As spring flood season unfolds in Idaho, emergency response and flood mitigation professionals are collaborating to identify life safety needs for development in flood-prone areas. From April 8-11, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region 10 and the Idaho Department of Water Resources co-hosted FEMA’s Managing Floodplain Development Through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) course. This intensive training provided attendees with an in-depth exploration into floodplain management under the NFIP umbrella.

The course, held at the Idaho Department of Fish and Game Southwest Regional Office in Nampa, brought together floodplain managers, developers, engineers, and emergency managers from across the state. Among them were Idaho Office of Emergency Management (IOEM) Planners, Delanie Edmunds and Christina Lazar, and Risk MAP Program Manager, Robin Kiska. Together, they delved into a four-day course to strengthen Idaho’s resilience against flooding challenges.

The training reviewed important topics such as NFIP minimum floodplain management regulations, Substantial Improvement/Substantial Damage (SI/SD) criteria, and the vital role of permitting processes in floodplain management. Participants also gained insights into floodplain management regulations, the significance of ordinance administration, and the interplay between floodplain management and flood insurance.

In addition, attendees explored Letters of Map Change (LOMCs), flood hazard mitigation solutions, and the roles and responsibilities of a floodplain administrator before and after disaster events.

At the end of the course, participants took on performance evaluations and research assignments to earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs).

For professionals like Edmunds, Kiska, and Lazar, this course was as a pivotal step toward achieving certification as a Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM). Upon successful completion of the CFM exam, they would be able to review developments in floodplain areas, prioritizing life safety in every decision made for Idahoans.

“The information in this course helps Idaho build structures that keep citizens safe from flooding events,” said Edmunds. “Above all, our primary focus remains on ensuring life safety.”