE will educate tenants and property owners about the existing and
proposed regulated floodplains, the risks of living in a floodplain, and
insurance options. We view these information sessions as the start of a
discussion with the community and we look forward to working with you at these
upcoming meetings.
Anyone can register for the events here:
https://floodplain-safety-rules.eventbrite.com/. Please help us get the message ;
out and forward this email broadly to residents and contacts who might be
interested in learning more. I've included some additional context below, but
please feel free to reach out to me in advance with any questions or concerns.
About the Regulatory Update
One of the main changes we are proposing to the Flood Hazard Rules is to expand
the regulated floodplain to include the 500-year floodplain, in addition to the
already-regulated 100-year floodplain. This change is meant to account for sea
level rise and more frequent and intense rain storms, which are increasing the
District's flood risk. Expanding the regulatory floodplain will undoubtedly
protect more lives and structures. However, the change will also increase the
number of structures subject to floodplain development regulations, especially
in Wards 6,7, and 8. Currently, 574 (and 97% of) residential properties in the
District's 100-year floodplain are located within these Wards. DOEE is seeking
community input on how best to balance regulations that protect people and
homes, while not placing undue burden on property owners.
Recent and Upcoming Outreach in Your Neighborhood
In addition to the information sessions described above, you should be aware of
some additional outreach that has already occurred/ been planned for the near
future:
* Flood Risk Awareness Week [June 21-25, 2021]: DOEE (in conjunction with
HSEMA, DISB, and the DC Silver Jackets) organized a Flood Awareness Week to
raise public knowledge of flood risk in the District, encourage the public to
take actions to reduce their flood risk, and provide information on available
preparedness resources. Throughout last week, there was social media, online
presentations, and WMATA advertising highlighting flood awareness. If you were
unable to attend any of the presentations, they will be made available
here<https://ready.dc.gov/floodweek> shortly.
* Flood Risk Awareness Mailers [Summer 2021]: This summer, residents who
live in a floodplain will receive letters informing them about their flood
risk, the importance of flood insurance, and materials on how to prepare if a
flood should occur.
* Establishing Sustained Engagement [Summer 2021]: This summer DOEE will be
exploring with community stakeholders the start of an advisory group for Ward
7. It will be guided by residents and local officials to address short to long
term flooding solutions. This initial focus on Ward 7 is due to the fact that
over 87% of residential structures in the 100-year floodplain are in Ward 7,
and half of all residential structures in both 100 and 500-floodplains are also
located. As this initiative takes form, DOEE will share Flood Risk Management
E-Learning Modules [summer 2021] with the community as an introduction to
flooding risk management. Residents will also be invited to learn about DOEE
investments in remapping the 100- and 500-year floodplain, and provide input on
potential solutions to reduce flood risk in the Watts Branch. More information
on these activities is available at:
https://doee.dc.gov/service/watts-branch-neighborhoods-flood-risk-management
Best,
Nick
Nicholas Bonard
Branch Chief
Floodplains, Wetlands, and Groundwater
Regulatory Review Division
Department of Energy & Environment
Government of the District of Columbia
1200 First Street NE, 5th Floor
Washington, DC 20002
Cell: (202) 763 4112
Nicholas.Bonard@xxxxxx<mailto:Nicholas.Bonard@xxxxxx>
Web: doee.dc.gov<http://doee.dc.gov/>
With Mayor Bowser adjusting the District of Columbia's operating status in
response to coronavirus (COVID-19), I will be teleworking during this time. I
can still be reached at Nicholas.Bonard@xxxxxx<mailto:Nicholas.Bonard@xxxxxx>
and (202)763-4112 during this time.
