US. Department of Homeland Securit C FEMA Region 6 nee ne 800 North loop 288 Denton, TX 76209-3698 By_ (v 30, 2009 RECEIVED Mr. Chris Brouillette 4AN 04 2010 Red River, Atchafalaya & Bayou Boeuf Levee District ne : RAPIDES Ps iCE JURY P.O. Box 8235 Alexandria, LA 71306-1235 Re: Notification of De-accreditation of Red River Levees (North and South Banks) Dear Mr. Brouillette: The United States Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) initiated a study to update the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) for Rapides Parish, Louisiana, in Fiscal Year 2002. When the study is complete, maps will be available in a parishwide format providing a seamless coverage for the entire parish. Preliminary maps were issued July 31, 2007 and the study is currently in the final stages of appeal and protest resolution. Based upon FEMA’s coordination and communication with Red River, Atchafalaya & Bayou Boeuf Levee District it has been determined that Red River Levees (North and South Banks) will no longer be shown as providing protection from the base flood elevation on the Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps. Levee certification was not received from Red River, Atchafalaya & Bayou Boeuf Levee District within the twenty four month time frame allowed under the Provisionally Accredited Levee designation. The expiration date was June 20, 2009. The following communities are impacted by the levee certification process for these levees: City of Alexandria, Rapides Parish, City of Pineville, and Town of Boyce. The Red River Levee (North and South Bank) must be accredited to be mapped as providing protection on the Rapides Parish parishwide DFIRMs. At this time due to the deficiency in certification, the accreditation of the Red River Levees (North and South Bank) is not - possible. FEMA will be initializing a study to revise the Rapides Parish flood insurance rate maps to show the de-accredited levees. Until certification documents are received, the levees will be de-accredited and the area currently shown as protected by the Red River Levees (North and South Bank) will be classified as a special flood hazard area. Therefore, structures in that area with federally-backed mortgages will be required to purchase flood insurance.Mr. Chris Brouilette December 30, 2009 Page 2 If further assistance is needed, the FEMA lead for this project is Gary Zimmerer, P.E. He may be contacted at 940-898-5161. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions. Sincerely, \y Frank Pagano Mitigation Division Director ce: The Honorable Richard Lindsay, President-Rapides Parish Police Jury Melissa Becker, Fioodpiain Administrator-Rapides Parish The Honorable Jacques M. Roy, Mayor-City of Alexandria Glenn Couvillion, Floodplain Administrator,-City of Alexandria The Honorable Clarence Fields, Mayor-City of Pineville Charlie Moore, Floodplain Administrator-City of Pineville The Honorable Donald Welch, Mayor-Town of Boyce Cindy O’Neal, NFIP State Coordinator Craig Mc Raney, USACE- Vicksburg District The Honorable Mary Landrieu, Federal Senator The Honorable David Vitter, Federal Senator The Honorable Rodney Alexander, Federal House Representative The Honorable Joe McPherson, State Senator The Honorable Neil Riser, State Senator The Honorable Gerald Long, State Senator The Honorable Billy Chandler, State Representative Ted DeBaene, Owen & White, Study Contractor Tony Russell, Regional Administrator, FEMA Region 6 David Patterson, FEMA Region 6 RMC Steve Altman. RAMPPUS. Department of Homeland Securit FEMA Region 6 800 North loop 288 Denton, TX 76209-3698 December 30, 2009 Mr. Chris Brouillette Red River, Atchafalaya & Bayou Boeuf Levee District P.O. Box 8235 Alexandria, LA 71306-1235 Re: Notification of De-accreditation of Rapides Bayou (North and South) and Philips Bayou Levees Dear Mr. Brouillette: The United States Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) initiated a study to update the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) for Rapides Parish, Louisiana, in Fiscal Year 2002. When the study is complete, maps will be available in a parishwide format providing a seamless coverage for the entire parish. You signed a PAL Agreement in 2007 after being contacted by FEMA requesting levee certification documents on March 20, 2007. Preliminary maps were released on July, 31, 2007. The City of Alexandria provided certification documents to FEMA for review on June 22, 2009. Review of the documents revealed the following deficiencies that do not meet accreditation requirements. 1) The certification documentation did not use the FEMA published Base Flood Elevation to evaluate the system for adequate elevation freeboard. Any new analysis proposed for these levees must be approved by FEMA through a LOMR. The documents identified several locations in the levee system without the required 3° freeboard. An example is certifying one 350’ opening across a parking lot on the certification map without appropriate closure structure design. 3) Please note: Page 5 of the certification report states that three degraded areas have been cut down or modified to natural ground or below. Please note: Page 18 of the certification report states that several problems must be overcome so that the Bayou Rapides levee system may be considered “hydrological certifiable” — six items are listed. 2 4 The certification documents that were provided to FEMA Region 6 did not meet levee accreditation requirements at the end of the Provisionally Accredited Levee Period. If you have additional certification information that will allow the above levees to meet the requirements of 44CFR65.10 FEMA Region 6 will be happy to review them. ‘wirtGidiieeMr. Chris Brouillette December 30, 2009 ) Page 2 Based upon FEMA’s coordination and communication with Rapides Parish it has been determined that Rapides Bayou (North and South) and Philips Bayou Levees will no longer be shown as providing protection from the base flood elevation on the Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps. Levee certification was not received from Red River, Atchafalaya Bayou and Bouef. Due to the deficiency in certification, the accreditation of the Rapides Bayou (North and South) and Philips Bayou Levees is not possible at this time. If Rapides Parish or a newly formed levee district decides to pursue certification in the future, documentation must be provided and approved. As a result of this de- accreditation, the area currently shown as protected by the Rapides Bayou (North and South) and Philips Bayou Levees will be classified as a special flood hazard area. Therefore, structures in that area with federally-backed mortgages will be required to purchase flood insurance. If further assistance is needed, the FEMA lead for this project is Gary Zimmerer, P.E. He may be contacted at (940) 898-5161. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions. Sincerely, cc: The Honorable Richard Lindsay, President-Rapides Parish Police Jury Melissa Becker, Floodplain Administrator-Rapides Parish The Honorable Jacques M. Roy, Mayor-City of Alexandria Glenn Couvillion, Floodplain Administrator, City of Alexandria Cindy O'Neal, NFIP State Coordinator Craig Mc Raney, USACE-Vicksburg District The Honorable Mary Landrieu, Federal Senator The Honorable David Vitter, Federal Senator The Honorable Rodney Alexander, Federal House Representative The Honorable Joe McPherson, State Senator The Honorable Neil Riser, State Senator The Honorable Gerald Long, State Senator The Honorable Billy Chandler, State Representative Ted DeBaene, Owen & White, Study Contractor Tony Russell, Regional Administrator, FEMA Region 6 David Patterson, FEMA Region 6 RMC Steve Altman RAMPP.