Kathleen Schaefer, Engineer, Mitigation FEMA Region IX
For more than the past three years Kathy, a licensed P.E. in the state of California and a Certified Floodplain Manager, has served as Engineer/Program Specialist for the Map Modernization (Map Mod) Program both in Region IX and as an employee of the Regional Management Center (RMC) with Baker, Corp. She has served as the Region IX liaison with FEMA headquarters on policy guidance, review and development for Map Modernization; serves as the Multi-Hazard Information Platform (MIP) Champion and Earned Value Management System Lead for the program; and maintains on ongoing working relationships with mapping partners at the Sacramento District Office – USACE.
Previously, Kathy worked as Project Manager/Senior Engineer for engineering and water resources consulting companies and in local government as an engineer. She has supervised professional staff; developed major urban/city Stormwater Master Plan(s); been responsible for the design, construction, management and budget oversight for capital improvement projects; conducted post-flood hazard verification, training/outreach and disaster field support; and has provided oversight for IDIQ mapping task orders for the Map Modernization Program — including several of Region IX’s highest profile Central Valley of California counties. Kathy brings experience in the application of various engineering models (HEC 1 & 2, HEC-RAS, HEC-HMS) for flood hazard verification in the production of Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM). She has earned a master’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of VA – Charlottesville and a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of NE – Lincoln. Ms. Schaefer is recognized as a leader in FEMA’s Map Mod implementation and program delivery.
