City of Los Angeles Launches Update of Plan to Reduce Flood Risks and Insurance Costs

LOS ANGELES, CA — The Department of Public Works, Bureau of Engineering (Engineering) is taking the lead on the revision of the City of Los Angeles’ 5-yearly Floodplain Management Plan (FMP). The plan is intended to reduce flood hazards and bring down insurance premiums for property owners. This effort is expected to take 10-12 months and will be completed with the support of a technical consultant.

The mission of the FMP is to improve community resilience to flood hazards and protect the health, safety, quality of life, environment, and economy of the City of Los Angeles through partnerships and integrated planning. The FMP will be implemented through the Community Rating System (CRS), a voluntary program within the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) that encourages floodplain management activities that exceed minimum NFIP requirements. Flood insurance premiums for property owners are discounted to reflect the reduced flood risk from actions that meet three CRS goals: 1) reduce flood losses, 2) facilitate accurate insurance ratings, and 3) promote awareness of flood insurance.

The City of Los Angeles currently has a class rating of 7 within the CRS, which translates into a 15 percent reduction in premium costs for property owners with structures located in flood hazard areas. The City is striving to improve its class rating to 6 during this revision, which would reduce flood insurance premiums an additional 5%. 

Throughout this process, citizens will be asked to share local knowledge about flood hazards based on past occurrences. Public involvement is being solicited via a multi-media campaign that includes public meetings, web-based information, a survey and updates on the plan progress via social and traditional media. 

The plan update is being overseen by a Steering Committee, chaired by the City’s Chief Resiliency Officer and made up of stakeholders from within the planning area. This Steering Committee meets on the 2nd Thursday of every month, with the next meeting taking place on October 10th. All Steering Committee meetings are open to the public, who are highly encouraged to provide input.

Meeting notifications and locations will be posted on Engineering’s website.The website contains the approved charter and Steering Committee composition. This website and social media accounts for the Bureau of Engineering and the Department of Public Works will serve as the primary means for the public to gain information on the plan and participate.

As a covered entity under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act the City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of disability and, upon request, will provide reasonable accommodation to ensure equal access to its programs, services and activities.

About L.A. City Department of Public Works
The Department of Public Works is comprised of five bureaus:  Contract Administration, Engineering, Sanitation, Street Lighting, and Street Services, as well as the Offices of the Board, including the Offices of Community Beautification, Filming and Petroleum Administration.  More than 5,500 employees are responsible for design, construction, renovation and operation of public projects ranging from bridges to wastewater treatment plants and libraries; curbside collection and graffiti removal; and maintenance of streets, sidewalks, sewers, streetlights and street trees.
 
The Department is governed by the Board of Public Works (BPW), a five-member full-time executive team that is committed to delivering projects and programs that enhance quality of life, economic growth, public health and the environment to all Angelenos.

About the Bureau of Engineering
The Bureau of Engineering is the City’s lead agency for the planning, design and construction management of public buildings, infrastructure and open space projects. Projects include municipal buildings, such as police and fire stations, convention centers, and recreational and cultural facilities, as well as bridges, street and transit projects, and stormwater and wastewater systems. Open space projects include the development of parks and the restoration of wetlands. Engineering also manages permitting for construction in the public right-of-way, as well as the City’s state-of-the-art online mapping system