Floodplain Management

Seth Curry

Floodplain Administrator

(530) 842-8265

scurry@co.siskiyou.ca.us

Floodplain Management

At the local level, management of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is a partnership between the County of Siskiyou and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The roles and responsibilities of the County are as follows:

· Provide regulations and guidance for the use of property development in a floodplain, to include development in the floodplain, issuance of floodplain development permits, and review of subdivision proposals to ensure that projects are safe from flooding and provide for adequate drainage;

· Provide information on how property owners can protect themselves from flood damage;

· Provide information on the NFIP; and

· Provide mapping and insurance information services.

Flood Maps

A Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM), and Flood Hazard Boundary Map (FHBM) are all flood maps that are produced by FEMA. The FIRM is the standard flood map in use today; FHBMs are older maps still in effect in limited areas that have not yet been updated with a FIRM. Depending on your location in the FIRM panel, flood maps show flood risk zones and their boundaries and may also show floodways and Base Flood Elevations (BFEs). These maps can be accessed through the FEMA website at https://msc.fema.gov/portal/home.

If you believe your property was incorrectly included in a NFIP-identified Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), you may submit an application to FEMA for a formal determination of the property's location and/or elevation relative to the SFHA. Please see the FEMA website about how to Change Your Flood Zone Designation. The SFHA is the area that has a 1-percent or greater chance of flooding in any given year; this area is also referred to by some as the 1-percent-annual-chance floodplain, base floodplain or the 100-year floodplain.

After FEMA reviews the map change request, it will issue a letter of determination, either approving or denying the map change. If FEMA grants a map amendment or revision request, the property owner may no longer be required to pay flood insurance. The property owner may send the Determination Document to their lender and request that the federal flood insurance requirement for the structure be removed.

Flood Zone Information

Flood hazard areas identified on the FIRM are identified as Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs). SFHAs are labeled as Zone A, Zone AO, Zone AH, Zones A1-A30, Zone AE, Zone A99, Zone AR, Zone AR/AE, Zone AR/AO, Zone AR/A1-A30, Zone AR/A, Zone V, Zone VE, and Zones V1-V30.

Moderate flood hazard areas, labeled Zone B or Zone X (shaded) are also shown on the FIRM, and are the areas between the limits of the base flood and the 0.2-percent-annual-chance (or 500-year) flood.

The areas of minimal flood hazard, which are the areas outside the SFHA and higher than the elevation of the 0.2-percent-annual-chance flood, are labeled Zone C or Zone X (unshaded).

A flood zone determination is required before a building permit application will be accepted. For a flood zone determination, you can access the FEMA Flood Map Service Center or contact the Siskiyou County Community Development Department.

Constructing in the Floodplain

Constructing improvements in the floodplain has the potential to impact flood levels. If not properly designed, a structure may be susceptible to flood damage or may cause flood damage to adjacent properties.

Improvements or repairs to existing structures in the floodplain, such as remodels or garage conversions, will require review by county officials to determine if such improvements would constitute a "substantial improvement" as defined by federal regulations. Work is considered a substantial improvement if the cost of the improvements or repairs equals or exceeds 50% of the structure’s pre-improvement market value.

Important: A Floodplain Development Permit (FDP) is required for all development in any Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA). Substantial improvement or substantial damage triggers full compliance with elevation and floodproofing requirements, but even minor development must first be reviewed through the FDP process.

Application for a Floodplain Development Permit (FDP) is a SEPARATE Process from the Building Permit application process. The FDP is a prerequisite for application to the Building Department for all development in the Special Flood Hazard Area.

Elevation Certificates

An Elevation Certificate is a form created by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), as a compliance and insurance tool within federally mapped floodplains.

This certificate verifies that structures are safely elevated above the expected 100-year flood level and they meet other floodplain requirements. Insurance companies utilize the certificates to determine flood insurance premiums for homeowners within flood hazard zones.

To request an elevation certificate or to get information on how to obtain one, please contact your local licensed land surveyor, licensed professional engineer, or certified architect who is authorized by law to certify elevation information.

Flood Insurance

Since standard homeowners’ insurance does not cover flooding, it is important to have protection from the floods associated with heavy rains and other flood conditions that may impact our county.

In 1968, Congress created the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) to help provide a means for property owners to financially protect themselves. The NFIP offers flood insurance to homeowners, renters, and business owners. Participating communities agree to adopt and enforce ordinances that meet or exceed FEMA requirements to reduce the risk of flooding.

FEMA uses a rating methodology called Risk Rating 2.0. Several factors are considered when determining your flood insurance premium. These include flood frequency, multiple flood types—river overflow, storm surge, erosion and heavy rainfall—and distance to a water source along with property characteristics such as elevation and the cost to rebuild.

To obtain flood insurance, please visit your local insurance agent. More information can be found on the National Flood Insurance Program website.