Executive Order affecting floodplain development issued January 31, 2015

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An Executive Order has been issued that is very important information for anyone working in the Special Flood Hazard Area. It takes future conditions into account and requires Design Elevations for lowest floors to be 2 feet above BFE for standard construction and 3 feet above BFE for critical facilities, or construction to the 500 year / 0.2%. Implementation of this new standard will not occur until the end of the 60-day public input period and agencies have been able to update their standards and regulations, which will also trigger public comment periods.

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Elevation Certificates and the Climate Data Initiative

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A Huffington Post article recently featured in the Connecticut Association of Land Surveyor’s (CALS) weekly newsletter captured the importance of a push for climate change preparedness in Washington called the climate data initiative. The initiative will make public useful and pertinant information in regards to climate change, compiling it at Climate.Data.gov.

The aim of the initiative is to make information regarding climate change more available to foster private-sector action on climate change preparedness.

According to the Obama Administration, “the climate change initiative will help create easy-to-use tools for regional planners, farmers, hospitals, and businesses across the country — and empower America’s communities to prepare themselves for the future.”

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