N magazine
Natomas Chamber of Commerce
FLOOD FORUM

Many communities in California, including West Sacramento, will be undergoing a similar process in coming months.

A panel of experts on Natomas' flood control projects told an audience of about 75 residents and business owners that a levee system meeting new federal standards is on an aggressive but achievable schedule to provide 200-year flood protection by 2012. A June town hall sponsored by N magazine and the Natomas Chamber of Commerce included Councilmember Ray Tretheway, Stein Buer, Executive Director of the Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency (SAFCA), Col. Thomas Chapman, District Engineer, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District, Kathleen Schaefer, Engineer, FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), and Edie Lohmann, field operations manager, NFIP.

Mayor Heather Fargo, Supervisor Roger Dickinson, and Nathan Dietrich, District Director for Congresswoman Doris Matsui, also attended to answer audience questions.

Lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina led to new, stricter levee standards and a nationwide push to fund improvements. "If we knew in 1997 what we know now, we would not have certified Natomas' levees," said Col. Chapman. Many communities in California, including West Sacramento, will undergo a similar process.

"It's not that the levees have gotten worse," Buer said, "but that standards keep getting tougher, and that will continue." Erosion, lack of freeboard, and underseepage are major problems identified in recent levee studies. Audience questions included concerns for property owners of about 400 parcels within the

42-square-mile Natomas Basin, including about 20 with homes that are currently occupied, that will likely have to be taken for the levee project. "We have to be very sensitive to the consequences for these property owners," Buer said.

Audience members questioned the aggressive timeline for the North Levee Improvement Project (NLIP) Buer noted that SAFCA plans to design and build the levee improvements at the same time, betting that Congress will approve the funds. "Natomas is the only project for which I provide weekly updates to Congresswoman Matsui," Col. Chapman said. Panelists praised the coordination and support among local, state and federal agencies in making Natomas levees a top priority. An environmental impact study on the NLIP is now available for public comment.

A new FEMA flood risk map for Natomas, based on recent information regarding levee strength, will be issued on December 8. It will show that Natomas does not have federally-required 100-year flood protection, and is therefore in a special flood hazard area.

L E A R N M O R E ---------------------

City Floodplain Hotline
808-5061

Flood Risk Map
877-FEMAMAP

FEMA Flood Insurance
(including parcel-specific data)
floodsmart.gov

FEMA General Information
FEMA.gov

Natomas Levee Improvement
Project Ombudsmen
Jay Davis or Barbara Gualco
351-0600
jdavis@gualco.com

"If you have a federally insured mortgage, your lender will be contacting you and asking that you provide documentation of flood insurance within 45 days. Don't be surprised if your lender requires insurance to cover their full risk, and not just the amount of the outstanding mortgage," Lohmann said.

Natomas property owners may be eligible for preferred risk policies with a lower rate for one more year. Even if you do not currently have a preferred risk rate, you may be able to secure one before the December 8 deadline, Lohrmann said. Property owners can contact the city's floodplain hotline with questions about their options. Flood insurance rates are fixed nationwide, and should be the same no matter which agent is quoting a rate.

Schaefer said that when 200-year flood protection is in place, the lower cost preferred rates will again be available. The new risk map will also trigger a construction moratorium in Natomas beginning Deccember 8. Councilmember Tretheway and Mayor Fargo said the city is expediting permit requests to meet the deadline.

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SAFA General Information
safca.org

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Sacramento District
spk.usace.army.mil/
projects/civil/natomas
certification/index.html

Congresswoman Doris Matsui
matsui.house.gov/
floodprotection.asp

Nathan Dietrich, District Director
916-498-5600