GOMESA Application Details
- Internal Project Number
- 1272
- 1. Title of Project
- MS Coastal Map Revision Project
- 2. Location of Project
- Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson Counties
- 3. Requesting Organization
- Southern Mississippi Planning and Development District
- 4a. Name
- Leonard Bentz
- 4b. Position
- 4c. Phone Number
- 228-868-2311
- 4d. Fax Number
- 4e. Address Line 1
- 10441 Corporate Drive
- 4e. Address Line 2
- Suite 1
- 4e. City, State Zip
- Gulfport, MS 39503
- 4f. Email
- lbentz@smpdd.com
- 5. FundingRequested
- $800,000
- Awarded Amount:
- $800,000
- 6. Other State or Federal Funding Sources
- Yes
- 7a. Amount of Additional Funds
- $3,507,102
- 7b. Source of Additional Funds
- MS Legislature (2016), FY22&24 Tidelands and Bank Interest earned by SMPDD
- 8. Total Project Funds Amount
- $4,307,089
- 9. Project Description/Overview
- Following Hurricane Katrina, FEMA created new Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) for the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The resulting mapping significantly modified the Special Flood Hazard Areas and was detrimental to the post Katrina recovery efforts. Since that time, there have been modeling technological advances, additional 10+ years of storm data, and changes to the built environment. Southern Mississippi Planning and Development District (SMPDD) is working with Michael Baker International, Inc. in partnership with Arcadis, to perform updated coastal flood analysis and mapping for Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson Counties. This updated analysis will ensure that these counties have maps which reflect the current flood risk based on modern ground elevation data, updated modeling, and inclusion of local resilient features. The goal of the MS Coastal Map Revision Project is to ensure that the FIRMS accurately reflect the current flood risk for residents of coastal Mississippi. This is a unified effort across the entire coast. All 12 municipalities and 3 counties signed resolutions of support for this project and are actively engaged in the process through routine coordination by the project team. The MS Coastal Map Revision Project is a grass roots effort and one of the first endeavors of this magnitude without FEMA funding, where the State of Mississippi is bearing the financial burden for the preparation of the updated Flood Insurance Rate Maps, in accordance with the Guidance for Flood Risk Analysis and Mapping – Coastal Study Documentation and Intermediate Data Submittals (IDS) established by FEMA. The entire study process is being closely coordinated with FEMA Region IV and FEMA Headquarters to ensure that the resultant mapping can be smoothly incorporated into the National Flood Hazard Layer. Started in 2017, the project has made great progress and the team has completed work through Interim Data Submittal (IDS) #5 as of Summer 2024. SMPDD is seeking supplemental funding to ensure that the project is fully funded and can reach successful completion. Building on the already secured $3,507,101 in matching funds, this supplemental request will provide the needed funding to cover the remaining engineering fees to complete the mapping project.
- 10. Project Goals/Objectives
- The project objective is to create updated Flood Insurance Rate Map panels for the coastal inundation areas of Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson Counties.
- 11. Which of the following authorized uses set forth in the GOMESA Act does this project fall under?
- (A) Projects and activities for the purpose of coastal protection, including conservation, coastal restoration, hurricane protection, and infrastructure directly affected by coastal wetlands losses
- Yes: The new maps will ensure that residents of the Mississippi Gulf Coast clearly understand their flood risk and will empower these communities to proactively mitigate their risk during hurricane and severe weather-related storm surge. Updated mapping will allow the coastal communities to confidently forecast the potential for growth, coupled with the demand for flood insurance and financial risks that will allow for positive economic and resilient growth for the Coast. Protection of our communities during hurricanes is paramount and the updated maps clearly indicate the Special Flood Hazard Areas that are subject to inundation during severe events. The data used to develop the updated flood maps will be made available for the communities to use for the development of coastal resiliency projects.
- (B) Mitigation of damage to fish, wildlife, or natural resources.
- (C) Implementation of a federally-approved marine, coastal, or conservation management plan.
- (D) Mitigation of the impact of Outer Continental Shelf activities through funding of onshore infrastructure projects.
- 12. Project Timetable/Milestones
- 1. Study Management & Public Outreach - 2017 ongoing through end of project 2. Data Acquisition and Technical Approach (FEMA IDS#1) - Complete; Review Comments Resolved April 7, 2020 3. Offshore Water Levels and Waves: Storm Selection and Numerical Model Validation (FEMA IDS#2) - Complete; Review Comments Resolved, October 30, 2020 4. Offshore Water Levels and Waves: Storm Suite Production Runs (FEMA IDS#3, Section 1) - Complete; Review Comments Resolved July 22, 2021 5. Offshore Water Levels and Waves: Stillwater Output / Starting Wave Conditions and Statistical Analyses - Complete; Review Comments Resolved July 7, 2022 6. Nearshore Hydraulics (Overland Wave Analysis, WHAFIS) (FEMA IDS#4) - Complete; Review Comments Resolved July 18, 2023 7. Flood Hazard Mapping/Draft Work Maps (FEMA IDS#5) – Submitted to FEMA March 2024, Initial Review Comments received. Project team is currently working through additional Combine Probability Analysis at the Coastal/Riverine tie-in locations. 8. Preliminary Map Development – Includes the creation of the basemap, draft DFIRM Database, and production of the 400+ Preliminary FIRM panels; Anticipated timeline October 2024 - November 2025 9. Study Support to FEMA for Final Map Adoption of Effective Maps - Includes Post Preliminary Outreach, Due Process and the Final Mapping tasks - Anticipated timeline November 2025 - August 2027 This schedule is highly dependent upon FEMA's review time and resolution of comments. We have continued to routinely have discussions with FEMA Headquarters, Region IV, and FEMA's review team consultant engineers to ensure that we are resolving any IDS comments in a timely and efficient manner.
- 13. Project Timing
- Short-term
- 14. Current status of architectural/engineering plans & specifications for this project (if applicable):
- 15. In what way does this project meet the goals and objectives of the Department of Marine Resources, which includes enhancing, protecting and conserving the marine interest of Mississippi for present and future generations?
- The data contained on the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMS) directly impacts the coastal communities and supports the decision-making process for all coastal properties and projects. The special flood hazard area designations can drive conservation decisions. The modeling outputs from this project can be utilized to further asses the effects of sea level rise scenarios, and the FIRMs can be consulted when considering public access projects.
- 16. Estimated Years To Completion
- 3
- 17. Estimated Completion Date
- 8/1/2027
- Budget:
- Salaries,Wages, Fringe
- $0
- Travel
- $0
- Architecture & Engineering
- $800,000
- Legal
- $0
- Consulting
- $0
- Construction
- $0
- Site Work
- $0
- Equipment
- $0
- Indirects
- $0
- Other
- $0
- Total
- $800,000
- Application Submission Date
- 09/05/2024
- Fiscal Year
- 2025
- Project Status
- Awarded
- Application Status
- Accepted
- Meets Criteria
- Yes
- Internal Notes:
- Project awarded at 11-13-24 Governor's Press Conference
- Attachments:
- Hyperlink:
- Attachments