Floodplains & Special Flood Hazard Areas

Transcription

1 Fldplains & Special Fld Hazard Areas What are Fldplains? Fldplains are the areas alng streams r rivers that are likely t experience repeated flding. Over time, nature and man-made develpment have shaped the fldplain t hld excess waters. In Bne, several rivers and streams cnverge t frm the headwaters f the Suth Frk f the New River. Nature has frmed these fldplains t fld and t carry a large vlume f strmwater. Simply put, fldplains are meant t fld. Therefre, fldplains can be dangerus during heavy strm events and shuld be avided when water is present. Since 1979, when the Twn entered the Natinal Fld Insurance Prgram (NFIP), building in lcal fldplains within the Twn f Bne has been restricted (see Twn f Bne Unified Develpment Ordinance Article 30 Fld Damage Preventin fr mre details). In 1968 Cngress created the NFIP t help prvide a means fr prperty wners t financially prtect themselves frm the pssible damage f structures resulting frm fld events. The prgram is intended t supplement typical hmewner insurance plicies, which d nt cver damage t structures resulting frm a fld. The NFIP ffers fld insurance t hmewners, renters, and business wners if their cmmunity participates, specifically thrugh the adptin and enfrcement f regulatins designed t mitigate/reduce fld risk. T find ut mre abut fld insurance please visit Fld Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) Thrugh participatin in the NFIP, the Twn f Bne TIPS TO REDUCE FLOOD DAMAGE FOR PROPERTY OWNERS & TENANTS 1. Prepare fr flding by ding the fllwing: Knw hw t shut ff electricity and gas t yur prperty when a fld cmes. Make a list f emergency numbers and identify a safe place t g. Make an inventry, especially f basement cntents. Put insurance plicies, valuable papers, in a safe place. Develp a disaster respnse plan. 2. Knw yur fld hazard and insure yur prperty fr yur fld hazard: Yu need fld insurance. Renters shuld buy fld insurance fr their cntents. 3. Prtect peple frm the hazard: Turn arund, dn t drwn. Knw fld warnings in yur area. Designate a place yur family can meet and evacuate when an rder is issued. 4. Knw yur flding and cnsider sme permanent fld prtectin measures: Mark yur fuse r breaker bx t shw the circuits t the fldable areas. Check yur building fr water entry pints. These can be basement windws, the basement stairwell, drs, and vents. These can be prtected with lw walls r temprary shields. Nte that sme fld prtectin measures may need a building permit and thers may nt be safe fr yur type f building. 5. Prtect yur prperty frm the hazard: Replace mechanical equipment r mechanical equipment needing repair with equipment elevated abve the base fld elevatin. Keep debris and trash ut f streams and ditches. The Twn f Bne can help prvide grant infrmatin t elevate yur structure. Prvide and keep n hand sand bags t prtect fld waters frm entering yur structure. 6. Build respnsibly: Get a permit befre yu build r renvate. 7. Prtect natural fldplain functins: Reprt brken silt fences they help keep ur streams clean f debris and silt. Maintain any ditches r drainage ways n yur prperty

2 has adpted Fld Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM), prepared by the State f Nrth Carlina Federal Emergency Management Agency. The adpted FIRMs prvide the Twn f Bne with the data needed t adpt and implement mre cmprehensive fldplain management measures. These maps, nte the areas within the Twn f Bne that are susceptible t flding. T help understand these maps, and t clear up miscnceptin f terminlgy, belw is a brief explanatin n sme cmmn terminlgy used when discussing FIRMs within the Twn f Bne: Fld Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) An fficial map f a cmmunity, issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, n which bth the special fld hazard areas and the risk premium znes applicable t the cmmunity are delineated. Fldplain Any land area susceptible t being inundated by water frm any surce. Base Fld In rder t have cmmn standards, the NFIP adpted a baseline prbability called the base fld. The base fld is the ne-percent annual chance fld. The ne-percent annual chance fld is the fld that has a ne-percent (ne ut f 100) chance f ccurring in any given year. The base fld, which is als infrmally referred t as the 100-year fld, is the natinal standard used by the NFIP and all Federal agencies fr the purpses f requiring the purchase f fld insurance and regulating new develpment. 100 Year Fld The term 100-year fld is ften miscnstrued. Cmmnly, peple interpret the 100-year fld definitin t mean nce every 100 years. This is wrng. Yu culd experience a 100-year fld tw times in the same year, tw years in a rw, r fur times ver the curse f 100 years. Yu culd als nt experience a 100-year fld ver the curse f 200 r mre years. T avid cnfusin (and because prbabilities and statistics can be cnfusing), the NFIP uses the term base fld. A 100-year base fld is defined as having a ne percent chance f being reached r exceeded in any single year. Thus, the 100-year fld als is called the ne-percent annual chance fld. 100-year fld and base fld bth refer t a fld that has a ne percent chance f ccurring in any given year. The terms base fld, 100-year fld, and nepercent annual chance fld are ften used interchangeably. Special Fld Hazard Area (SFHA) The land area cvered by the fldwaters f the base fld is the base fldplain. On NFIP maps, the base fldplain is called the Special Fld Hazard Area (SFHA). The SFHA is the area where the NFIP s fldplain management regulatins must be enfrced by the cmmunity as a cnditin f participatin in the NFIP and the area where the mandatry fld insurance purchase requirement applies. Simply defined, the SFHA is the land in the fldplain subject t a 1% r greater chance f being flded in any given year. The SFHA includes znes A, AO, AH, A1-30, AE, A99, AR, AR/A1-30, AR/AE, AR/AO, AR/AH, AR/A, VO, V1-30, VE, and V. Nte: The nly regulated SFHA zne within the Twn f Bne's jurisdictin is "AE.

3 Zne AE Fldway The fldway is the channel f a stream plus any adjacent fldplain areas that must be kept free f encrachment s that the 1% annual chance fld can be carried withut substantial increases in fld heights. Zne AE The base fldplain where base fld elevatins are prvided. Zne X Knwn as Other Fld Areas, areas utside f the SFHA with 0.2% annual chance f fld; areas f 1% annual chance fld with average depths f less than ne ft r with drainage areas less than ne square mile. Nte: Currently unregulated zne within the Twn f Bne. Base Fld Elevatin (BFE) The cmputed elevatin t which fldwater is anticipated t rise during the base fld. When the BFE has nt been prvided in a Special Fld Hazard Area, it may be btained frm engineering studies available frm a federal, state, r ther surce using FEMA apprved engineering methdlgies. This elevatin, when cmbined with the Freebard, establishes the Regulatry Fld Prtectin Elevatin. Freebard The height added t the base fld elevatin (BFE) t accunt fr the many unknwn factrs that culd cntribute t fld heights greater than the height calculated fr a selected size fld and fldway cnditins, such as wave actin, blckage f bridge penings, and the hydrlgical effect f urbanizatin f the watershed. The base fld elevatin (BFE) plus the freebard establishes the Regulatry Fld Prtectin Elevatin. Regulatry Fld Prtectin Elevatin The base fld elevatin plus the freebard f tw feet. In special fld hazard areas where n BFE has been established, this elevatin shall be at least tw feet abve the highest adjacent grade. Elevatin Certificate The permit file must have an fficial recrd that shws new buildings and substantial imprvements in all identified Special Fld Hazard Areas (SFHAs) are prperly elevated. This elevatin infrmatin is needed t shw cmpliance with the fldplain management rdinance. This certificate can be used by the prperty wner t btain fld insurance. The Twn f Bne is required t use the FEMA Elevatin Certificate. Cmmunity Rating System The Twn f Bne has als chsen t vluntarily participate in the NFIP s Cmmunity Rating System (CRS) prgram. CRS is a vluntary, incentive based prgram, thrugh the NFIP that recgnizes and encurages cmmunity fldplain management activities that exceed the minimum NFIP standards. Depending upn the cmmunity s level f participatin, fld insurance premium rates fr plicyhlders can be reduced up t 45%. The adptin and enfrcement f these heightened develpment restrictins allws lcal prperty wners receive a savings n their fld insurance premiums.

4 Besides the benefit f reduced insurance rates, CRS fldplain management activities enhance public safety, reduce damages t prperty and public infrastructure, avid ecnmic disruptin and lsses, reduce human suffering, and prtect the envirnment. Fldplain Develpment Permit A Fldplain Develpment Permit is a required fr any disturbance within the fldplain prir t starting any develpment activity, including, but nt limited t the clearing f land. Befre any develpment can take place n a prperty where a prtin f r the entire tract is lcated in the Special Fld Hazard Area, a determinatin must be made that the prpsed develpment is permitted n the prperty. The first step in this prcess is t lcate the parcel n the Fld Insurance Rate Map. If it is determined that the prpsed develpment wuld be lcated within the Special Fld Hazard Area, it is necessary t cnsult with Planning and Inspectins Staff t determine what restrictins and standards must be applied t the prpsed develpment. Maintenance f Drainage Systems Maintaining the drainage system n private prperty is the wner s respnsibility. Please see belw fr tips n hw t reduce the chance f strmwater frm pnding n yur prperty. 1. D nt dump r thrw anything int ditches r streams. Dumping yard waste and ther debris can accumulate and plug ditches, culverts, and channels thereby increasing the risk f flding during strm events as rain water will have nwhere t g. 2. Maintain yur drainage system. Clean ut rf gutters twice a year. Direct flws frm dwnsputs away frm yur fundatin withut directing strmwater discharge nt neighbring prperties. Never discharge water ver the edge f a steep slpe. Prperties with strmwater detentin systems shuld have these systems checked n annual basis t ensure that they are functining as intended. 3. If a public street drain r ditch appears t be blcked by snw r ther debris call the Twn f Bne Public Wrks Department at ( ) t reprt the issue. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Is my prperty lcated within the Special Fld Hazard Area? Answer: T determine whether yur prperty is lcated within a Special Fld Hazard Area please cntact the Twn f Bne Planning and Inspectins Department by phne at r visit the Nrth Carlina Fld Risk Infrmatin System website where yu can cnduct a search based upn yur address. Is there an elevatin certificate available fr my hme r business? Answer: T determine whether the Twn f Bne has an elevatin certificate n file fr yur structure, please cntact the Twn f Bne Planning and Inspectins Department by phne at

5 Fr ther frequently asked questins visit FEMA s Fld Hazard Mapping: Frequently Asked Questins website.