Flood Zone, January 2009

Inside This Edition	January 2009

NFIP Workshop Announced	Spring Workshop
Membership Renewal

Managing Floodplain Development through
The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)
March 16-20, 2009
Brewer – Hegeman Center
University of Central Arkansas (UCA)

This is a free FEMA course offered by the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission (ANRC) designed to provide an organized training opportunity for officials that are responsible for administering their local floodplain management ordinances.

Hurry! The registration deadline is March 6, 2009.
CFM exam will be offered in the afternoon on the last day of class.

Click here for more information and to obtain a registration form.

AFMA SAVE THE DATE !

AFMA Spring Workshop
April 16 - 17
Jacksonville Community Center

CFMs! Don't miss your mid-year opportunity for continuing education credits (CECs).
New to floodplain management? This event is a GREAT introduction to FEMA and floodplain management basics. We strongly encourage you to attend the spring workshop before attending the AFMA fall conference.

Make plans to join us for this mid-year technical supplement designed for newcomers and seasoned professionals alike! Look for additional details in the February issue of Flood Zone.


	Membership Renewal Continues! AFMA continues to be your best resource for the latest in floodplain management news and information. Take full advantage of all that AFMA has to offer by renewing your annual membership now! This year we are pleased to announce a new payment option for renewing your membership. In addition to accepting your check, AFMA now accepts the following payment cards: Many of the floodplain managers in Arkansas have already renewed their AFMA memberships. We hope you too have enjoyed the benefits of being an AFMA member and will decide to renew your membership as well. Click here to begin your membership renewal process now. AFMA memberships expired on December 31, 2008

Happy New Year everyone! While 2009 is shaping up to be a time of uncertainty, as floodplain managers we can be certain the rain will continue to fall and the creek will continue to rise. Sounds pretty bleak, doesn’t it?

If you think about it, these words are true, regardless of the state of the union. Our job as floodplain managers doesn’t get put on hold like certain aspects of the economy. No, we must remain focused on the coming spring and prepare for the amount of water that will undoubtedly flow through our state.

Have you been keeping track of the record snowfall in our neighboring states to the north and west of Arkansas? One day soon it will melt and all that water will come surging through tributaries that might run through your community.

We learned a lot as a result of the floods in 2008. Have you made preparations for 2009?

Most developers have shelved their plans for the entire year and for those of us whose primary jobs are building inspectors, planning directors, city engineers and the like, a reduction in new construction can mean somewhat of a slow-down in our weekly work activities.

I encourage each of you to seize this opportunity by taking on some of the tasks you have been putting off. Tasks like clearing ditches and creeks in your area. How about a visit with your legal counsel to review and update your stormwater ordinance? And it’s always a good idea to pay a visit to your local emergency management officer and plan for those events you hope never come.

Winter will be over before you know it and our annual preparedness test will soon begin. Please renew your membership if you haven’t already and stay with AFMA throughout these uncertain times. We have much planned for 2009 and look forward to working with you through the rise and fall of any creek.

Jim Narey, CFM
Email Jim