Floodplain Management
Floodplain management is a community-based effort to prevent or reduce the risk of flooding, resulting in a more resilient community. Multiple groups with a stake in protecting their communities from flooding carry out floodplain management functions including zoning, building codes, enforcement, education and other tasks. While FEMA has minimum floodplain management standards for communities participating in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), adopting higher standards will lead to safer, stronger, more resilient communities.
www.fema.gov/floodplain-management
Federal Floodplain Management
Executive Order 11988: Floodplain Management
Executive Order 11988 requires federal agencies to avoid to the extent possible the long and short-term adverse impacts associated with the occupancy and modification of floodplains and to avoid direct and indirect support of floodplain development wherever there is a practicable alternative.
Office of the Federal Register Executive Order 11988.
FEMA’s website covers a broad range of Floodplain Management topics that include information on how to join the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), participating in the Community Rating System (CRS) and other topics related to the adoption and enforcement of floodplain management standards.
You can learn more about flood insurance at www.floodsmart.gov.
NFIP & CRS to learn more about federal floodplain management and the National Flood Insurance Program.
Code of Federal Regulations Overview
The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) annual edition is the codification of the general and permanent rules published in the Federal Register by the departments and agencies of the Federal Government. It is divided into 50 titles that represent broad areas subject to Federal regulation. The 50 subject matter titles contain one or more individual volumes, which are updated once each calendar year, on a staggered basis.
Follow the links to specific sections of the CFR for floodplain regulations in Part 59 and Part 60.
PART 59 – DEFINITIONS
44 CFR 59.1 – Definitions.
PART 60—CRITERIA FOR LAND MANAGEMENT AND USE
eCFR : 44 CFR Part 60 — Criteria for Land Management and Use
Floodplain Management Ordinance Requirements
Elevation Certificate
A community’s permit file must have an official record that shows new buildings and substantial improvements in all identified Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs) are properly elevated. The NFIP Elevation Certificate is an administrative tool of the NFIP which is to be used to provide elevation information necessary to ensure compliance with community floodplain management ordinances, to determine the proper insurance premium rate, or support a request for a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA) or a Letter of Map Revision based on fill (LOMR-F). This elevation information is needed to show compliance with the floodplain management ordinance.
Substantial Damage & Improvement.pdf
Add a Repetitive Loss Provision to Local Floodplain Management Regulations
Adding a repetitive loss provision to your community’s floodplain management ordinance allows local NFIP policyholders to access up to $30,000 of additional funding through Increased Cost of Compliance (ICC) coverage. This ICC coverage helps cover costs of building back stronger when repairing or rebuilding flood-damaged homes or businesses in your community.
Build Resilience: Add a Repetitive Loss Provision to Local Floodplain Management Regulations Fact Sh
Increased Cost of Compliance (ICC)
Manufactured (Mobile) Homes
44 CFR 59.1 Definition: “Manufactured home” means a structure, transportable in one or more sections, which is built on a permanent chassis and is designed for use with or without a permanent foundation when attached to the required utilities. The term “manufactured home” does not include a “recreational vehicle”.
A manufactured home includes a building that is transportable, a mobile home or a “double wide” under the NFIP regulations.
Manufactured Home Requirements.pdf
Variances and the NFIP – FEMA P-993
The NFIP variances procedures are designed to help local governments protect their citizens and property from flood damages. Allowing variances to the local floodplain management ordinance may significantly increase the property’s flood insurance rate and decrease the community’s resilience. Therefore, by implementing the NFIP variance procedures, a community will ensure that alternative actions are taken that protect and encourage safe development in the floodplain.
This Variances and the National Flood Insurance Program publication outlines the floodplain management variance criteria as set forth in Title 44 Code of Federal Regulations Part 60, Criteria for Land Management and Use, Subpart A – Requirements for Floodplain Management Regulations, Section 60.6 (44 CFR §60.6).
Floodplain Management Requirements Study Guide
This study guide and desk reference can serve two purposes. First, it can be used as a study guide to enhance the knowledge and skills of local officials responsible for administering and enforcing local floodplain management regulations. It is also intended to broaden their understanding of floodplain management strategies that can be applied at the local level.
Secondly, the study guide can be used as a desk reference that you can refer to when specific issues arise as you implement your management ordinance. Guidance is included on how to handle many of the issues and information provided that will help you explain the requirements to citizens of your community.
While any interested person may use this This study guide and desk reference, it is written specifically for the local official who is responsible for administering his or her community’s floodplain management regulations.
Flood Mapping
Knowing your risk enables you to take actions that can reduce that risk.
Communities use Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) to regulate their identified floodplains as part of the NFIP.
FIRMs are also used by insurance agents to rate flood insurance policies, lenders to determine if flood insurance is required with a federally backed loan, and property owners to understand their risk of being impacted by a flood event.
A floodplain is the area adjacent to streams, creeks, and rivers that provides floodwater storage.
What is a Flood Map?
A Flood Map informs your community about the local flood risk. It helps set minimum floodplain standards so that your community builds safely and resiliently. It determines the cost of flood insurance, which helps property owners to financially protect themselves against flooding. The lower your degree of risk, the lower your flood insurance premium will be. In areas with a high risk of flooding, you might be required to get flood insurance.
Flood Mapping Information
For more information, visit: KY Floodplain Management