Flood Services

Assistance in handling challenges of existing flood map designations. Preparation and prosecution of FEMA-based and/or community adopted flood map amendments and revisions in cooperation with landowner's counsel. Interface with lenders and insurance providers on flood map revisions, lending requirements and impacts, and insurance requirements and rates. Personal follow-through on Letters of Map Revision (LOMR) and Letters of Map Amendment (LOMA).

Review, analysis and confirmation of appropriate flood elevations and risks associated with particular land parcels. GIS, tax parcel and other designated information to assist in detailed determinations of actual flood elevations. Surveying, benchmark and other designator reviews to confirm accuracy of elevation designations and to prepare for elevation challenges.

Expert testimony and expert testimony preparation, in cooperation with landowner's counsel, on matters relating to FEMA, flood impacts and flood mapping, regulatory taking, land valuation and other matters relative to the imposition of community or FEMA-based flood maps. Support of post-flood and disaster litigation relating to flood causation, flood risk evaluation and preparation, community, state and federal flood and disaster response, as well as other related agency actions (such as U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and state departments of transportation).

Expert testimony and testimony preparation, in cooperation with counsel on behalf of corporations, communities and not-for-profit organizations with respect to FEMA, mapping and land use, zoning and comprehensive planning at community and municipal proceedings.

Preparation of positions, expert testimony and preparation of facts and data to support conclusions before community, municipal, state and federal regulatory and legislative bodies. Assistance in representation of communities, corporations and not-for-profit organizations with respect to flood, flood mapping, land use, zoning, land valuation, flood response, and disaster assistance issues and other FEMA-related matters before legislative bodies.

Support and assistance on land use and zoning matters related to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) maps, flood designations and other related regulatory issues. Assistance to private, corporate and community entities on all matters such as land use planning, land valuation, project impacts, project support, environmental impacts and other ramifications relating to implementation of flood maps, flood elevations, land use requirements, and zoning.

Preparation of testimony as an expert on behalf of public, private, corporate, not-for-profit and governmental entities before legislative and judicial bodies on matters relating to flooding, flood causation, flood maps and mapping, flood preparation, post-flood and disaster response as well as land valuation and other effects of land use and regulatory actions. Testimony before legislative, judicial, and regulatory bodies on the same and assistance in preparing organizations and their counsel on expert preparation. Interface with other related experts on behalf of all clients with flood or flood mapping related issues.

Expert testimony, expert witness support and preparation, and legislative support and testimony on matters related to land valuation arising from flood mapping, inaccurate flood designations, flood map revisions and amendments, land use and zoning related to flood designations, comprehensive planning, and other related regulatory interface. Impact evaluation following flooding and other related disasters and interface with other environmental issues such as wetlands, environmental habitats, and contaminants. Advice with respect to evaluations by appraisers as related to correct or inaccurate flood zone or flood elevation designations.

Assistance and support in the prosecution or defense of taking or eminent domain claims arising in connection with flood mapping or flood designations, regulatory land use and zoning activities and post-flood claims, as well as negligence and nuisance claims related to flooding and damages from other related causes.

Assistance and support regarding future land use and other regulatory approaches to aid in claims and assistance opportunities in the future should the need arise.

Assistance and expert testimony on matters relating to flooding, flood damage, flood causation, and related claims. Interface with other disciplines including engineering, surveying, hydraulics, hydrology and earth sciences to prove or disprove flood causation and/or flood damages.

On behalf of corporations and communities, direct liaison and interface with state and federal agencies involving flood issues such as flood mapping, flood map revisions (LOMRs and community-wide re-mapping efforts), disaster assistance, flood protection requirements, and funding. Support services in challenges to mapping issues, land use and zoning matters affected by federal and state activities, impacts from activities by governmental agencies affecting flood risks, and situations involving disaster assistance claims.

Representation of communities with respect to all map revision matters and community-wide re-mapping efforts. Interface with federal agencies such as FEMA and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in obtaining financial support and timely updated flood maps. Legislative interface in obtaining funding for community mapping as well as significant funding for flood reduction projects.