FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT

Flood plain management is a land-use control tool that governs the amount, type, and location of development within defined flood-prone areas. Flooding in developed areas can result in costly damage and destruction, as well as loss of life. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) administers the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) that helps communities to overcome the consequences of flooding. Individual landowners in municipalities that do not participate in the NFIP do not receive any flood insurance compensation. Municipalities that want to participate in the National Flood Insurance Program must comply with the floodplain management criteria for flood-plain areas (Section 60.3).

The NFIP defines the criteria of floodplain management that include the identification of primary flood-prone areas. A flood-prone area is usually defined as being within the 100-year floodplain. Within flood-prone areas, certain restrictions are placed on development activities. The restrictions include, among others:

• that all new construction and substantial improvements of structures have the lowest floor (including basement) elevated to or above the base flood level

• that all new construction and substantial improvements of structures must follow guidelines to minimize flood damage, for example, to minimize damage to such facilities and utilities as sewer, gas, electrical and water systems and to provide adequate drainage

• that all new construction and substantial improvements of structures must be adequately anchored to prevent flotation, collapse, or lateral movement of the structure and be constructed with materials resistant to flood damage

• that any encroachment, including fill, new construction, substantial improvements, and other development is prohibited within the adopted regulatory floodway (e.g. a river or watercourse including the adjacent land area) unless is has been demonstrated that there is no increase in flood levels within the municipality during a 100-year flood discharge

In addition to minimize destruction of buildings and loss of lives, floodplain management also enables municipalities to effectively protect public health in an event of flooding. By preventing flood water from entering the local water and sewer system, for example, local floodplain management can preserve drinking water quality and protect water treatment plants from exceeding their capacity.

Municipalities can adopt their own criteria of floodplain management which must be as stringent or more stringent than the National Flood Insurance Program criteria. Local floodplain management criteria, for example, can identify a larger flood-prone area (e.g. a 500-year floodplain) and may also prohibit certain types of construction within flood-prone areas. Municipalities that decide to participate in the NFIP may also consult its information website for state and local officials (exit this site).

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CLW IO 2004