Date:              Wednesday, March 6, 2013 to

Thursday, March 7, 2013

Time:              8:30am to 5:00pm

Location:      Palm Beach County EOC

20 South Military Trail

                        West Palm Beach, FL  33415

 

Course Description:

This is a 2-day course designed as an introduction to the fundamental concepts of Benefit Cost (BC) analysis. Participants will learn how to obtain BC data and conduct analysis using the basic versions of the riverine and coastal A-zone software modules. This course was not designed to teach how to conduct level-two BC analysis unless supplemented with user instructions on current FEMA BCA software and advanced instruction modules; even when delivery is in this manner, students must come to class equipped with laptops and the current software installed.

 

A Benefit Cost Analysis (BCA) is a requirement for mostly all the Hazard Mitigation Programs (HMA) with some exceptions as Planning Projects or 5% Initiative Projects.  For every project from:

·         The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP),

·         Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM),

·         Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA),

·         Repetitive Flood Claims Program (RFC), and the

·         Severe Repetitive Loss Program (SRL)

 

A Benefit Cost Analysis needs to be done in order to attempt to measure the social benefits of a proposed project demonstrating its cost effectiveness, the evaluation shall generate a benefit-cost analysis ratio and a total of benefits in US Dollars, to indicate the reduction in losses in future events once the project is completed.

 

This BCA is performed utilizing software built and provided by FEMA.  The new Benefit Cost Analysis version 4.5.5 was approved in 2009 with several differences compare to older versions.  

 

NOTE: For all participants it is recommended that they bring or have a computer available with the installed software.

 

Target Audience:

The primary target audiences for this course are FDEM State Hazard Mitigation personnel and select County/Municipal/Private/NGO officials who deal directly with the mitigation process. Other personnel involved in conducting BC analysis may also apply.

Participants should have some prior knowledge of mathematics (basic algebra and percentages) and computers (Windows and spreadsheet programs).

Familiarity with basic flood mitigation terminology is also recommended/suggested.

 

Registration:

To Register go to: http://trac.floridadisaster.org/trac/loginform.aspx. Feel free to contact Gustavo Vilchez should you have difficulties with FDEM’s SERT TRAC Registration procedures.

 

Point of Contact:

Facility Contact –

Gustavo Vilchez, MBA

Special Projects Coordinator/Professional Continuity Practitioner

561-712-6483

GVilchez@pbcgov.org

 

Course Manager - 

Thomas Robinson
State Homeland Security Training Coordinator

Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM)

850-413-9879

Thomas.Robinson@em.myflorida.com