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Volume 32, No. 3 | Spring 2026
A newsletter for Connecticut's Floodplain Managers
Free Climate Risk Mapping Tool
In September 2025, the Connecticut Insurance Department (CID) partnered with First Street to provide a free, online, property-specific climate risk tool for Connecticut residents. The tool uses scientific data to help homeowners, buyers, and investors understand risks from flooding, wildfire, extreme heat, air quality and hurricane wind hazards. This tool can help Connecticut residents make informed decisions about their insurance needs. Users can enter any Connecticut address to view maps to receive detailed, property-specific climate-risk assessments, understanding their exposure to extreme weather today and into the future.
The climate risk mapping tool is also part of CID's new Consumer Information Center. Designed to give residents information about several types of insurance (health, life, auto, homeowner's, and flood), the information center includes the climate risk tool along with other resources related to flood insurance, flood claims, flood maps, and preparedness.
USGS Compound Flood Risk Mapper
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Long Island Sound Partnership has released a new Compound Flood Hazard Assessment Mapper. It is an interactive tool developed by the USGS New York Water Science Center that helps users explore the combined impacts of multiple flooding drivers across the New York and Connecticut coastal region.
Compound flooding is flooding that results from a co-occurrence of multiple flood drivers: precipitation events (pluvial flooding, overland flow of stormwater), incidents of coastal storm surge and tidal flooding (coastal flooding), and flooding that occurs as a shallow water table rises above the land surface or critical infrastructure (groundwater emergence flooding).
This mapper presents individual and combined flood hazard scores on a 900-meter by 900-meter grid over a study area which encompasses New York City, and Long Island, and Long Island Sound Watersheds in Southeastern New York and Southern Connecticut. Additional maps displaying flood influencing variables for the respective drivers and the extent of coastal area inundation and groundwater emergence flooding under current conditions and for different coastal water levels are also presented.
The map visually displays hazard rankings and spatial patterns of flood drivers so that planners, emergency managers, researchers, and the public can better understand where these flood hazards are most likely to coincide, thus supporting local decision making for flood mitigation, coastal planning, and resilience strategies. The application is based on USGS models and ongoing research into regional flood processes.
Connecticut Flood Mapping Update
The federal shutdown in autumn 2025 has significantly changed or delayed many of the flood map update projects currently in process in Connecticut. All dates provided below are tentative and subject to change. All preliminary flood maps can be found on FEMA's Map Service Center website.
Farmington River Watershed, Hartford County - Avon, Bloomfield, Bristol, Burlington, Canton, East Granby, Farmington, Granby, Hartland, Plainville, Simsbury, Suffield, West Hartford, Windsor, Windsor Locks. A Letter of Final Determination (LFD) from FEMA is anticipated to be issued on May 13, 2026. An open house for residents to discuss maps and insurance with FEMA is anticipated in August 2026, location to be determined. Effective flood maps and studies are anticipated on November 13, 2026.
Saugatuck River Watershed - Bethel, Bridgeport, Danbury, Darien, Easton, Fairfield, Greenwich, Monroe, New Canaan, Newtown, Norwalk, Redding, Ridgefield, Shelton, Stamford, Stratford, Trumbull, Weston, Westport, Wilton. This study will be combined with the Housatonic River watershed and Farmington River Litchfield County watershed projects. Revised preliminary maps are scheduled for release on November 3, 2026. Effective flood maps and studies are anticipated in early 2029.
Housatonic River Watershed - Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Bethany, Bethel, Bethlehem, Bridgewater, Bristol, Brookfield, Canaan, Cheshire, Cornwall, Danbury, Derby, Easton, Goshen, Harwinton, Kent, Litchfield, Middlebury, Milford, Monroe, Morris, Naugatuck, New Fairfield, New Hartford, New Milford, Newtown, Norfolk, North Canaan, Orange, Oxford, Plymouth, Prospect, Redding, Ridgefield, Roxbury, Salisbury, Seymour, Sharon, Shelton, Sherman, Southbury, Stratford, Thomaston, Torrington, Trumbull, Warren, Washington, Waterbury, Watertown, Winchester, Wolcott, Woodbridge, Woodbury. This study will be combined with the Saugatuck River watershed and Farmington River Litchfield County watershed projects. Revised preliminary maps are scheduled for release on November 3, 2026. Effective flood maps and studies are anticipated in early 2029.
Farmington River Watershed, Litchfield County - Barkhamsted, Colebrook, Harwinton, New Hartford, Norfolk, Plymouth, Torrington, Winchester. This study will be combined with the Saugatuck River watershed and Housatonic River watershed projects. Revised preliminary maps are scheduled for release on November 3, 2026. Effective flood maps and studies are anticipated in early 2029.
Lower Connecticut River Outlet Watershed, Hartford, Middlesex, New Haven Counties – Avon, Berlin, Bloomfield, Chester, Cromwell, Deep River, Durham, East Granby, East Haddam, East Hampton, East Hartford, East Windsor, Enfield, Essex, Farmington, Fenwick, Glastonbury, Guilford, Haddam, Hartford, Killingworth, Madison, Manchester, Marlborough, Meriden, Middlefield, Middletown, New Britain, Newington, North Branford, Old Saybrook, Plainville, Portland, Rocky Hill, Simsbury, South Windsor, Southington, Suffield, Wallingford, West Hartford, Westbrook, Wethersfield, Windsor, Windsor Locks. Preliminary flood maps are scheduled to be issued on June 13, 2026.
Shetucket River, Thames River, Lower Connecticut River Outlet and Quinebaug River Watersheds, Tolland County - Andover, Bolton, Columbia, Coventry, Ellington, Hebron, Mansfield, Somers, Stafford, Tolland, Union, Vernon, Willington. Preliminary flood maps are scheduled for release on April 8, 2026.
Shetucket River Watershed, Windham County - Ashford, Brooklyn, Canterbury, Chaplin, Eastford, Hampton, Scotland, Windham, Woodstock. Preliminary flood maps are scheduled for release on April 8, 2026.
Lower Connecticut River Outlet, Shetucket River and Thames River Watersheds, New London County - Bozrah, Colchester, East Lyme, Franklin, Groton (City & Town), Groton Long Point Association, Lebanon, Ledyard, Lisbon, Lyme, Montville, New London, Noank Fire District, North Stonington, Norwich, Old Lyme, Preston, Salem, Sprague, Stonington (Town), Waterford. Preliminary flood maps are scheduled for release on April 8, 2026.
Virtual Elevation Certificate Workshop
On Thursday, April 23, 2026, a free, virtual elevation certificate (EC) workshop will be held covering the new 2023 EC form. The virtual workshop will run from 9:00am to 4:30pm and taught by Schwalls Consulting. Space is limited, with only 50 slots available. Registration is free with funding provided for the workshop from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Continuing education credits (CECs) are available for various professional groups (6 CECs - PE, PLS, BO/BI, AICP, CFM and 0.6 CEC - ICC). The flyer provides all the details and link to register. This workshop is in high demand. Please only register if you intend on attending for the entire day.
Expanding MyCoast Connecticut
The MyCoast Connecticut Pilot Program has been active in Groton, New London, and Stonington for over a year and has been a success. MyCoast is a tool for reporting coastal flooding events from storms and high tides through a publicly accessible database where community members can upload photos to share local impacts and help inform flood planning.
The MyCoast Connecticut project was implemented through a partnership with Connecticut Sea Grant, the Connecticut National Estuarine Research Reserve (CT NERR) and the Connecticut Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation (CIRCA).
The team is looking to expand this valuable tool statewide, and would like to hear from other interested inland and coastal communities. Please fill out the MyCoast Connecticut Interest Form if you would like to find out more about implementing this valuable tool in your community!
Want to learn more about the MyCoast Connecticut Pilot Project? Register for an upcoming webinar on Wednesday, April 22, 2026 from 1:00-2:00pm. The webinar will highlight project activities from the past year, discuss how MyCoast photos can be used to inform flood planning, and next steps for continued MyCoast expansion and funding.
Training Opportunities
CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS & WEBINARS
March 10-12, 2026: ResCon International, New Orleans, LA.
March 15-17, 2026: 2026 National Flood Association (NFA) Annual Conference, Scottsdale, AZ.
March 19, 2026: Connecticut Association of Flood Managers (CAFM) webinar - Advancing Hydrologic Risk Assessment Under Climate Change (Future Hydrology), 1:00-2:00pm, Gregory Stewart, USGS, free, 1 CEC CFMs, register here.
March 21, 2026: Connecticut Land Conservation Conference, Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT.
March 23-26, 2026: Verisk Insurance Conference 2026, Las Vegas, NV.
March 31, 2026: Sustainable & Resilient Communities 3rd Annual Connecticut Funding Workshop, Gateway Community College, 20 Church Street, New Haven (Curran Community Room N100), 10:00am-2:30pm, lunch provided.
April 23, 2026: Elevation Certificate (EC) Workshop, free, virtual, 9:00am-4:30pm, see flyer for more details.
April 27 - May 1, 2026: National Association of Wetland Managers (NAWM) Annual State/Tribal/Federal Coordination Meeting, NCTC Shepherdstown, WV.
April 28-30, 2026: New York State Floodplain and Stormwater Managers Association (NYSFSMA) 2026 Annual Conference, Utica, NY.
May 2, 2026: Connecticut River Valley Environmental Summit 2026, Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT.
May 4-7, 2026: U.S. Society on Dams (USSD) 2026 Annual Conference, Austin, TX.
May 12-14, 2026: National Adaptation Forum, Pittsburgh, PA.
May 14, 2026: Rhode Island Flood Mitigation Association (RIFMA) 2026 Annual Conference, University of Rhode Island, South Kingstown, RI.
May 31- June 3, 2026. Flood, Fire, and Wind Conference, Dallas, TX.
May 31-June 4, 2026: Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM) Annual Conference, Milwaukee, WI.
June 4-5, 2026: Long Island Sound Research Conference, Mystic, CT.
June 14-17, 2026; 51st Annual Natural Hazards Research and Applications Workshop, Broomfield, CO.
August 30 - September 3, 2026: Association of State Dam Safety Officials (ASDSO) Annual Conference - Dam Safety 2026, Raleigh, NC.
ASSOCIATION OF STATE FLOODPLAIN MANAGERS (ASFPM)
The ASFPM Training and Knowledge Center offers webinars and an online university as a professional development resource for floodplain management professionals.
- NFIP 101 Training Course - This on-demand nine unit course covers flood maps and studies, flood regulations, compliance, flood insurance, substantial improvement/substantial damage, and pre/post disaster floodplain management. The combined course duration for all nine units is approximately 14-17 hours to complete. There is a twenty question exam at the end of the course with unlimited retakes. The course can be completed at your own pace.
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WETLANDS MANAGERS (NAWM)
'The NAWM posts past webinar recordings on its website. Register here for any upcoming webinars.
EPA SOAK UP THE RAIN WEBINARS & WATERSHED ACADEMY
Soak Up the Rain is a U.S. EPA stormwater public outreach and education program to raise awareness about the costly impacts of polluted stormwater runoff and encourage compliance with stormwater rules and requirements through nature-based solutions such as green infrastructure and low impact development. To view watch recordings of past webinars, visit their webinar archive. The U.S. EPA Watershed Academy offers training and resources on watershed management, including a new Hazard Mitigation Planning and Water Resource Management training module, intended for water quality and hazard mitigation professionals that are interested in integrating water quality issues and/or nature-based solutions into state or local Hazard Mitigation Plans.
NATURAL HAZARDS CENTER
The Natural Hazards Center, posts past webinar recordings on its website.
EXPLORING CLIMATE SOLUTIONS WEBINAR SERIES
Past webinar recordings are posted on the CTDEEP Climate Change website.
CENTER FOR LAND USE EDUCATION & RESEARCH (CLEAR)
- Webinar Library
- Land Use Academy Training for Municipal Officials (Basic & Advanced)
- Adapt CT Climate Resilience Training Modules
RESILIENT NATION PARTNERSHIP NETWORK (RNPN)
FEMA's Resilient Nation Partnership Network brings together a diverse network of stakeholders committed to help communities act and become more resilient toward natural disasters and climate-related events.
VIDEOS
New Elevation Certificate and Dry Floodproofing Certificate webinars: Elevation Certificate webinar: https://youtu.be/8_iYHiouQMA (57 minutes) Floodproofing webinar: https://youtu.be/Zs06JIQ3W00 (35 minutes)
FEMA Region I Flood Mapping 101 Skill Share Virtual Workshop - On August 8th, 2022, FEMA Region 1 hosted a two-hour Flood Mapping 101 Skill-Share Virtual Workshop for state and local floodplain management and permitting officials in New England. Topics covered included: history of the flood mapping program, overview of flood insurance rate maps and flood insurance studies, Map Service Center tutorial, how to read flood maps and how different flood zones affect local communities, the flood mapping development process, and Letters of Map Change.
FEMA Region I Flood Mapping 102 Skill Share Virtual Workshop - On August 29th, 2024, FEMA Region 1 hosted a 1.5-hour Flood Mapping 102 Skill-Share Virtual Workshop for state and local floodplain management and permitting officials in New England. This workshop focused on the different types of Letters of Map Change (LOMC), such as Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA), Letter of Map Revision (LOMR), Letter of Map Revision based on Fill (LOMR-F), Physical Map Revision (PMR) and Conditional Letters of Map Revision (CLOMR).
Flood Insurance & Risk Rating 2.0 - Watch this 1:15 minute video will discuss how Risk Rating 2.0 defines a property's unique flood risk.
Disaster Recovery Reform Act (DRRA) Section 1206 - Section 1206 of the Disaster Recovery Reform Act (DRRA) authorizes FEMA to reimburse communities that participate in the NFIP for the resources needed to effectively administer and enforce building codes and floodplain management regulations following a major disaster declaration. This creates new eligible activities through FEMA’s Public Assistance (PA) Program to carry out required post-disaster activities. FEMA has developed a 6 minute video on DRRA 1206 to educate floodplain administrators, emergency managers, elected officials, and other stakeholders in the recovery process with the information needed for successful reimbursement of these new eligible activities.
Elevation Certificate Training Series - This eight-video training series provides guidance on how to complete each section of a elevation certificate as per requirements of the Community Rating System (CRS) program. The series also covers general issues that are commonly encountered and how to correct an elevation certificate that was filled out incorrectly.
Rising Waters: Planning for Flooding in Connecticut - This 15 minute educational video from Adapt CT highlights flooding scenarios within our state along with the social and economic impacts of flooding, and opportunities for mitigation. The video aims to increase the knowledge base of municipal officials to make informed decisions and effective choices supporting resilience. The general public and other stakeholders will also find the video valuable.
Climate Change in Connecticut - This 13 minute educational video from Adapt CT highlights the effects of climate change in our state. The video aims to increase the knowledge base of municipal officials to make informed decisions and effective choices supporting resilience. The general public and other stakeholders will also find the video valuable.
Legal Issues and Flood Resilience - This 18 minute educational video from Adapt CT, entitled Drowning in Liability: Reducing climate change impacts through municipal planning and zoning, aims to help viewers recognize the planning and zoning interests related to flooding, describes actions that can reduce liability related to planning and zoning decisions, and identifies key resources for further information. The video illustrates the causes of flooding and what has and can been done to protect Connecticut residents, property, and natural resources from its devastating impacts. The video also discusses “takings” and identifies multiple court cases to enhance understanding.
High Tide Flooding - This 7 minute video from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, "Rising Waters" series, discusses high tide flooding, also known as sunny day or nuisance flooding, that is occurring as a result of sea level rise. Sea level rise is often spoken of in future terms, including projections for impacts we're likely to see by the end of the century. But in many communities in the U.S., sea level rise is already a factor in people's lives in the form of high-tide flooding. The video visits Annapolis, Maryland that has seen a dramatic increase in floods in recent years. Waters sometimes breach flood walls, or more often, back up through storm sewers to flood nearby streets.
The 21st Century Resilient Business training: Managing Your Chemicals Can Help You Manage the Storm - This 25 minute video will show how to make your business resilient to natural hazards, reduce property damage, environmental contamination and liability. This video will help businesses that use chemicals in their process, sell chemicals and store hazardous waste onsite, including retail stores and service providers. It offers steps businesses can take to reduce risks and keep your business operating, especially those in flood prone areas. This video is also available as a training course.
COASTAL STATES ORGANIZATION (CSO)
Past webinar recordings can be found by clicking here.
ENVIRONMENTAL BUSINESS COUNCIL (EBC) NEW ENGLAND
Check EBC's events calendar for webinars and other events in 2026 or view past presentations.
CTDEEP AQUIFER PROTECTION AREA PROGRAM TRAINING
This free, online course assists municipal aquifer protection agencies and their staff with meeting the training requirements under the Connecticut Aquifer Protection Act. The course can be completed at your own place, but must be completed within 60 days once started. It is estimated that the course will take approximately 8 hours to complete. There are 13 modules with text, videos, interactive activities, and practice quizzes. The course provides an overview of the regulatory requirements for local implementation, instructs agency members and staff responsible for knowing the law, and assists them in complying with the law. Register here for the training program.
TRAINING FOR MUNICIPAL INLAND WETLAND AGENTS
Visit the CTDEEP inland wetlands agents training webpage to access the comprehensive online training program, continuing education workshops, archived training material, training videos, and newsletter for municipal inland wetland agents. Also visit the National Association of Wetland Managers (NAWM) webpage for past and upcoming webinars and trainings.
NOAA DIGITAL COAST VIRTUAL LEARNING
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Digital Coast has a suite of recorded webinars, trainings, and educational videos on various coastal zone management topics which are great for virtual learning. Also check out their training calendar for online instructor-led training offerings and webinars.
FLOODPROOFING.COM
One hour webinars are held each Wednesday at 3:00pm and are free. Click here to view and register for the upcoming webinars listed below. Most webinars provide 1 CEC for CFMs.
- April 8, May 13, June 3, July 8, August 5, September 9, October 7, November 11, 2026: Floodplain Design, Construction, and Impacts of Flood Insurance
- March 25, April 15, May 20, June 10, July 22, August 19, September 16, October 14, November 18, 2026: Understanding Foundation Flood Vents and FEMA's Technical Bulletin 1
- April 22, June 24, August 26, October 28, 2026: Designing Passive Floodproofing Solutions Using Floodproof Windows and Wall Systems
FEMA EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE (EMI)
The Emergency Management Institute (EMI) is located at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) National Disaster & Emergency Management University (NDEMU) in Emmitsburg, Maryland. EMI serves as the national center for emergency management training of federal, state and local government officials and is one schools in the NDEMU. Tuition, housing, and all books and materials are provided at no cost. Participants are responsible for the cost of a meal ticket (approximately $250-$300/week depending on length of class). Below is a select list of floodplain management classes offered into 2026. A full list of training classes and how to apply for admission can be found at the EMI website.
E0202 Debris Management Planning for State, Tribal, Territorial and Local Officials - March 23-26, June 22-25, August 17-20, 2026.
E0212 Hazard Mitigation Assistance: Developing Quality Application Elements - May 18-21, 2026.
E0213 Hazard Mitigation Assistance Program: Application Review & Evaluation- August 31-September 2, 2026.
E0214 Unified Hazard Mitigation Assistance Program: Project Implementation and Programmatic Closeout - September 21-23, 2026.
E0273 Managing Floodplain Development through the NFIP - May 18-21, August 24-27, 2026.
E0278 NFIP/Community Rating System (CRS) - July 6-9, 2026.
E0279 Retrofitting Floodprone Residential Buildings - August 10-13, 2026.
E2461: Advanced Building Science Series I: Flood Mitigation - July 27-29, 2026.
EMI also offers free Independent Study courses on various aspects of the NFIP aimed at community officials, surveyors, insurance agents, and claims adjusters. These web-based courses are offered at no cost and can be taken at your own pace. Below is a sample of courses available. Independent study courses are also available for other topics in emergency management, hazard mitigation planning, disaster response and dam safety. Check out the full course list for all available independent study courses.
IS-30.b Mitigation eGrants System for the Subgrant Applicant
IS-42 Social Media in Emergency Management
IS-158 Hazard Mitigation Flood Insurance in Disaster Operations
IS-162 Hazard Mitigation Floodplain Management in Disaster Operations
IS-212.b Introduction to Unified Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA)
IS-230.d Fundamentals of Emergency Management
IS-271.a Anticipating Hazardous Weather and Community Risk
IS-273 How to Read a Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM)
IS-274 How to Read a Flood Insurance Study (FIS)
IS-276.a Benefit-Cost Analysis (BCA) Fundamentals
IS-277.a Benefit-Cost Analysis (BCA): Entry Level
IS-279.a Introduction to Retrofitting Flood-prone Residential Structures
IS-280 Overview: Engineering Principles & Practices for Retrofitting Flood-prone Residential Structures
IS-284.a Using the Substantial Damage Estimator 3.0 Tool
IS-285 Substantial Damage Estimator for the Floodplain Administrator
IS-318 Mitigation Planning for Local and Tribal Communities
IS-324.a Community Hurricane Preparedness
IS-386 Introduction to Residential Coastal Construction
IS-393.b Introduction to Hazard Mitigation
IS-394.a Protecting Your Home or Small Business From Disaster
IS-552 The Public Works Role in Emergency Management
IS-554 Emergency Planning for Public Works
IS-556 Damage Assessment for Public Works
IS-558 Public Works and Disaster Recovery
IS-559 Local Damage Assessment
IS-632a Introduction to Debris Operations
IS-633 Debris Management Plan Development
IS-634 Introduction to FEMA's Public Assistance Program
IS-727 Floodplain Management and Protection of Wetlands
IS-870.a Dam Sector: Crisis Management
IS-871.a Dam Sector: Security Awareness
IS-872.a Dam Sector: Protective Measures
IS-922.a Applications of GIS for Emergency Management
IS-1100.a Increased Cost of Compliance
IS-1101.b Basic Agent Tutorial
IS-1102 Theory of Elevation Rating
IS-1103.a Elevation Certificate for Surveyors
IS-1104 NFIP Claims Review for Adjusters
IS-1105.a EC Made Easy: Elevation Certificate Overview
IS-1106.a FEMA Mapping Changes
IS-1107 Adjuster Customer Service
IS-1108 Insuring Condominiums
IS-1109.a Understanding Basement Coverage
IS-1110.a Writing Commercial Exposures
IS-1111 Introduction to Commercial Claims
IS-1112 Introduction to Flood Claims
IS-1113 Coastal Barrier Resources Act
IS-1117 Severe Repetitive Loss for Agents
IS-1119 Letters of Map Amendment (LOMA) & Letters of Map Revision Based on Fill (LOMR-F)
IS-1120 Letters of Map Revision (LOMR)
IS-1400 Foundations of Climate Science (Climate Adaptation & Hazard Mitigation Certificate Program)
Visit the DEEP website at www.ct.gov/deep. Published by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Bureau of Water Protection and Land Reuse, Land and Water Resources Division. Editor: Diane Ifkovic, State National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Coordinator, email: diane.ifkovic@ct.gov. View past issues of The Torrent, and other DEEP newsletters at the DEEP newsletter archive webpage or subscribe to other DEEP newsletters and publications.
