Map of the PEMA Middle Delaware Study area (click for larger image).

The Project

The DRBC is partnering with the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) to host a series of workshops for local officials in several "Middle Delaware" Pennsylvania counties to help them advance hazard mitigation (e.g., flood loss reduction) projects for FEMA funding approval.

The counties in the study area are Carbon, Northampton, Lehigh, Bucks and parts of Luzerne.

PEMA received grant funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to support these efforts.

  • View Study Area map (pdf)

  • View News Release about the Project (issued 5/2/24)

Purpose of Workshops

The workshops are geared for folks working in local government, planning, conservation, floodplain or emergency management or those who work with folks in those fields. The goal is to assist stakeholders in low-capacity communities to:

  • Increase the capacity of local municipalities to apply for grants;

  • Provide education and outreach on application process and timeline; and  

  • Advance Hazard Mitigation Plans to mitigation project development and actions.

Through these efforts, municipalities and eligible authorities will be better equipped to advance their mitigation, recovery and resilience priorities, especially those with a focus on climate change and equity.

DRBC's Role

The DRBC is providing GIS mapping services, as well as outreach planning and communications for the workshops and related meetings.

This page will provide general information on the project and access to all the materials presented at the Plan Implementation and Grant Development (PIGD) workshops.

In the Spring 2024, Hazard Mitigation Plan Implementation and Grant Development (PIGD) workshops were held throughout the project area in TWO parts – Day 1 and Day 2.

• Each workshop was held from 8:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
  
  
• The workshops were clustered by county, but folks were welcome to attend whichever was most suitable for schedules.
  
  
• Each session was offered as HYBRID (in-person and Zoom), and there was also one fully VIRTUAL session.
  
  
• In-person attendance was encouraged to support peer-to-peer networking.
  
  
• Registration was required whether folks intended to join in-person or virtual. 

PIGD Day 1 Workshops

• March 11: Carbon/Luzerne - Location: Mark S. Nalesnik Emergency Management Agency - 1264 Emergency Lane, Nesquehoning, PA 18240 
  
  
• March 12: Lehigh/Northampton - Location: Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs Stadium - 1050 Iron Pigs Way, Allentown, PA 18109
  
  
• March 13: Bucks - Location: Bucks County Fire Training Site - 1760 S Easton Road; Doylestown PA 18901 
  
  
• March 18: Virtual (all counties) - Location: online
  

PIGD Day 2 Workshops

• April 23: Carbon/Luzerne - Location: Mark S. Nalesnik Emergency Management Agency - 1264 Emergency Lane, Nesquehoning, PA 18240 
  
  
• April 24: Lehigh/Northampton - Location: Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs Stadium - 1050 Iron Pigs Way, Allentown, PA 18109  
  
  
• April 25: Bucks - Location: Bucks County Fire Training Site - 1760 S Easton Road; Doylestown PA 18901  
  
  
• April 29: Virtual (all counties) - Location: online

An introductory webinar for county officials was held on January 18, 2024.

Webinar Recording

Download the Presentation

• View Intro Webinar presentation as pdf

A series of Day 1 workshops was held throughout the Middle Delaware Watershed the week of March 11-18, 2024.

Day 1 Recording (Bucks County Session, March 13)

Day 1 Workshop Presentations

• How to Write Hazard Mitigation Plans that are Actionable - PEMA (pdf)
  
  
• The Hazard Mitigation Assistance Application Development Process - PEMA/FEMA (pdf)
  
  
• Pre-Calculated Benefits & Benefit Cost Analysis - PEMA (pdf)
  
  
• Mapping - PEMA (pdf)

A series of Day 2 workshops was held throughout the Middle Delaware Watershed the week of April 23-29, 2024.

Day 2 Recording (Lehigh/Northampton Session, April 24)

Day 2 Workshop Presentations

• Application Design for FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) Grants - PEMA, FEMA (pdf)
  
  
• FEMA Grant Outcomes - FEMA (pdf)
  
  
• Environmental and Historic Preservation (EHP) Photography - FEMA (pdf)
  
  
• PA Planning Integration Resources - FEMA (pdf)
  
  
• USACE Case Study: Successful Mitigation & Resiliency Project - USACE (pdf)
  
  
• PA Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) Permitting - PADEP (pdf)
  
  
• Grant Cycle - PEMA (pdf)
  
  
• Session 6: Discussion Topics - PEMA (pdf)

These resources were shared by our FEMA & PEMA partners to workshop participants (all pdfs).

Middle Delaware 2024 PIGD Resources

• Potential Local Project Triage Worksheet
  
  
• Homework Sheet

FEMA Resources

• Hazard Mitigation Assistance Tri-fold
  
  
• Rehabilitation of High Hazard Potential Dams (HHPD) Grant Program
  
  
• Building Community Resilience with Nature-Based Solutions
  
  
  • A Guide for Local Communities
    
    
  • Strategies for Success
    
    
• Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) Direct Technical Assistance (DTA) Initiative
  
  
• BRIC Building Code Activities
  
  
• FEMA Region 3 EHP Online Resources
  
  
• FEMA Region 3 EHP Documentation Checklist
  
  
• National Risk Index Overview
  
  
• Dam Safety with Beaverly Coloring Book
  
  
• My Rain Garden Coloring Book

PADEP Resources

• Guidelines for Maintaining Streams in Your Community
  
  
• Stream Maintenance: Northeast Region
  
  
• Stream Maintenance: Southeast Region

DRBC

• Kristen Bowman Kavanagh, kristen.b.kavanagh@drbc.gov
  
  
• Elizabeth Brown, elizabeth.brown@drbc.gov
  
  
• Avery Lentini, avery.lentini@drbc.gov

PEMA

• Thomas Hughes, thughes@pa.gov
  
  
• Rick Deal, rdeal@pa.gov
  
  
• Corey Davenport, cordavenpo@pa.gov