Floodplain Training and Education

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Water Talk Newsletter

Periodic updates on floodplain and shoreland management for local governments. Current and past issues of Water Talk including an index for searching past issues for specific topics. Learn more »

 Monthly virtual Floodplain Management office hours

Talk with FEMA and DNR Floodplain program representatives during monthly virtual Minnesota Floodplain Management Office Hours. Hours will be 10-11 am, typically on the fourth Thursday of the month, but may be adjusted. Contact [email protected] (link sends email) to request office hour meeting invites, or use the office hour links below.

Upcoming monthly office hours:

 

Recorded training courses

One-day trainings were previously offered at select locations around the state during winter (January to March) and in the fall (September to November). Due to restrictions after March 2020, our trainings were transitioned to a series of one-hour virtual sessions. In 2023, one-day in-person trainings resumed. Due to the success of the virtual trainings, both virtual and in-person trainings will continue to be offered.

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Floodplain Management Basics

A discussion of roles and responsibilities at the community level for floodplain management. Highlights include: common terms, definitions, where regulations apply, finding FEMA map, regulations and providing clarity on mandatory insurance requirements. Presenter: Ceil Strauss. Watch the online training, recorded 1/23/2023. Future live trainings to be scheduled.

 

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FEMA Map Basics

A discussion of mapping zones, finding and printing FEMA maps, types of FEMA maps in the state, and what map updates are in progress statewide. Also covers highlights of map appeals and amendments (LOMAs and LOMR-Fs). Presenters:  Ceil Strauss and Mary Pesnail. Watch the online training, recorded 1/30/2023. Future live trainings to be scheduled.

 

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Floodplain Web-Based Maps and Tools

Discover the new features on DNR’s online Lake and Flood Elevations Online (LFEO) app. Also highlights the FEMA Map Service Center site, FEMA Flood Map Changes Viewer, DNR MNTOPO viewer, and useful tips and tricks. Presenters: Suzanne Jiwani and Ceil Strauss. Watch the online training, recorded 1/12/2022. Future live trainings to be scheduled.

 

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Floodplain Administration 101

Learn about permitting applications. Navigate your way through floodplain ordinances and understand your role and responsibilities. Learn about how to evaluate limitations on improvements and required documentation. Presenter: Matt Bauman. Watch the online training, recorded 2/6/2023. Future live trainings to be scheduled.

 

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Dealing with Zone As

Discover how to regulate those notorious A Zones, find base flood elevations and regulatory flood protection elevations, and share options to determine floodway versus flood-fringe. Presenters: Ceil Strauss and Jeff Weiss. Watch the online training, recorded 2/13/2023. Future live trainings to be scheduled.

 

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FEMA Letters of Map Change

Delve into the world of map acronyms. An in-depth walk-through of LOMAs, LOMR-Fs, LOMRs and CLOMRs. Target audience is engineers and surveyors. Presenter: Suzanne Jiwani. Watch the online training, recorded 2/14/2022. Future live trainings to be scheduled.

 

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Floodplain Administration 201 (CUPs, floodproofing, etc.)

Have you ever wondered, “What can be allowed through conditional use permits, standards for activities allowed with CUPs, floodproofing and alternative elevation standards?” If so, please join the fun and discover the answers to these questions, as well as helpful tips for permitting and documentation for these more complicated situations. Presenter: Ceil Strauss. Watch the online training, recorded 2/23/2022. Future live trainings to be scheduled.

 

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Floodplain Higher Standards

Learn about innovative standards to improve flood protection and the natural and beneficial functions of floodplains. Discover what exciting examples (both within and outside of FEMA-mapped areas) are out there and why they are important to your community. Watch the online training, presented by Ceil Strauss. Recorded 2/27/2023. Future live trainings to be scheduled.

 

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Flood Insurance Basics (Risk Rating 2.0)

Highlights of the new Risk Rating 2.0 changes. This hour session will also review current flood insurance basics on mandatory purchase, rates, coverage, premium rating factors and what is changing. Watch the online training, presented by Ceil Strauss (DNR) and James Sink (FEMA). Recorded 3/6/2023. Future live trainings to be scheduled. 

 

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Minnesota's New State Model Floodplain Ordinance

DNR has had a state model floodplain management ordinance for decades, with a new model rolled out in early 2022 and updated November 2022, with changes, including graphics, a new font to show higher standards and optional language, and rewording to plain language. Updates also adhere closer to requirements in state law. Watch the online training, presented by Matt Bauman. Recorded 3/1/2023. Future live training to be scheduled.

 

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Substantial Damage Determinations and Roles

This course covers the role of local floodplain administrators post disaster. We'll focus on the steps involved in doing Substantial Damage determinations, a key requirement for meeting your local floodplain management ordinance. Watch the online training, presented by Ceil Strauss. Recorded 3/9/2022. Future live trainings to be scheduled.

 

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Hydrology and Hydraulics for Non-Engineers

Would you like to better understand what the “H & H” is that the engineers are talking about? This hour session will explain the difference between hydrology and hydraulics, discuss methods and models used for each, as well as assumptions and uses for some of the common models. Watch the online training presented by Ceil Strauss and Anne Toftegaard. Recorded 3/13/2023. Future live training to be scheduled.

 

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Floodplain Culverts

Learn about designing culverts that withstand floods better, and retain more of the natural benefits of floodplains. Many of our current road crossing narrow the floodwaters to relatively small culverts that don’t have capacity during floods and blow out. Learn about scenarios where additional higher culverts (i.e., floodplain culverts, or “relief culverts”) can help road crossings be more resilient and save the costs and inconvenience of repeatedly replacing your culverts, while providing benefits to the fisheries and natural systems. Watch the online training presented by Salam Murtada and Ceil Strauss. Recorded 3/22/2023. Future live training to be scheduled.

 

Other DNR Shoreland and Floodplain related one-hour virtual training recordings:

For more information about the posted trainings, upcoming trainings, or scheduling custom floodplain topic trainings, please contact [email protected] or:

     

    Minnesota Association of Floodplain Managers (MnAFPM) annual conference

    The annual conference will be hosted Nov. 1-3, 2023 in Moorhead. Watch for details. Information on past and future conferences is available on the Minnesota Association of Floodplain Managers website.

     

    FEMA floodplain trainings and education

    2023 monthly virtual trainings

    FEMA Region 5 staff offer the monthly one-hour virtual training, “Managing your Community’s Floodplain,” throughout the year. Free and open to the public.

    • 9-10 a.m. Aug. 30: Reasonably Safe from Flooding: TB-10 | Register
    • 9-10 a.m. Sept. 27: Preparedness: Substantial Damage Planning | Register
    • 9-10 a.m. Oct. 25: Floodplain Management Higher Standards | Register
    • 9-10 a.m. Nov. 29: Natural and Beneficial Functions of Floodplains | Register
    • 9-10 a.m. Dec. 20: Community Rating System (CRS) | Register

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