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SECTIONTWO Program Plan evaluate local engineering needs and resources on a case-by-case basis. Such a case-by-case evaluation for each county is consistent with the discussion above about including in the annual priority list any counties with unmet H&H engineering needs. It is important to determine the need for site-specific flood hazard data updates in addition to creating a countywide DFIRM mapping framework The CWCB believes this secondary effort is necessary to account for changes to watershed conditions that may require the creation of updated flood hazard data, un- anticipated development, shortages in funding, or a variety of other factors that may limit the ability of a countywide mapping effort to address all of a community's flood hazard mapping needs. Additionally, the CWCB wants to avoid the trap of viewing the mere creation of a countywide digital floodplain mapping foundation as sufficient to warrant moving on to other counties. Through the implementation of the countywide mapping and site-specific needs assessments, the CWCB will be able to more easily work towards achieving their goal of providing "accurate and comprehensive floodplain management tools and flood insurance information to as many Colorado residents as possible". By documenting these procedures and results the CWCB will also assist FEMA in supporting the regulatory requirement to perform a needs assessment of flood hazard data on the FIRM on a 5-year basis, as indicated by Section 575 of the National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994, which mandates that FEMA must: "... once during each S- year period... assess the need to revise and update all fZoodplain areas and fZood risk zones identified, delineated, or established (under Section 1360 of the Act) based on an analysis of all natural hazards affecting fZood risks. " Information on the processes and documentation procedures for both the Countywide Mapping and Site Specific Needs Assessment, as well as templates for surveys submitted to communities and worksheets to assist communities with needs assessment activities are included in Appendix A. 2.1.2 Initial Coordination Meetings Once a group of counties or sites has been identified for possible revision in a given fiscal year, Initial Coordination Meetings will be conducted to gather data, obtain the pulse on community readiness and willingness, and re-evaluate needs that have been previously identified by the CWCB and communities in a preliminary manner. Additionally, many local officials are unaware of the significant effort involved in preparing a countywide DFIRM study. The earlier they are introduced to the potential work that lies ahead, the more they can be meaningfully involved in the preparation of their maps and in the ultimate ownership of the final products. Once the Initial Coordination Meetings have occurred, those counties can be weighed against one another to determine which counties have the greatest needs and most likelihood of success. It is also necessary to perform initial coordination meetings to get an initial idea of the geographic and technical scope of work to be performed within a county or site to make the scoping and contracting process with engineering consultants more efficient, and in order to provide accurate information to FEMA regarding anticipated work for the upcoming fiscal year. This effort will greatly enhance the ability of CWCB and FEMA to estimate study costs. Additional information that will be distributed to communities before and at the meeting, as well as examples of some of the tools to be used at these meetings is included in Appendix B. Colorado Business Case Plan (Final Draft) 2-4