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Staff outlines FEMA training, floodplain mapping and infrastructure concerns
Summary
Planning staff reported on FEMA floodplain management training and recent map updates, flagged modeling and freeboard differences with county data, and discussed infrastructure and emergency‑response implications for the town.
Planning staff gave an in‑depth update on floodplain mapping, recent LOMAR work and operational implications for Purcellville at the Planning Commission meeting on March 20.
"Early February the 3rd through the 6th I had the opportunity to attend a FEMA put on training at the FEMA National Training Center," planner Andrews told the commission, describing courses on floodplain management and FEMA GIS layers. Andrews walked commissioners through the town’s FIRM panels and explained that the regulatory 1% flood hazard (zone AE) is concentrated along the South Fork/Catoctin Creek corridor through the northern part of town.
Andrews said county flow‑rate models used to support recent LOMAR (Letter of Map Revision) work are conservative and that the town’s draft ordinance proposes additional freeboard requirements. "The county’s flow rates...are very, very conservative," he said, noting the draft ordinance’s freeboard could make compliance harder for some property owners. He explained the town currently allows one foot of allowance for changes to the floodplain under a conditional LOMAR process and described the "no‑rise" provision limiting permitted alterations without FEMA approval.
Commission discussion flagged infrastructure and emergency response concerns. The chair noted that modeling shows North 21st Street can be overtopped in major events and that "the fire department is kinda cut off from using Route 7," underscoring the need to weave emergency‑response planning into floodplain preparations. The chair also cited measured event water depths ("over 4 and a half feet during this event") and a cited flow rate "8,000 cubic feet per second" in one modeled location as context for planning.
Andrews said he identified FEMA and state Department of Conservation and Recreation resources that could support mapping and response planning and offered to share materials with commissioners. Staff and commissioners agreed to continue assessing the ordinance language (freeboard, no‑rise) and to coordinate with county modeling, engineering consultants and the town’s utilities teams to mitigate flood risks.
