---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Holmes, Antawan (ANC 7C07) <7C07@xxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Tue, Jun 29, 2021, 3:27 PM
Subject: FW: Ward 7 Input Needed: New Safety Rules for Floodplain Properties
To: ANC 7C Office (ANC 7C) <7C@xxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: info@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <info@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, capitol view (
capitolview.dc@xxxxxxxxx) <capitolview.dc@xxxxxxxxx>, Bonard, Nicholas
(DOEE) <Nicholas.Bonard@xxxxxx>
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) <
7C07@xxxxxxxxxx>; Blair, Tamara (SMD 7D01) <7D01@xxxxxxxxxx>; Hasan, Siraaj
M. (SMD 7D02) <7D02@xxxxxxxxxx>; Douglas, Dorothy (SMD 7D03) <
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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/*
<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*
<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
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 <Nicholas.Bonard@xxxxxx>
and (202)763-4112 during this time.*
