First Selectman Mike Tetreau announced today that an updated review of Fairfield’s Floodplain Management Plan is available for the public’s review on the Town’s Plan and Zoning Department webpage under the Forms and Documents tab.

Fairfield’s flood reduction action items are located within The Connecticut Metropolitan Council of Governments’ (MetroCOG’s) Multi-town Hazard Mitigation Plan which is available at
http://www.ctmetro.org/projects/environment-sustainability-2/nhmp/#.WmDMbuWWzcu.

Town staff from multiple departments collaborated on the review effort of action items which include prevention, property protection, floodplain management regulation, structural, natural systems protection, education and awareness, and emergency management initiatives to help reduce Fairfield’s future flood risk, protect lives, and reduce property damage. Town Plan and Zoning staff presented the update to the Board of Selectmen at its January 17, 2018 meeting.

The Town has made progress on several initiatives including the following:
• assisting homeowners in elevating their homes with the FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program;
• protecting the Town’s Waste Water Treatment Facility with a flood barrier funded through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program expected to be complete in 2019;
• replacement of the Riverside Drive tide gate system expected to be complete by 2019;
• relocation of Fairfield’s Emergency Operations Center to a less flood prone location.

The Town of Fairfield participates in FEMA’s voluntary Community Rating System (CRS) which awards a rating to communities that go above and beyond the minimum requirements of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) flood plain management requirements. Fairfield’s floodplain management efforts result in a 10 percent discount for its 2,717 policy holders or approximately $433,000 in annual savings. Fairfield is only one of eight communities in the State that currently participates in the program.

For more information, questions or to provide feedback on Fairfield’s Floodplain Management Plan, please contact Assistant Planning Director Emmeline Harrigan at eharrigan@fairfieldct.org or 203-256-3054.